All Things Policy
Episodes
Ep. 520: Reaching for the Heavens Via India
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brazil is preparing to launch Amazônia-1, its first indigenously made earth-observation satellite, from Sriharikota in just a few days.
Ep. 519: How Russia Uses the Geopolitics of Natural Gas
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Russia has been the largest supplier of LNG to Europe. Being the hydrocarbon bridge between Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine is heavily de...
Ep. 518: Should Google and Facebook Pay for News?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Australia has come up with a code to make Google and Facebook negotiate with news outlets and pay for content that they host. The tech giants have rea...
Ep. 517: The Mirage of a United Asia
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Totally amicable relations between the countries of Asia might seem hopelessly idealistic today - but about a hundred years ago, a wave of intellectua...
Ep. 516: Can India Meet Its COVID-19 Vaccination Target?
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Will India be able to cover its target population for COVID-19 vaccination? What issues is India facing during vaccination? Which vaccines are being a...
Ep. 515: Making sense of China-India disengagement on the LAC
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
China and India announced an agreement to disengage from Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Lt Gen (Dr) Prakash Me...
Ep. 514: 5G: will India be Late to the Party?
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The standing committee on Information Technology has come out with a report examining India’s preparedness for 5G. It questions whether India is goi...
Ep. 513: Struggle and Revolution in Telugu Literature
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Telugu culture is most often associated with Tollywood today - but at one point, revolutionary Telugu writers and poets were among the most progressiv...
Ep. 512: China's Vaccine Diplomacy
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
China is offering priority access to Chinese-developed vaccines to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Ep. 511: Will the DNA Bill do More Harm than Good?
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill has been listed for consideration in the Budget session.
Ep. 510: The Contest to Chart the Indo-Pacific's Oceans
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Major powers are ramping up their efforts to map the undersea environment of the Indo-Pacific. Charting and mapping the ocean deeps confer both econom...
Ep. 509: Making Sense of India's Defence Budget
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A major highlight of the Budget 2021-22 was the 18.75% increase in the capital outlay in allocation towards defence.
Ep. 508: When The Stonks Are Down
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Reddit-GameStop saga has been making news around the world. The next few weeks will raise important questions about how much responsibility social...
Ep. 507: The Seleukid Empire and the Silk Roads
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Though often seen as a footnote in Indian history, the Seleukid Empire dominated much of the Hellenistic world after the death of Alexander the Great....
Ep. 506: What Does 137% Hike in Health Budget Mean?
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A major highlight of the Budget 2021-22 was the 137% increase in the budget allocation towards health.
Ep. 505: Unpacking Budget 2021
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This year's budget included several welcome steps such as higher infrastructure funding and a greater allocation to healthcare. It also included newer...
Ep. 504: Asia's Cold Frontier: Tracking Japan - Russia Ties
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As immediate neighbours, Japan and Russia have an uneasy relationship going back centuries. A long-standing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands...
Ep. 503: Alexei Navalny - The Face of the Russian Opposition?
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following the arrest of well known Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, an unprecedented number of protests have broken out across Russia.
Ep. 502: What Angkor Teaches Us About India
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Southeast Asia is generally thought of as being "Indianised" for much of its history - but what does that actually mean? Anirudh Kanisetti and Aditya ...
Ep. 501: How to Foster Science and Tech in India
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Draft 5th Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 outlines a grand vision for Indian science over the coming years. But is it a feasible on...
Ep. 500: Behind the Scenes at All Things Policy
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On 27 January, All Things Policy, the world's only daily public policy podcast, marked 500 episodes. Manoj Kewalramani talks to Aditya Ramanathan and ...
Ep. 499: What Should India Do With Its Rare Earth Reserves?
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rare earth underpins the Indian economy. But despite being home to the world's fifth-largest rare earth reserves, India overwhelmingly imports these c...
Ep. 498: How Not to Secure Women's Liberty
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Madhya Pradesh government recently proposed that women living away from home must register with police stations to be tracked. This may have serio...
Ep. 497: The Vaccine Update: India's Rollout and Beyond
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As India launches the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccination programme, Shambhavi Naik talks to Rohan Seth about domestic and international developme...
Ep. 496: Launching India's Space Start-ups into Orbit
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Bengaluru-based start-up Pixxel prepares for the launch of its first satellite into space, we talk to its CEO, Awais Ahmed, about India's growing c...
Ep. 495: Declassified: The US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In an unexpected move last week, the US National Security Advisor declassified the Trump administration’s 2018 U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo...
