Ep. 502: What Angkor Teaches Us About India
Southeast Asia is generally thought of as being "Indianised" for much of its history - but what does that actually mean? Anirudh Kanisetti and Aditya Ramanathan
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.

Southeast Asia is generally thought of as being "Indianised" for much of its history - but what does that actually mean? Anirudh Kanisetti and Aditya Ramanathan
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 one? Aditya Ramanathan and Shambhavi Naik discuss the ideas proposed in this policy,
On 27 January, All Things Policy, the world's only daily public policy podcast, marked 500 episodes. Manoj Kewalramani talks to Aditya Ramanathan and Anirudh Kanisetti about the surprising origins of the podcast
Rare earth underpins the Indian economy. But despite being home to the world's fifth-largest rare earth reserves, India overwhelmingly imports these crucial resources and their derivatives from China, its most significant geopolitical rival.
The Madhya Pradesh government recently proposed that women living away from home must register with police stations to be tracked. This may have serious implications for the mobility and privacy of millions of citizens.
As India launches the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccination programme, Shambhavi Naik talks to Rohan Seth about domestic and international developments, India's vaccine diplomacy, and the crucial question of efficacy.
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 commercial space sector, the promise it holds, and the challenges it faces.
In an unexpected move last week, the US National Security Advisor declassified the Trump administration’s 2018 U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific. What does this tell us about America’s approach to the region?
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 Chinese regulators are reportedly talking about breaking up his fintech empire.
The rise in international tensions and the decline in economic globalisation are often touted as opportunities for India to become a critical part of global supply chains as businesses exit China.
How will Joe Biden's administration approach relations with India? Should Delhi be worried? Manoj Kewalramani and Aditya Ramanathan discuss the prospects for India-US ties in the post-Trump era.
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 1990s. Rohan Seth talks to Mihir Mahajan on Microsoft’s antitrust troubles and what they tell us
The year 2020 was critical for the Chinese armed forces. Its goal of achieving mechanisation was delayed, as were recruitment reforms. Meanwhile, assertion with regard to territorial disputes intensified. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani
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 Kanisetti about their big economic and geopolitical predictions for the next year.
India's approval of two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use has received mixed responses. Shambhavi Naik, Anirudh Kanisetti and Sunila Dixit discuss the approval process, the possible consequences of speeding things up and the potential impact on public c
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 Seth to talk about their reading lists and learnings from tech, policy, fiction, and beyond.
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 well-oiled intelligence machine made of many cogs. Aditya Pareek talks to Aditya
The availability and quality of face masks and hand sanitisers have improved many times over since the pandemic began. How did this happen? Sarthak Pradhan joins Saurabh Modi to discuss how markets solved the problem of scarcity with urgency
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, especially compared to its contemporaries in ancient Mesopotamia.
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 domestic supply chain. Could collaborations within international groupings such as the Quad
While Indians lavish attention on general and state elections, democracy at the municipal tends to be ignored or hijacked by extraneous issues. In this episode, Suman Joshi, programme manager for Takshashila's Graduate Certificate in Public
A recent notification from the Ministry of AYUSH says post-graduate AYUSH doctors will be trained to perform 39 types of surgeries. The notification has caused discontent among modern medicine doctors and led them to go on strike.
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. How do Europeans view the rise of China? And how can Europe balance its American
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 mission tell us about China's lunar program? And how does India's own moon exploration
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 planning and vaccination have improved, the trends of nutrition are concerning. Anirudh
The US Federal Trade Commission is suing Facebook for its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. Is Facebook monopolising the personal social networking marketplace? Anupam Manur and Rohan Seth weigh the evidence and
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said this week that the relationship with China had been “significantly damaged” this year. In fact, as winter sets in, multiple rounds of talks at the Corps Commander level have failed to result in
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, the geopolitics driving this move, and the state of Russia's fleet, especially its flagship Admiral Kuzn
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 the status of various vaccine candidates, a planned app to ease tracking of vaccine
As threats from disease outbreaks and ecological disasters grow, should intelligence agencies be tasked with tracking them? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of such a move? Takshashila's director Nitin Pai joins