

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

May 9, 2024 • 28min
Technology and Elections in the Future: Part One
Join Rohan Pai as he quizzes Satya Sahu on the way in which technology intersects with political parties' strategy within the broader context of elections in an information age. This is the first in a two part podcast series on Technology and Elections.

May 8, 2024 • 48min
Women and cancer care
Cancer is fast emerging as a matter of public health concern in India. Challenges are aplenty with limited access to affordable and quality healthcare and shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. Additionally, for breast cancer, it’s also the cultural barriers, misinformation and stigma associated with this disease.
Malathi Renati hosts the award winning oncologist Dr Soumya Holla, a senior breast cancer surgeon and entrepreneur who shares her insights about cancer treatment in India.

May 7, 2024 • 29min
How does Tokyo view the Indo-Pacific?
In this episode of All Things Policy, Bharat Sharma speaks to Dr. Saya Kiba from the Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, on how Japan views the Indo-Pacific, its regional objectives its interests, and the Quad's role in Japanese foreign policy. Dr. Kiba also comments on the trajectory of Japan's relations with India.

May 6, 2024 • 42min
Unveiling the Intrigue: Chip-Based Hardware Backdoors Exposed
The ubiquitous semiconductor chips have acquired huge importance in today’s geopolitical environment. Join Arindam Goswami and Satya Sahu in this episode of All Things Policy as they uncover the intricate world of chip-based hardware backdoors, exploring their implications for cybersecurity, national security and public policy.

7 snips
May 3, 2024 • 34min
Behind the Red Curtain: What are China’s Economic Policy Priorities?
The Politburo of the Communist Party of China met in late April to discuss the country’s economic situation. It also announced that the long-awaited third plenary session will be held in July. Third plenums historically have charted the course for economic policy. In this episode, Anushka Saxena and Manoj Kewalramani breakdown the readout of the Politburo meeting, analysing the CPC’s economic priorities.

May 2, 2024 • 34min
Work Fair and Free
93 percent of India’s workforce is informally employed and migrant workers, who move seasonally from villages to cities, form an extremely vulnerable group in this category. What are some of the chief concerns of such workers and how could India's recent plans to introduce a living wage by 2025 impact them? Join Kripa Koshy and Divya Varma, Co-founder and Director (Knowledge and Policy) at Work Fair and Free, an organization committed to advancing worker-centric knowledge and action, to learn more.

Apr 30, 2024 • 30min
So Long, SSF, and Hello, ISF
In this episode of All Things Policy, Takshashila Research Analyst Anushka Saxena is in conversation with independent research scholar Suyash Desai. The two discuss the recent reform announced in the Chinese military vis-a-vis disbanding of its Strategic Support Force (SSF), and the institution of a new Information Support Force (ISF). Suyash places this development in the larger context of reforms in the PLA, and its preparedness to fight "informatised" wars.

Apr 29, 2024 • 31min
Is Bangladesh on a New Journey?
Born out of war more than 50 years ago, Bangladesh has hauled itself out of poverty to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific region. But the nation still faces many challenges—climate change threatens to overwhelm its low-lying lands, corruption is endemic, and many critics complain that democracy and freedom of speech are under pressure.
In this episode of All Things Policy, Rakshith Shetty quizzes Dr Sreeradha Datta on the current developments in Bangladesh.
Do check out her latest book on the theme - https://www.amazon.in/-/hi/Sreeradha-Datta/dp/9356404216

Apr 26, 2024 • 30min
The Evolving DigiYatra Story
An allegedly unscrupulous one person company has been handling data and infrastructure for DigiYatra, the biometric boarding system used at airports. Anupam Manur and Bharath Reddy discuss the implications.

Apr 25, 2024 • 25min
How to think about public policy
Join Ashwin Prasad, Shreya Ramakrishnan, and Tanay Ravichandran, three policy enthusiasts sharing their latest discoveries in the world of public policy!
A new course on Unpacking Urban Governance on OpenTakshashila is now accepting applications. Click here for more information.