Ep. 494: Jack and the Ant: A Fairytale that's Ending?
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
China’s financial sector is making global news. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, Alipay and Ant Group, has not been heard from recently, while Chine...
Ep. 493: Can India Displace China in Global Supply Chains?
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The rise in international tensions and the decline in economic globalisation are often touted as opportunities for India to become a critical part of ...
Ep. 492: What Biden Means for India
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How will Joe Biden's administration approach relations with India? Should Delhi be worried? Manoj Kewalramani and Aditya Ramanathan discuss the prospe...
Ep. 491: Trustbusters! What the Microsoft Case Teaches Us About Antitrust
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Modern tech monopolies are being subject to antitrust investigations in the US and in India. There are lessons they can learn from Microsoft in the 19...
Ep. 490: What was China’s PLA up to in 2020?
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The year 2020 was critical for the Chinese armed forces. Its goal of achieving mechanisation was delayed, as were recruitment reforms. Meanwhile, asse...
Ep. 489: What's Going to Happen in 2021?
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2020 was one of the most turbulent years in recent history. What's 2021 going to look like? Anupam Manur and Pranay Kotasthane speak to Anirudh Kanise...
Ep. 488: Can you Speed up Vaccine Approval?
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
India's approval of two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use has received mixed responses. Shambhavi Naik, Anirudh Kanisetti and Sunila Dixit discuss t...
Ep. 487: Great Books From a Year of Reading
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2020 has been a strange year. One thing that remained constant at Takshashila was our love for reading. Manoj Kewalramani joins Nitin Pai and Rohan Se...
Ep. 486: How Britain Spied on the Seas
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Royal Navy has been one of the most formidable forces ever to put to sea in history. Through modern times, the Royal Navy has been served by a wel...
Ep. 485: The Curious Case of Markets, Masks and Hand Sanitisers
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The availability and quality of face masks and hand sanitisers have improved many times over since the pandemic began. How did this happen? Sarthak Pr...
Ep. 484: Civilisation: What Ancient Mesopotamia Tells Us about India
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Indian Subcontinent had some of the oldest cities in the world - but we know almost nothing about the urban culture of the Indus Valley, especiall...
Ep. 483: Quad and the Semiconductor Value Chain
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The semiconductor value chain is one of the most diverse supply chains in the tech world. No one country has been successful in having a completely do...
Ep. 482: How Can Citizens Make Cities Better?
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While Indians lavish attention on general and state elections, democracy at the municipal tends to be ignored or hijacked by extraneous issues. In thi...
Ep. 481: Should AYUSH Doctors Perform Surgeries?
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A recent notification from the Ministry of AYUSH says post-graduate AYUSH doctors will be trained to perform 39 types of surgeries. The notification h...
Ep. 480: Europe's China Dilemma
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Even as incoming US President Joe Biden vows to craft a "coherent strategy" on China, the European Union is trying to clinch a trade deal with Beijing...
Ep. 479: What are China's Lunar Ambitions?
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
China's Change 5 mission returned to Earth after a 23-day mission to the moon during which it collected two kilograms of lunar samples. What does this...
Ep. 478: Surprises in the National Family Health Survey
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the findings of the first phase of the National Family Health Survey 5. While indicators on family ...
Ep. 477: Is the FTC Suit Against Facebook Fair?
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The US Federal Trade Commission is suing Facebook for its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. Is Facebook monopolising the personal social network...
Ep. 476: India-China Ties: The Strategic Dimension
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said this week that the relationship with China had been “significantly damaged” this year. In fact, as wint...
Ep. 475: Bear's Den: Why Does Russia Want A Naval Base in the Red Sea?
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Russia is planning to lease a naval base in Sudan for at least 25 years. Aditya Pareek talks to Aditya Ramanathan about Moscow's underlying ambitions,...
Ep. 474: Is India Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine Soon?
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vaccines are being approved for emergency use in countries like the UK and Canada. Can India do the same? Sunila Dixit talks to Shambhavi Naik about t...
Ep. 473: Could Spies Avert the Next Pandemic?
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As threats from disease outbreaks and ecological disasters grow, should intelligence agencies be tasked with tracking them? What are the potential ben...
Ep. 472: Is Corporate Ownership of Banks a Good Idea?
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An internal working group set up by RBI recommended allowing corporate houses to own and operate banks. Sarthak Pradhan joins Saurabh Modi to discuss ...
