All Things Policy
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.
Latest episodes
Apr 29, 2025 • 31min
Aryabhata at 50: The Satellite That Launched a Space Nation
Fifty years ago, a modest satellite named Aryabhata marked India's bold entry into space. In this episode of All Things Policy, ShreeKeerthi, Research Analyst and Prof. Dr. Y Nithiyanadam of the Geospatial Programme at Takshashila Institution, trace Aryabhata's journey from its creation in Bangalore to its launch from the Soviet Union during the geopolitics of the 1970s. They examine the scientific hopes it inspired and the lasting legacy it created for subsequent missions like INSAT, IRS, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan.On the 50th Anniversary of Aryabhata's launch, they talk about the fascinating stories behind its name, explore the Indo-Soviet collaboration in space, reflect on how this single mission transformed Bangalore into the hub of India's space ambitions of Aryabhata, the future of Indian space innovation, and the lessons that continue to be relevant today, at the centre of India's space aspirations.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 28, 2025 • 37min
Internet in the Space Age
In this episode of All Things Policy, Ashwin Prasad and Aishwaria Sonavane discuss satellite internet. We live in a hyper-connected world, and satellite internet mega constellations are the next leap. Thousands of Low-Earth Orbit satellites are working together to beam internet globally, representing a massive infrastructure and space tech innovation. This technology holds immense potential for military strategy and economic growth, but its dual-use nature also presents security and regulatory challenges that demand our attention.To understand the power and implications of satellite internet – whether for use, investment, or governance – it's crucial to grasp its fundamentals. My latest paper, the first in a series, explains precisely how this technology works and its current applications. Dive into the details: takshashila.org.in/research/satellite-internet-explainedThe PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 25, 2025 • 41min
Maps: The New Mirrors to Our Society
Maps don't just guide us; they help in decision-making. From our food apps to how well we are prepared for disaster management, location is our new currency. In this episode, Y. Nithiyanandam & Sowmya Nandan from Takshashila talk about how geospatial work impacts our markets, governance and our everyday lives. Location isn’t just a pin—it’s power.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 24, 2025 • 24min
Rethinking Migration: Myths, Policies, and Global Realities
In this episode of All Things Policy, Aishwaria Sonavane sits down with Danish Zahoor to disentangle some of the myths surrounding global migration. The conversation explores the growing backlash against migration in developed countries, tracing its roots to globalisation and examining the potential consequences for global economic integration. It also delves into the so-called "dark side" of migration, including exploitation, inequality, and brain drain, offering thoughtful insights on how these challenges can be addressed without reinforcing xenophobic narratives.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 23, 2025 • 36min
Decoding India's Labour Codes
In 2019-2020, Parliament passed four labour codes which merged twenty-nine existing labour laws into four broad categories intended to ensure, inter alia, universalisation of wages and social security, ensuring a safe and healthy workplace and formalisation of employment. With the Union government announcing its intention for the implementation of these codes to begin across states by April 1, 2025, what are some of the hurdles that informal workers may face with these new codes? Join Kripa Koshy (Programme Manager, Takshashila) and Pankil Goswami (PhD candidate, McGill University, School of Social Work) as they unpack the implementation struggles, the case for welfare boards and other complex considerations in the Indian context.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 22, 2025 • 27min
Ripple and Rules: Rethinking the Indus Water Treaty
Arpan A Chakravarty, a Research Fellow at the India Foundation with expertise in law and national security, joins the conversation. They delve into the historical roots of the Indus Water Treaty and its relevance today. The discussion highlights the World Bank's role in mediating disputes and contrasts India's cooperative approach to water management against regional tensions. There’s emphasis on the need for treaty reforms to address modern challenges like climate change and the potential for hydropower solutions to benefit both nations.
Apr 21, 2025 • 27min
Social Cost of AI-Generated Art
OpenAI released GPT-4o, which included art generation, particularly Studio Ghibli-style anime recreation of users’ pictures. This update took the internet by storm, and social media platforms were flooded with people recreating their images in Studio Ghibli-style. Parallely, conversations around the integrity of art/artwork, copyright, intellectual property rights, and protecting the livelihood of artists were highlighted. In this episode of All Things Policy, Astha Rastogi and Anwesha Sen attempt to dissect this. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 17, 2025 • 36min
The Science and Ethics of De-Extinction
Recently, a Dallas-based biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, announced that it has been able to resurrect a species of wolf that went extinct around 12,500 years ago. It claims these dire wolves are the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animals.” What does this mean for science, ecosystems, and society? In this conversation with Sarthak Pradhan, Shambhavi Naik shares her insights on the methods used by Colossal, the potential consequences of this breakthrough, the ethical concerns it raises and its implications for policymakers around the world.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 16, 2025 • 31min
The Black Sea Deal: A Quick Fix or a Stable Solution?
The recent talks between Russia and the US discussed reviving a maritime security arrangement in the Black Sea. This has been widely touted as a step in the right direction towards ceasing hostilities between Russian and Ukraine. In this episode of All Things Policy, Adya Madhavan and Anushka Saxena explore whether this is really the case, and discuss the promises and shortcomings of the potential agreement and explore what it could mean for the broader conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
Apr 15, 2025 • 45min
Signals from the Signal Chat Leak
On 24 March 2024, The Atlantic's editor published a story that broke the internet. He revealed being accidentally added to a Signal chat group called 'Houthi PC small group' in which the who's who of senior US national security leadership discussed striking the Houthis in Yemen. After the White House tried to downplay the issue, The Atlantic published another story, this time revealing more details about the bombing timeline.In this episode of All Things Policy, Lokendra Sharma sits down with Manoj Kewalramani and Tannmay Kumarr Baid from the Takshashila Institution to unpack the issue, discuss the highlights from the leaked chat, and discuss the lessons for India.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll 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/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
