Inside Forbes India

Naini Thaker, a Forbes India journalist who covers startups revolutionizing rural markets, discusses the innovative ways entrepreneurs are addressing the needs of Bharat. She highlights how e-grocers are mapping villages and CureBay's hybrid e-clinics are improving healthcare access. The podcast delves into challenges like antibiotic resistance and cultural diversity, while emphasizing the importance of trust in building successful startups. With a focus on solar energy and community engagement, the conversation reveals the immense potential for growth in India's rural landscape.

Naini Thaker, a Forbes India reporter specializing in transportation, dives into the evolving landscape of India's ride-hailing sector. She discusses the shift from traditional commission models to subscription-based systems prioritizing driver welfare. The competitive tensions between major players like Ola, Uber, and Rapido are explored, highlighting the need for strategies that meet both driver needs and market demands. Naini also sheds light on innovative pricing models aimed at establishing a sustainable future for drivers in this dynamic industry.

Manu Balachandran, an expert in the automotive industry, dives deep into the global shortage of rare earth magnets and its significant impact on India's auto sector. He discusses the heavy reliance on China for these critical materials and the resulting geopolitical tensions. Balachandran outlines potential solutions, including India's push for a domestic rare earth ecosystem. He highlights challenges within the EV market, from consumer hesitance due to limited charging infrastructure to the need for robust government initiatives. It's a crucial conversation on self-reliance and innovation.

Naini Thaker, a Forbes India journalist, dives into India's evolving startup scene, showcasing a shift from consumer tech to deep tech. She highlights how startups are tackling unique challenges, with innovative examples like InMobi's AI pivot and Moonrider's EV tractors. The discussion emphasizes the role of optimism and patient capital in nurturing ambitious entrepreneurs. Additionally, Thaker explores the potential of integrating new technologies with traditional practices, positioning India as a future global tech leader.

Homegrown innovators, policymakers, and startups are laying the groundwork for an AI future where Indian languages, datasets and social context will shape the future of AI. Forbes India's Naini Thaker unpacks our AI special which has identified 30 Indians who are leading the revolution in their own fields

In this special edition of the Inside Forbes India Podcast, Kunal Purandare discusses the magazine's 16th anniversary issue, themed around disruption. The episode explores essays on India's resilience to global shocks, the rise of longevity science, AI's evolving role in work, why sport matters beyond medals and much more. The edition takes stock of India's present and future potential with insights from leaders like Abhinav Bindra, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, and Rohan Murty.

In the latest episode of the Inside Forbes India podcast, Salil Panchal discusses Axis Bank's transformation under CEO Amitabh Chaudhry. From bold leadership shifts to the pivotal acquisition of Citibank's India consumer business, Axis Bank is now scaling up in credit cards and wealth management. Chaudhry's hands-on yet non-micromanaging style, focus on tech, and clear sector priorities are driving growth. With his term running till 2027, the bank has time to sharpen its edge.

In the latest episode of Inside Forbes India Podcast, Naini Thaker discusses her deep-dive profile on Dilip Shanghvi, the low-key founder of Sun Pharma, India's largest pharmaceutical company. Starting with just $200, Shanghvi's strategic focus on chronic therapies and high-value acquisitions—most notably Ranbaxy—helped shape Sun Pharma into a global force. The conversation explores how the company weathered challenges, such as price erosion, by doubling down on R&D and pivoting toward complex speciality drugs. It also highlights that Shanghvi's leadership is marked by humility, passion for his work, and a focus on patient care rather than wealth accumulation.

Anubhuti Matta, a Forbes India contributor, dives into the inspiring W-Power 2025 special issue showcasing 20 extraordinary women from various fields. She highlights Savita Balachandran's groundbreaking journey leading Tata Technologies' IPO and Dr. Pratima Murthy's impactful work in mental health advocacy. The conversation underscores the power of female representation and perseverance, with a spotlight on Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker's triumphs, serving as motivation for the next generation of leaders.

Family businesses in India have thrived across generations, with leadership often staying within the bloodline. But there are notable exceptions where family businesses have turned to seasoned professionals for day to day operations. Gracing Forbes India's cover for the latest issue, Anish Shah is one such leader. He is the first non-family CEO of the Mahindra Group. Anand Mahindra has given Shah a free rein to run the group, and his focus on efficiency is already yielding results. In this podcast, Samar Srivastav looks at Shah's results-oriented leadership style and pinpoints some challenges the CEO of Mahindra Group needs to overcome.