Ep. 471: The Death of a Scientist and the Future of Iran’s Nuclear Programme
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has dimmed prospects for a renewed nuclear deal with Iran. Will US President-elect Joe Bid...
Ep. 470: Does One Nation, One Election Make Sense?
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, on the Constitution Day, the Prime Minister called for replacing current election cycles with simultaneous elections. While this is not a ne...
Ep. 469: Is India Really Closer to Achieving its Sanitation Goals?
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A new WHO report, State of the World's Sanitation, reveals what progress has been made and what remains to be done. What are the social factors affect...
Ep. 468: Guidelines for Cab Aggregators: The good, the bad, and the unnecessary
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued new Motor Vehicle Aggregators guidelines. These have some serious implications for companies like...
Ep. 467: Dropping Out of RCEP: An Opportunity Lost for India
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For a larger regional and global presence, India needs to be pro-active in joining free trade agreements. Dropping out of RCEP is an opportunity lost ...
Ep. 466: Lessons to Learn on Big Tech Regulation
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Both the US and Europe have attempted to regulate 'Big Tech' effectively. Soon, it will be India's turn to work out new ground rules for these novel t...
Ep. 465: Should 2020 be a Zero Year for Education?
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened inequalities in India's education sector. While many schools and colleges have resorted to online classes, millions...
Ep. 464: How Effective Are the New COVID Vaccines?
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How is vaccine effectiveness calculated? Should ministers be part of vaccine clinical trials? Sunila Dixit is joined by Ameya Paleja and Shambhavi ...
Ep. 463: How Not To Regulate Disinformation
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kerala State government has backed down from amending its Police Act to include imprisonment for social media posts considered "offensive" or "def...
Ep. 462: The World Health Assembly Meets Amid a Pandemic
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While the pandemic rages on without end, the 73rd World Health Assembly has passed important resolutions relating to vaccination, food security, and o...
Ep. 461: India's Marathon: Surya Prakash BS on Reimagining India's Revenue
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 460: India's Marathon: Kunal Singh on Leveraging the India-US Partnership
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 459: India's Marathon: Shruti Rajagopalan on India's Strength in Numbers
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 458: India's Marathon: Raja Karthikeya on India as an International Mediator
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 457: India's Marathon: Ameya Naik on India and the Rules-Based International Order
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 456: India's Marathon: Alok Prasanna Kumar on Reforming India's Institutions
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Takshashila Institution has launched a new book, India's Marathon: Reshaping the Post-Pandemic World Order, a collection of essays by public intel...
Ep. 455: Pfizer and the Hunt for a COVID-19 Vaccine
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does Pfizer’s announcement about its COVID-19 vaccine mean? Why did Brazil halt China’s SinoVac vaccine trial? When will Serum Institute’s ...
Ep. 454: What India's Information Ecosystem Can Learn from the US Elections
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Information disorder took center-stage in the 2020 US elections, with mass-media and social media platforms both amplifying and containing narratives....
Ep. 453: How Will Biden Deal With China?
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Will a Biden administration get tougher on Beijing? Will it ease the pressure? Or will it be more of the same? Manoj Kewalramani and Suyash Desai join...
Ep. 452: What Ancient Egypt Tells Us About Ourselves
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Cleopatra, the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt is closer to our time than the Great Pyramid of Giza was to her time. How did ancient Egypt last s...
Ep. 451: What Today's Submarines Owe to the Cold War and WWII
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The cutting edge features in naval submarines today are the legacy of Cold War-era technologies that were, in turn, derived from both Axis and Allied ...
Ep. 450: China's Plan for the Next Five Years
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
China held the fifth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party Central Committee last week. The primary task was to assess the results of the 13th F...
Ep. 449: Rags to Riches: The Mystery of Social Mobility in India
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Social mobility refers to a change in one's social status relative to one's current social location. What are the factors impacting social mobility? W...
Ep. 448: The Political Theatre of Section 230
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The US Senate questioned the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google on whether Section 230- which shields them from liability for the actions of online...
Ep. 447: The Perils of Stubble Burning
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Stubble burning in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh contributes to air pollution in North India during the wintertime.
Ep. 446: How Australia Sees the Indo-Pacific
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a historic development, Australia will join the Malabar naval exercise in November along with India, the US and Japan. High Commissioner Barry O'Fa...
Ep. 445: Understanding the Taliban's Strategies for War and Peace
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The United States, the Afghan government, and the Taliban are vying for advantage in the ongoing talks. In a conversation with Pranay Kotasthane and A...
