Nitin Nabin is currently serving as the Minister of Road Construction in Bihar and is also the BJP State In-Charge for Chhattisgarh. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about the Bihar Voter Roll Revision Controversy. The conversation covers issues such as NDA’s CM face, road construction, bridge collapses, and the development agenda in Bihar. 00:00 – Coming Up 01:34 – Introduction 01:57 – Road Construction in Rural Bihar 06:30 – Bridge Collapse Issues in Bihar 09:00 ...
Jul 10, 2025•22 min•Ep. 324
Vijay Kumar Sinha is the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. He currently oversees two departments: Mines and Geology, and Agriculture. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about the rising crime rate in Bihar and what the state government is doing to control it. The conversation covers issues such as unemployment, migration, the healthcare system, and the development agenda in Bihar. 00:00 – Introduction 00:25 – Bihar’s Healthcare System 02:20 – Higher Education in Bihar ...
Jul 09, 2025•23 min•Ep. 323
Sanjay Kumar Jha is a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the National Working President of Janata Dal-United. He is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture. He led an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation to convey India's message on Operation Sindoor. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha Jha explains how Op Sindoor showcased India's united stand against terrorism and gained global support. Jha speaks about Niti...
Jul 08, 2025•37 min•Ep. 322
Manjinder Singh Sirsa is a minister in the Delhi Government, holding the Industries, Food & Supplies and Environment, Forest & Wildlife portfolio. The Rajouri Garden MLA is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Formerly with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sirsa joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021 and was appointed National Secretary of the party in August 2023. He has also served as the President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Co...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 321
Nityanand Rai is a Member of Parliament from Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He currently serves as the Minister of State for Home Affairs. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the surge in crime in Bihar and shares what the government is doing to strengthen law and order in the state. He also shares his views on the Rohingya issue, Operation Sindoor, migration, and discusses the NDA's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar Assemb...
Jul 06, 2025•24 min•Ep. 320
Dilip Kumar Jaiswal is the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar. He plays a key role in shaping the party’s strategy and leadership in the state. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaiswal refers to Prashant Kishor as "Paisa Kishor" and challenges him to name even one significant contribution he has made to Bihar. The conversation covers crucial issues like employment, migration, NDA seat-sharing, and the development agenda in Bihar. Timestamps 00:00 – Introductio...
Jul 04, 2025•23 min•Ep. 319
Kanhaiya Kumar is the All India Congress Committee in-charge of NSUI and a youth leader in the Congress party. Tasked by Rahul Gandhi with strengthening the party’s presence in Bihar, he recently led a padyatra in the state. He is also a former president of the JNU Students’ Union. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Kanhaiya Kumar talks about the Congress party’s future in Bihar, Operation Sindoor, the issues of unemployment and migration, and the everyday realities faced by ...
Jul 03, 2025•20 min•Ep. 318
Sanjay Yadav is a Member of the Rajya Sabha and is widely known as the political advisor and close aide to Tejashwi Yadav. Often referred to as the ‘Chanakya’ of the RJD, many believe that nothing moves in the party without his approval. He hails from Mahendragarh in Haryana. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Yadav defends what many critics call the ‘jungle raj’ era of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar. He also addresses concerns about Nitish Kumar...
Jul 02, 2025•27 min•Ep. 317
Ashok Choudhary is the Minister of the Rural Works Department in Bihar. He is known to be close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and also serves as the National General Secretary of the Janata Dal (United). He is considered one of the most influential ministers in the Bihar cabinet. Before joining JD(U), he was the Bihar Congress chief. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ashok Choudhary talks about reports questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's fitness to lead the state and ...
Jul 02, 2025•34 min•Ep. 316
Poonam Dhillon, a timeless icon of Indian cinema, began her journey as a model and rose to fame after being crowned second runner-up at Miss India 1977. She debuted at 16 with the blockbuster Trishul, and later went on to act in popular movies like Noorie, Red Rose, and Teri Kasam, she shared the screen with legends such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, and Rishi Kapoor, becoming a beloved figure in Bollywood’s golden era. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Poonam Dhillon ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 315
In this power-packed episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, filmed in Patna, Bihar, we dive into the heart of Bihar’s political landscape with two key figures: Samrat Choudhary, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, who kicks off with a defense of Nitish Kumar’s NDA government, crediting it for transforming Bihar with better roads, electricity, and women’s self-help groups generating ₹60,000 crore in business. He tears into Tejashwi Yadav and RJD’s “jungle raj”, calling Lalu Yadav “Gabbar Singh...
