Interpreting India

The hosts celebrate five transformative years of impactful discussions, sharing favorite moments and themes. They reflect on crucial topics like urban governance and economic challenges, emphasizing their ongoing relevance. With gratitude for listener support, they outline future plans to delve deeper into technology and geopolitics, keeping the conversation alive. Get ready for thought-provoking insights that continue to shape India’s global narrative!

The episode provides an in-depth analysis of the structural challenges that led to the slowdown in private investment in India from 2011, highlighting the impact of policy uncertainty, weak rule of law, and central planning on business confidence. Ajay Shah advocates for broader policy reforms that enhance the institutional environment, making it more conducive to private sector participation in the economy.He also discusses the strategic importance of fiscal discipline in the context of India's economic challenges. He emphasizes the need for a prudent approach to deficit management, arguing that a flexible fiscal policy, which adapts to economic cycles, is more suitable for India than rigid deficit targets. The discussion also explores the role of infrastructure investments, questioning whether the current government-led infrastructure push effectively addresses the deeper issues of private sector investment and economic growth.Additionally, Shah touches upon the ongoing debate around tax policy, particularly the potential overhaul of India's direct tax code and the implications of capital gains taxation. He underscores the importance of aligning tax policy with the broader goal of promoting capital formation and economic growth in India.How can India balance fiscal discipline with the need for economic growth? What are the underlying reasons for the private sector's reluctance to invest in India? How can tax policy reforms contribute to India's economic objectives?Additional Readings In Service of the Republic: The Art and Science of Economic Policy by Vijay Kelkar and Ajay ShahForeign Investors Under Stress: Evidence from India by Ila Patnaik, Ajay Shah, and Nirvikar SinghScale Economies, Product Differentiation, and the Pattern of Trade by Paul KrugmanThe Case for Trade Barriers Against Chinese Imports by Ila Patnaik and Ajay ShahThe State of the Economy by Ajay ShahGovernment Programs Have a Limited Impact on Employment by Ajay Shah Where Has All the Infrastructure Gone? | Episode 55 | Everything is EverythingStrategic Thinking on Fiscal Policy by Ajay Shah Where Has All the Infrastructure Gone? | Episode 55 | Everything is EverythingEpisode Contributors: Ajay Shah is a senior research fellow and co-founder of XKDR Forum. He has held positions at the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR), the Department of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, and the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). His research lies at the intersection of economics, law, and public administration.Suyash Rai is a deputy director and fellow at Carnegie India. His research focuses on the political economy of economic reforms, and the performance of public institutions in India. His current research looks at the financial sector, the fiscal system, and the infrastructure sector. Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

Space sustainability expert Quentin Verspieren discusses ESA's zero-debris approach, the role of private companies in innovation, financial/technological challenges for emerging spacefaring nations, and the importance of global partnerships. The conversation highlights the Zero-Debris Charter, India's involvement in the initiative, and the collaborative efforts needed to ensure a sustainable space environment for future generations.