Ep. 444: Reforming the Power Sector OR Can we have less power cuts?
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reforms are long overdue in India's power sector. Does the recent draft Electricity Amendment Bill offer viable solutions? Anupam Manur and Sarthak Pr...
Ep. 443: Is Herd Immunity a Viable Strategy for COVID-19?
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A recent declaration from a group of experts calls for a different strategy to deal with COVID-19: one of achieving herd immunity while protecting the...
Ep. 442: Making Content Policy for Hate Speech
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It has been a busy time for content moderation and social media. Facebook has updated its policy on holocaust denial and Delhi’s Peace and Harmony C...
Ep. 441: The Paradoxes of Pakistani Politics
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What’s fuelling political instability in Pakistan? Why are opposition parties rallying behind former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - and against army ...
Ep. 440: Who Really Wrote the Arthashastra?
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Arthashastra is famously believed to have been composed by Chanakya, the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya. But a new wave of scholarship is c...
Ep. 439: Submarine Cables: Why They Matter and Who Threatens Them
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Around 97% of all global communications are facilitated by submarine telecom cables. These cables, and the online connectivity they enable, are crucia...
Ep. 438: Mental Health and the Pandemic
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Prolonged periods of isolation and loss of jobs due to COVID-19 have resulted in rising cases of suicide, depression, and anxiety. Open conversations ...
Ep. 437: To Break or Not to Break: Discussing the US Congressional Report on Antitrust
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The US Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law came out with a 449-page report on monopoly power in digital markets. How might r...
Ep. 436: What's Happening in Space?
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's been an eventful couple of weeks in matters relating to space, with eight nations signing an agreement on moon exploration and new advances in th...
Ep. 435: How the Portuguese Influenced India's Culture
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From a transformation of cuisines to vanishing creole languages to loan words we use every day, the influence of Portugal on the fabric of life in the...
Ep. 434: The Hidden Realities Behind Crime Statistics
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What state has the worst crime rates? That's not easy to tell because crime statistics in India aren't always accurate reflections of the actual crime...
Ep. 433: China’s Blueprint for Data Security
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
China recently launched the Global Data Security Initiative, laying out eight important principles. One of these principles talks about the need to us...
Ep. 432: The Trials and Tribulations of ASHAs
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why did India's auxiliary health workers, the ASHAs, go on strike? Sunila Dixit talks to Anirudh Kanisetti about the challenges ASHAs have faced - the...
Ep. 431: Taiwan's China Threat
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tensions between China and Taiwan are on the rise due to repeated Chinese military drills and activities in the Taiwan Strait. In this episode, Manoj ...
Ep. 430: How Can States Help Themselves?
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The stalemate between the Union and the states with regards to GST compensation continues. Even if it is resolved, it is going to be a temporary fix. ...
Ep. 429: Does Facebook Risk Antitrust Action?
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook reportedly aims to integrate Messenger and Instagram Direct. While this may have been in the works all along, it's now stirring murmurs about...
Ep. 428: Ethics in Clinical Trials
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
ICMR's 2017 ethical guidelines need a revision, with more focus on fundamental principles that govern the moral decisions and on ethical dilemmas that...
Ep. 427: How Should We Disagree Online?
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Interventions against problematic discourse online can result in amplifying it due a combination of group dynamics and algorithmic reward. For example...
Ep. 426: Choppy Waters in the South China Sea
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As China asserts itself once again in the South China Sea, the United States outlines a new position, and regional actors react cautiously, Suyash Des...
Ep. 425: How China's Belt and Road Initiative is Adapting to COVID
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Even as the world is buffeted by a global pandemic and massive economic slowdowns, China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is quietly adaptin...
Ep. 424: Celebrities and Vaccines, From the 19th Century to the Present
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can celebrities help build trust in a new vaccine? Shambhavi Naik and Anirudh Kanisetti talk to Aditya Ramanathan about the historical role celebritie...
Ep. 423: Online Fashion Vs Amazon
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why did the Competition Commission of India rule in favour of Amazon in an antitrust case brought by a fashion brand? Rohan Seth and Prateek Waghre di...
Ep. 422: Why Great Powers Procrastinate
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why did the United States aid and abet China's rise instead of "strangling the baby in the cradle"? Manoj Kewalramani, Pranay Kotasthane, and Aditya R...
Ep. 421: India's Sea War Against Germany and Japan
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From 1939 to 1945, the Royal Indian Navy fought on the high seas in the greatest conflict in human history. In this episode, Commodore Odakkal Johnson...