Interpreting India

This episode unpacks several critical issues shaping the future of Syria and its broader regional impact. Gaddam Dharmendra provides a historical context to Syria’s crisis, beginning with the Arab Spring, the civil war, and the consolidation of Bashar al-Assad’s regime with the support of Iran and Russia. He sheds light on the structural weaknesses in Syria's economy and governance that led to its fragmentation and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a significant player in the ongoing political transition.The conversation also delves into the role of international actors in shaping Syria’s future:Regional Players: The ambitions of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran, Turkey, and Israel as they position themselves in a post-Assad Syria.Global Powers: The recalibration of policies by Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States amid Syria's evolving dynamics.Dharmendra examines the cautious optimism surrounding Syria’s future, particularly in relation to reconstruction efforts, refugee repatriation, and governance under the HTS. He also highlights India’s interests in ensuring regional stability, given its strategic partnerships with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Iran, and Israel, alongside its vast diaspora and economic engagements in West Asia. 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.

Vijay Gokhale, a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India and former Indian Foreign Secretary, and D.B. Venkatesh Varma, a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation and former ambassador to Russia, dive into India's complex geopolitical landscape. They discuss the aftermath of the BRICS Summit and its impact on India-China relations. The duo explores India's balancing act between the U.S. and Russia amid the Ukraine crisis, while addressing intelligence failures and military strategies in border management, all underscoring India's emerging role in a multipolar world.

India's lunar exploration journey began with Chandrayaan-1, which marked a significant milestone in 2008 by becoming the first Indian mission to orbit the moon. This mission also contributed to the discovery of water ice on the moon, catalyzing renewed global interest in lunar exploration. India has since built on this success with subsequent Chandrayaan missions, most recently Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a successful soft landing on the moon.In this episode, Jatan Mehta discusses the strategic importance of lunar exploration for India and how Chandrayaan-3 has provided India with a solid foundation for future missions. He emphasizes that while India has made significant progress, it still lags behind space giants like China in terms of capabilities and resources. However, India's increasing participation in international collaborations, such as the U.S.-led Artemis Accords and the LUPEX mission with Japan, positions it well for future advancements in lunar exploration.The discussion also touches on the challenges of lunar exploration, including the technical difficulties of landing on the moon and the uncertainties surrounding lunar resources like water ice. As nations compete for access to the moon's South Pole, Jatan explains that there is still much to learn about the actual accessibility of these resources.Furthermore, Jatan highlights the role of private space companies and the growing interest in international partnerships. He mentions how India's collaboration with NASA and Japan could enhance its lunar capabilities, and the potential for India's private sector to contribute to global lunar missions.Episode ContributorsJatan Mehta is a globally published independent space writer and the author of Moon Monday, the world’s only newsletter dedicated to covering lunar exploration developments from around the globe. He also writes Indian Space Progress, a monthly report contextualizing the progress of India’s increasingly relevant space capabilities in the global arena. He has also been an Editorial Consultant for space organizations globally.Tejas Bharadwaj is a research analyst with the Technology and Society Program at Carnegie India. He focuses on space law and policies and also works on areas related to applications of artificial intelligence and autonomy in the military domain and U.S-India export controls. Tejas is also part of the group that works in convening Carnegie India’s annual flagship event, the “Global Technology Summit” co-organized with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.Additional ReadingsMoon Monday Blog by Jatan Mehta Chandrayaan Missions - ISROArtemis AccordsChina's Lunar Exploration ProgramNASA's CLPS Program 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 Modi-Biden era is characterized by a profound deepening of ties between India and the U.S., with significant cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, enhanced defense partnerships, and strengthened diplomatic ties. Arun K. Singh discusses initiatives such as the iCET and the INDUS-X, which bolster the partnership, particularly in high-tech sectors like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and defense. The conversation also covers strategic challenges and alignments, particularly concerning China and the broader Indo-Pacific region.Throughout the episode, Singh articulates the nuanced shifts in policy and perspective shaping the relationship since the early 2000s. From nuclear agreements to the recent developments under the Quad framework, the dialogue illuminates the collaborative efforts defining current U.S.-India ties. The discussion not only explores strategic imperatives but also delves into the personal dynamics between leaders, highlighting their pivotal role in bilateral engagements. The episode underscores the complexities and strategic considerations that continue to drive the India-U.S. relationship forward in the face of global challenges.Episode Contributors Arun K. Singh is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India. Singh has extensive experience across the globe, including as India’s ambassador to the United States, Israel, and France. Throughout his distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service, he has served during pivotal periods in key global capitals and was instrumental in shaping India’s policies, notably the continued progress in the U.S.-India relationship, India’s closer ties to Israel, and the formulation and implementation of India’s policies related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, including in the period following 9/11.Rudra Chaudhuri is the director of Carnegie India. His research focuses on the diplomatic history of South Asia, contemporary security issues, and the important role of emerging technologies and digital public infrastructure in diplomacy, statecraft, and development. Readings:The Modi-Biden Dynamic for Next Steps in India-U.S. Relations by Arun K. Singh The U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET): The Way Forward by Rudra Chaudhuri, Konark Bhandari, and Ashima SinghA Quad Initiative on Digital Public Infrastructure by Rudra Chaudhuri and Aadya Gupta 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.

Janka Oertel, an expert on European foreign policy and China relations, delves into the shifting landscape of Europe-China ties, marked by a move from economic optimism to cautious de-risking. She discusses how geopolitical tensions, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, have complicated these relations. Oertel emphasizes the complexity of reducing dependencies on Chinese assets while navigating various national perspectives. Additionally, she highlights Europe's strategic engagement with India and the Global South, aiming to diversify partnerships in response to changing global dynamics.

There are many factors that have led to China's more assertive foreign policy, especially under Xi Jinping. In this episode, Helena Legarda discusses the centralization of power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how this has influenced China's strategic ambitions on the global stage. She also highlights the increasing role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in defense diplomacy and how various domestic agencies, including think tanks and local governments, contribute to shaping China’s foreign policy.The conversation also touches on the CCP's reliance on nationalism as a source of legitimacy, especially in the face of economic challenges. Helena discusses how this heightened nationalism impacts China's foreign relations and the challenges it poses for the international community.Additionally, the conversation explores the evolving relationship between Europe and China, particularly the European Union's strategy of "de-risking" rather than decoupling from China. Legarda provides insights into how Europe’s changing stance towards China might influence global geopolitics and the role that countries like India could play in this new strategic environment.How does China balance its ambitions for global leadership with the growing challenges at home? What role does defense diplomacy play in China's foreign policy? And how are global powers like the EU and India adjusting to China's rising influence?Episode ContributorsHelena Legarda is a lead analyst with MERICS. Her research focuses on China’s defense and foreign policies, including their domestic sources and drivers, and their geopolitical impact. Prior to joining MERICS she gained professional experience at the Delegation of the European Union to China and at research and advisory firm China Policy in Beijing. Shibani Mehta is a senior research analyst with the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. Her research focuses on the India-China boundary dispute with the purpose of analyzing India’s foreign and security policy decision-making. She also writes extensively on South Asian regional dynamics and minilaterals in the Indo-Pacific.Additional Readings:The Xi Jinping Doctrine of China’s International Relations by Feng ZhangChina’s New International Paradigm: Security First by Helena Legarda "Comprehensive National Security" Unleashed: How Xi's approach Shapes China's Policies at Home and Abroad by Katja Drinhausen and Helena Legarda EU-China Relations: De-Risking or De-Coupling − The Future of the EU Strategy Towards China  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 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.