India's quest for military modernization has been marked by significant reforms in recent years. In this episode, Raj Shukla provides insights into the progress and challenges faced in this transformation. He highlights the importance of technological integration, jointness, and civil-military fusion in strengthening India's deterrence.The conversation delves into the need for a comprehensive national security makeover, emphasizing reforms like integrated theater commands, and a cultural transformation in civil-military relations. Shukla also discusses the impact of geopolitical shifts, particularly the rise of China, on India's strategic imperatives.How have reforms fared over the past ten years? What is the way forward for defense industry, tri-service jointness, and civil-military relations? Does India’s nuclear posture need a rethink?  Does it need to raise new forces in the emerging domains of space and cyber?Episode ContributorsRaj Shukla is a member of the Union Public Service Commission, Government of India, and a former general officer commanding in chief of the Indian Army's Army Training Command (ARTRAC). With over four decades of distinguished service, he has a deep interest in strategic military affairs and is a distinguished fellow at the Center for Land Warfare Studies.Yahoo: rajshukla35@yahoo.comYouTube: @LtGenRajShuklaInstagram: @ltgenrajshuklaTwitter: @Gen_RajshuklaFacebook: @Raj ShuklaSaheb Singh Chadha is a research analyst in the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. His research focuses on China’s foreign and security policies, India-China relations, and India’s military modernization. He is broadly interested in the geopolitics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. He is also a researcher on a project examining the nature and dynamics of cross-border violence and its impact on civilian communities. Twitter: @SahebSChadhaAdditional ReadingsThe Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Military in India by Anit Mukherjee Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie JacbosenFrom Surprise to Reckoning: The Kargil Review Committee Report What is Shekatkar Report, Defence Ministry’s First Order of Business After Lockdown by Snehesh Alex PhillipNaresh Chandra Task Force’s Report on National Security: An Appraisal by Nitin GokhaleMOMENTOUS CHANGES: Defence Reforms, Military Transformation, and India’s New Strategic Posture by Anit Mukherjee, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Nishant RajeevStriking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia by Ashley J. TellisThe Real Motives for China’s Nuclear Expansion by Tong ZhaoWhat Are China’s Nuclear Weapons For? By Ashley J. Tellis; Tong ZhaoElection Rhetoric, Nuclear Weapons and Pakistan — the Need to Expand Debate by C Raja Mohan Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

India's rapid urban growth has brought to light numerous challenges, including unmanageable expansion, inadequate housing, and air pollution. Vidyadhar Phatak discusses how historical planning models and regulatory frameworks have contributed to these issues and offers insights into potential solutions. The conversation highlights the importance of adapting urban planning to market realities, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and improving planning education to better address the needs of Indian cities.In Planning for India's Urbanization (2024), Phatak provides a comprehensive analysis of urban development in India, focusing on the links between economic growth and urbanization, the importance of land use, housing affordability, and metropolitan governance. The episode emphasizes the need for localized and context-specific planning to foster sustainable urban development.How can historical planning models be reformed to meet the needs of modern Indian cities? What are the advantages and disadvantages of different land assembly methods? How can redevelopment be facilitated in already built-up areas? What are the challenges and opportunities in planning education and the profession?Episode ContributorsVidyadhar Phatak is a renowned urban planner with over forty years of professional experience. He has extensively researched housing affordability, public land use, and urban planning reforms. Phatak retired as the Principal Chief of the Town and Country Planning Division of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority in 2004. He has served on the Planning Commission Task Force on Urban Development and the National Commission on Urbanization. His book, Planning for India's Urbanization, offers a collection of essays on urban development based on his observations of Mumbai and Maharashtra, with broader applicability to other Indian cities.Anirudh Burman is an associate research director and fellow at Carnegie India. He works on key issues relating to public institutions, public administration, the administrative and regulatory state, and state capacity.  He has also worked extensively on financial regulation and regulatory governance. Burman brings a nuanced perspective to urban planning and development discussions, drawing on his extensive knowledge and research experience.Additional ReadingsPlanning for India's Urbanization by Vidyadhar PathakScaling Heights: Affordability Implications of Zoning Deregulation in India by Geetika Nagpal and Salil Gandhi Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

