

All Things Policy
Takshashila Institution
Ever wondered how automation will change the world? Maybe you puzzle over what India could do to ease traffic congestion, or how China's aircraft carriers will transform Indian Ocean geopolitics? All Things Policy, a daily podcast brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, brings you all the answers. Every weekday, our researchers break down complex economic and geopolitical ideas through the lens of current events. For everyone from the busy executive to the curious student, All Things Policy is all you'll need to understand the world (and appreciate your breakfast) better.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 1, 2025 • 43min
Deciphering the Grey Zone
Colonel Vikrant Shinde, a Research Fellow at the Takshashila Institution and former military officer, delves into the murky world of grey zone conflicts. He discusses how nations engage in subtle coercion and information warfare, blurring lines between peace and war. Vikrant presents a four-quadrant framework to analyze these tactics, contrasting India's challenges with Pakistan and China. He emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies, including AI and cross-sector collaboration, to combat these evolving threats effectively.

Nov 28, 2025 • 32min
Homes as Workplaces: How Karnataka’s New Bill Can Change Our Lives
In this discussion, guests Kartik Singh, a software professional turned public policy student, and Anoop Gannerkote, a renewable energy expert and public policy student, delve into Karnataka's Domestic Workers Social Security and Welfare Bill. They explore how the bill aims to protect domestic workers but also question its feasibility and implications. Key topics include the challenges of mandatory registration, potential privacy issues with home inspections, and the difficulty of standardizing wages. The conversation emphasizes the need for gradual reform and improved grievance mechanisms over heavy-handed regulation.

Nov 27, 2025 • 46min
Inside India's Pension System
Sriram Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of a major pension fund management firm with nearly 30 years in finance, joins in to discuss pensions as a public policy challenge. He explains the shift from defined benefits to the National Pension System, assessing its reach and effectiveness. Iyer highlights recent reforms that enhance equity options and simplify access for users. With India facing demographic shifts, he shares insights on managing equity risks and the importance of behavioral nudges to improve pension adoption.

Nov 26, 2025 • 25min
Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Anisree Suresh, a geoeconomics research analyst at the Takshashila Institution, brings her insights on Kerala's bold claim of eradicating extreme poverty. She discusses the state's innovative poverty measurement methods and the multifaceted EPAP program, which includes housing repairs and health support. Anisree highlights the risks of poverty recurrence due to external shocks like floods or pandemics. She emphasizes the need for sustainable economic policies and strong institutions to ensure long-term progress, making a case for continued urban development and reform.

Nov 25, 2025 • 42min
Understanding Exit Barriers in India
Dr. Shoumitro Chatterjee, an expert on firm dynamics and co-author of 'No Country for Dying Firms,' discusses the complex world of exit barriers in India. He breaks down how these barriers, intended to protect jobs, can stifle economic productivity by preventing new firm entry. The conversation explores regulatory and political factors causing delays in closures, the economic implications of trapped resources, and the need for thoughtful policy reform to balance labor protections with encouraging firm exits.

Nov 24, 2025 • 46min
US - India Ties in Crisis : Impact on Military Capability Building
Air Marshal T.D. Joseph (Retd), a distinguished fellow at the Takshashila Institution, shares insights on the evolving nature of U.S.–India defence relations. He discusses how recent trade tensions disrupt India's military capability development and highlights critical gaps in its defence systems. T.D. Joseph advocates for diversifying partnerships with nations like France and Japan to foster resilience. The conversation also covers the importance of policy reforms to encourage domestic defence growth and trust-building in international collaborations.

11 snips
Nov 21, 2025 • 39min
Anticipating AI's Impact on Jobs
Sridhar Krishna is a policy and technology analyst known for his insights into AI capabilities, while Rijesh Panicker is a policy commentator with a skeptical view on AI's effects. They delve into how AI is disrupting jobs, especially entry-level roles, and discuss the differing impacts on younger versus senior workers. The conversation also explores the importance of task-level analysis over job titles, the necessity of explainability in AI, and the critical need for continuous learning as workers prepare for an evolving labor market.

Nov 20, 2025 • 25min
Deconstructing the DPDPA
MeitY has officially notified the DPDP Rules 2025, paving the way for implementing India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act. However, there are multiple aspects to be considered when reading the Act and Rules such as consent, data retention, children's data protection, grievance redressal, etc. In this episode of All Things Policy, Adya Madhavan discusses the Rules and it's implementation with Anwesha Sen, partly to unpack some of these nuances but more so to pose questions.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in

Nov 19, 2025 • 33min
China's Anti-involution Policies
This episode of All Things Policy unpacks one of the most persistent features of China’s economy: overcapacity. Bhumika Sevkani, Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institution, speaks with Yanmei Xie, Senior Associate Fellow at MERICS, about Beijing’s emerging anti-involution policies and their implications for China and its trading partners. Drawing on her expertise, Yanmei explains the structural drivers of China’s economy and why curbing involutionary competition may prove far more challenging than past rounds of reform.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in

Nov 18, 2025 • 25min
G2 and US Disengagement: Rhetoric vs. Reality
In this episode of All Things Policy, Abhishek Kadiyala is in conversation with Brigadier Anil Raman (Retd.) to unpack the myths surrounding US–China stability and America’s supposed disengagement from East Asia. Together, they explore why the idea of a US–China “G2” repeatedly collapses, how US rhetoric masks a deepening military presence in the Indo-Pacific, and what these trends mean for India’s strategic future. This conversation breaks down the data, the history, and the geopolitical signals that shape India’s biggest opportunity in a shifting Asian order. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/research-areasCheck out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in


