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
Oct 13, 2026 • 39min
AI and India’s Electricity Market
India’s power system is becoming more complex as renewable energy grows and electricity demand becomes harder to predict. In this episode of All Things Policy, Gopal Tomar speaks to Dinker George Mattam about how AI and machine learning could make India’s electricity markets smarter. They explore the role of forecasting, automated decision-making, storage and demand flexibility; who benefits from more dynamic power markets; and what India needs to get right in terms of data, market design and policy.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 12, 2026 • 31min
The Inverse Law of Innovation
How does a young officer’s “Why not?” become a senior officer’s “Better not”?In this episode of All Things Policy, Dr Y. Nithiyanandam, Professor at the Takshashila Institution, speaks with Cmde (Dr) Arun Pratap Golaya (Retd) about The Inverse Law of Innovation: the idea that openness to new ideas in government declines with years of service. Drawing on his experience in naval innovation, Golaya explores how career risks, rigid procedures and the “frozen middle” can stall promising ideas. Together, they discuss small experiments, leadership support and rewarding outcomes, asking a vital question: how can institutions uphold accountability while giving good ideas a chance?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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 9, 2026 • 35min
How China Makes Policy
China is often seen as a highly centralised system where policy is decided at the top and simply implemented by the bureaucracy. But is Chinese policymaking really that straightforward? In this episode, Shreya Ramakrishnan speaks with Shobhankita Reddy about how policymaking actually works in China. They explore the iterative nature of the policymaking process, the different stakeholders who shape it, and how these dynamics are reflected in China’s approach to AI. The conversation then looks at the broader domestic economic trends shaping China’s technology ecosystem, and what these could mean for the country’s future technological ambitions.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 8, 2026 • 31min
A New Congress, A New Challenge for India-US Ties?
In this episode of All Things Policy, Aditi Palo speaks with Abhishek Kadiyala about the impacts of an altered US Congress composition on India-US ties. In the past, the US Congress has proven to be a relatively consistent element in India-US ties and a reliable institution in times of political uncertainty. But early trends in the midterm elections indicate a shift towards a more ideologically divided composition of Congress, which could potentially erode this very reliability. Aditi and Abhishek unpack the uncertainties a fragmented Congress would bring in, and delve into the measures India could take to preserve the institutional foundations of this relationship.Explore:US Mid-Term Tracker - https://dcdossier.github.io/Generational-Mid-terms/DC Dossier - https://dcdossier.github.io/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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 7, 2026 • 35min
America Votes | Why should India care?
In this inaugural episode of 'America Votes', All Things Policy's series covering the US mid-terms, Brigadier Anil Raman and Abhishek Kadiyala cover the early trends in November elections. They discuss the process, the politics and its relevance for India. It frames the midterms as a contest for Congress, whose powers over war, tariffs and aid outlast any executive action. Tracing the President's record-low approval and Republican fears, the episode shows how American domestic politics now sets the cost and tone of ties with India. It argues that India remains strategically essential but politically disposable, and that a Democratic House will not undo American protectionism. Ultimately, it asks whether New Delhi must stop treating Congress as insurance against the executive and build constituencies on Capitol Hill.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 6, 2026 • 28min
The Limits of US-China Cooperation on AI Safety
Can the US and China cooperate on AI safety while competing to lead the technology’s development? Bharath Reddy and Shobhankita Reddy examine what the Trump–Xi summit revealed, why calls to slow the AI race face resistance and what areas they might possibly cooperate on going forward.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 5, 2026 • 30min
The Medical Wild East
A Chinese company engaged in semi-invasive brain-computer interface became the first firm globally to get regulatory approval for commercial use. Within 12 days, different arms of the Chinese government - both at the national and local level - worked together to assign the product a medical insurance code, add it to the government’s consumables catalogue, and list it for hospital procurement. In contrast, it may be 2029 when Elon Musk's Neuralink gets its regulatory clearance. Shobhankita Reddy sits down with Shambhavi Naik to discuss what all this means and its potential impact for China and the rest of the world. Read Shobhankita's op-ed here - https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/opinion/china-s-laissez-faire-approach-to-cutting-edge-medical-technology-has-set-the-cat-among-the-pigeons-14021687.htmlAll 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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Oct 1, 2026 • 28min
Should Governments Read Science Fiction?
Science fiction has a habit of describing inventions decades before they're built: the submarine, the mobile phone, even the phrase "atomic bomb." Astha Rastogi and Ashwin Prasad Rao ask whether that same imaginative power can help governments make sense of technologies that don't yet exist.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Sep 30, 2026 • 36min
Civic Innovation: What Works, What Doesn’t
In this episode, Sowmya Prabhakar is in conversation with Kuldeep Dantewadia about Civic Innovation: What Works, What Doesn't. The framework and tools that Kuldeep shares give enough pointers to convene people to bring about change. We also discuss how this works at the intersection of society, government, and markets. We delve into what it takes to keep the learning muscle active by gathering, growing and repeating this process.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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Sep 29, 2026 • 23min
Cross-Border Strikes and Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations
In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane joins Adya Madhavan to unpack Pakistan’s escalating military strikes in Afghanistan. They discuss the deep-rooted ideological and tribal ties binding the Afghan Taliban to the TTP, the limits of regional mediation by actors like China and Saudi Arabia, and whether Islamabad and Kabul are entering a protracted, low-intensity conflict. 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-areas Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