In the past two years, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a burgeoning technology to a transformative force, reshaping industries and everyday life. Enthralled by AI's promises and potential, the tech world and society at large have surged ahead, often without pausing to consider the technology's broader implications. In her book, Code Dependent: Living in the Shadows of AI, Madhumita Murgia talks about the crucial gap in the discourse—the unintended consequences of AI. As AI redefines what it means to be human, it poses profound questions about its impact on individuals, families, societies, and cultures worldwide. A key concern is the concentration of power within a few large tech companies that control extensive data, capital, and infrastructure. The discussion extends to the impact of AI on labor, emphasizing the importance of ethical labor practices and fair wages for data workers, the challenges of biases in AI systems, and the inclusion of diverse voices in AI development to mitigate potential harms and ensure equitable advancements in technology. What are the unintended consequences of AI on global societies and cultures? Will AI deepen existing inequalities or serve as a tool for greater equity? Will it centralize power among a few or democratize access to resources and opportunities? How does the concentration of AI power affect global politics and economics?In this episode of Interpreting India, Madhumita Murgia joins Anirudh Suri to answer these pressing questions and discuss the ever-evolving nature of AI and its implications.Madhumita Murgia is the AI editor of the Financial Times, where she writes on data and emerging technologies. She was previously tech editor at The Daily Telegraph and associate editor of Wired UK. Her latest book, Code Dependent: Living in the Shadows of AI, was shortlisted for the 2024 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.Anirudh Suri is a nonresident scholar with Carnegie India. His interests lie at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, climate, and strategic affairs. He is currently exploring how India is carving and cementing its role in the global tech ecosystem and the role climate technology can play in addressing the global climate challenge. Suri is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations and has also written extensively on foreign policy, geopolitics, cybersecurity, climate, technology, and entrepreneurship. Additional ReadingsCode Dependent: Living in the Shadows of AI by Madhumita MurgiaThe Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations by Anirudh Suri Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

Tech entrepreneur Karl Mehta discusses India's tech-driven future, focusing on the role of trustworthy tech supply chains, India's national AI mission, and the growth of space tech ecosystem. He talks about the significance of patient capital in promoting deep tech innovations and Indian government policies supporting technological advancements. Mehta highlights the importance of international collaboration for India's position in the global tech landscape.

India, a continent-sized country, exhibits profound regional economic disparities, with some regions having economic outputs comparable to upper-middle-income countries, while others resemble the impoverished regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Dore discusses how these disparities affect development and the importance of focusing on regional nuances to foster equitable growth across India. The book provides a deep dive into these issues, offering lessons and insights on leveraging regional strengths and addressing challenges through targeted development strategies. The episode highlights the need for precise regional analysis and development policies that consider the unique economic landscapes of India’s diverse regions. What is more conducive to the economic development of a nation—specialisation or diversification? What is the role of data in harnessing regional potential effectively? How can India implement lessons from global economic governance to improve its regional development strategies?Episode ContributorsPoornima Dore is a practicing economist, driving impact through finance, innovation and digital transformation. She previously served as director of analytics, insights and impact at Tata Trusts and is a highly sought-after advisor for leaders across diverse sectors. With a management degree from Xavier School of Management and a PhD in Economics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, she has, over the years, driven large programs at the intersection of business, philanthropy, academia and government, activated private sector investments in data-driven governance, digital public goods, regional growth, urbanization, and migration, and designed special institutional programs on impact and SME financing. She serves on the board of select institutions as well as ministerial committees and has been recognized as one of the top 100 Analytics Leaders in South Asia. Suyash Rai is a deputy director and fellow at Carnegie India. His research focuses on the political economy of economic reforms, and the performance of public institutions in India. His current research looks at the financial sector, the fiscal system, and the infrastructure sector.Suggested Readings:Regional Economic Diversity: Lessons from an Emergent India, by Poornima Dore and Krishnan Narayanan Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

In the realm of space exploration, there's a growing focus on extracting resources from celestial bodies like the Moon and asteroids. This calls for a strong governance framework to ensure responsible and sustainable practices. International laws such as the Outer Space Treaty and the Moon Agreement provide the foundation, while initiatives like the Artemis Accords support commercial ventures. The UN's COPUOS Working Group is dedicated to addressing the legal and technical aspects of space resource activities, aiming to develop guidelines for their responsible use. Multilateralism is crucial for consensus among nations, with countries like China, Russia, and India actively participating. India, as a respected spacefaring nation, has a pivotal role to play, leveraging its expertise to shape global discussions on space resource governance.However, it is important to ensure that such activities are carried out per obligations under international law. For example, Article II of the Outer Space Treaty prohibits the appropriation of outer space including celestial bodies. There are also concerns that if space resource activities are not governed properly, conflicts may arise in outer space and back on Earth. To facilitate an inclusive and multi-stakeholder dialogue on this issue, the UN COPUOS established the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities.How will this multilateral initiative function? What promises does this initiative hold in shaping the norms and future of space resource activities? And what is India’s possible role in this initiative?Episode ContributorsSteven Freeland is an emeritus professor at Western Sydney University and a former dean, specializing in international law. He represents Australia at UN COPUOS meetings and is a member of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board. With extensive experience as a commercial lawyer and investment banker, Freeland has advised on space law and policy internationally and has authored numerous publications on international law. | https://www.weforum.org/people/steven-freeland/ Tejas Bharadwaj is a research analyst at Carnegie India, focusing on space law and AI applications in the military. He is involved with Carnegie India's Global Technology Summit and is a prospective member of the International Institute of Space Law. Bharadwaj has worked on global initiatives addressing light pollution from satellites and contributes to various international space law groups. | https://carnegieindia.org/experts/2199Introduction - 00:00 Relevance of International Law - 11:21 The Working Group on Space Resource Activities - 26:26 The Need for Governance in Space Resource Activities - 34:09 The Importance of Multilateralism in Space Resource Governance - 45:58 Challenges of Reaching Consensus in Space Resource Governance - 57:40Suggested ReadingsWorking Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities, UNOOSAThe Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World by Tim MarshallSpace Resource Activities and the Evolution of International Space Law by Melissa De Zwart, Stacey Henderson and Michelle NeumannInternational Conference on Space Resources  Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

The recent war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East have provided valuable lessons when it comes to the nature of future military modernisation and defense innovation. While traditional warfare remains relevant, we are seeing a shift towards multi-domain operations that are more kinetic and are increasingly utilizing autonomous weapons. As India seeks to boost its defence exports, its domestic industry will have a role to play. Several factors have played a role in the recent spike in defence exports—regulatory initiatives, enhanced capability of the private sector, and the desire among other countries to diversify away from their traditional defence partners and look at India instead. Additionally, the INDUS-X initiative between India and the U.S. has also been noted as a welcome mechanism to encourage further defence cooperation in other emerging technologies such as quantum computing, space, cyber-security, and deep-sea technology.What are the potential opportunities that international collaborations present? Will India's domestic industry be able to meet the armed forces' requirements? In this episode of Interpreting India, Ajay Kumar and Konark Bhandari talk about the current status of defence innovation in India and the emerging trends in this space.  Episode ContributorsAjay Kumar is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India. He served as the defense secretary of India between August 2019 and October 2022 and is the longest serving secretary in the Ministry of Defence, where he also served as secretary in the Department of Defence Production. As defense secretary, Ajay Kumar was the key architect for several major transformations, including the restructuring of higher defense management in the country and formation of the chief of defense staff in the Indian Armed Forces; the launch of the Agniveer scheme—a historic reform in recruitment, training, and retention of personnel in the Armed Forces. Konark Bhandari is a fellow with Carnegie India. He is a lawyer who has researched certain areas in the digital economy, focusing primarily on approaches to antitrust regulation of companies in the digital realm. He had earlier worked at India’s antitrust regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), where he worked closely with senior officials on a variety of matters. He is also an avid follower of the regulation of the space technology ecosystem and is keen to contribute to that discipline. Additional ReadingsINDUS-X: Charting the Way Ahead for India-U.S. Defense Industrial Cooperation, by Konark Bhandari. Can a Defense Innovation Bridge Elevate India-U.S. Defense Cooperation? by Konark Bhandari. Sameer Lalwani on India-U.S. Defense-Industrial Cooperation.U.S.-India Defense Innovation Collaboration: Building on a Promising Start by Konark Bhandari. Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.