Jun 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 314
Prashant Kishor is a well-known political strategist who has worked with many top leaders, including Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, and MK Stalin, and with parties across India. He was born in Bihar and is now trying to make a mark in his home state through his own political party, Jan Suraaj. Can Prashant Kishor challenge or end the long-standing political dominance of Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar in Bihar? In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he shares his vision for Bihar an...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 313
Rahul Bose is an actor, director, and writer who has worked in more than 55 films in different languages. He is famous for picking meaningful roles. Movies like Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, The Japanese Wife, and Chameli show how he prefers strong and thoughtful characters. Rahul is more than just a film personality. He was also a national-level rugby player and is currently the President of Rugby India. He is working hard to grow the sport. For him, rugby is not just a game; it’s a way to teach kids team...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 312
Tejashwi Yadav is a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and the de facto chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal. He currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the state. Before entering politics, Tejashwi was a professional cricketer. Today, he is seen as the political heir to Lalu Prasad Yadav's legacy and a key figure in shaping Bihar’s politics. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Tejashwi Yadav responds to the 'Jungle Raj' jibe made by opposition leaders, referring t...
Jun 22, 2025•55 min•Ep. 311
Rajesh Kumar Singh took over as Defence Secretary in the Ministry of Defence in November 2024. He is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and has held several key positions in the Government of India. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the Defence Secretary clears the air around the India-Pakistan ceasefire, laying out the full sequence of events and stating that it was Islamabad that begged for a ceasefire. He also talks about Made-in-India weapons and how they tur...
Jun 20, 2025•54 min•Ep. 310
Chandan Roy was born and brought up in Bihar. He studied mass communication in Patna and Delhi before moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. He rose to fame with his role as Vikas in the popular web series Panchayat. In this edition of the ANI Podcast, Chandan Roy shares what audiences can expect from Panchayat Season 4 and how it will be different from previous seasons. He also talks about his journey into acting and what inspired him to become an actor. Plus, he reveals an untold story...
Jun 18, 2025•19 min•Ep. 309
Khan Sir is a well-known teacher from Bihar, famous for his unique and engaging style of teaching, especially on topics related to current affairs. In 2020, he started his YouTube channel, Khan GS Research Centre. His honest and straightforward approach quickly gained popularity, and today, the channel has over 2.5 crore subscribers. He is admired for providing an affordable and comprehensive learning experience to students preparing for various competitive exams. In this podcast with Smita Prak...
Jun 15, 2025•2 hr 30 min
Reuven Azar is the Ambassador of Israel to India. He previously served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel. He has also held several key positions in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Azar speaks about Israel’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities. He claims that Iran was assembling nuclear warheads with the help of a clandestine group, and says that Israel is acting to defend n...
Jun 13, 2025•44 min•Ep. 307
Get ready for the much-awaited episode of the 'Real' Samosa Caucus! Edition 6.0 is here, and it’s all about raw, uncensored, no-holds-barred discussions. Joining the panel are: Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies This episode dives into some heated topics, including Operation Sindoor and the new normal, India’s foreign ...
Jun 10, 2025•2 hr 52 min•Ep. 306
Sonali Bendre began her career as a model before transitioning into the Indian film industry. She made her debut at the age of 19 with the film Aag. Over the years, she has acted alongside top stars like Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan. Known for her roles in films like Major Saab and Hum Saath Saath Hain, Sonali Bendre remains one of the most familiar and beloved faces in Bollywood. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonali opens up about her acting ...
Jun 07, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 305
Lieutenant General PC Nair is a retired officer of the Indian Army with a career spanning over four decades. He served as the Director General of the Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force, where he played a crucial role in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East region. Lt. Gen. Nair (Retd) has extensive expertise in dealing with insurgency, tribal dynamics, and border security. He is also recognised for his in-depth understanding of India’s internal security challenges, partic...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 304
Rajpal Yadav began his acting journey with television before making a mark in films like Shool (1999) and Jungle (2000). Rajpal has delivered iconic performances in films such as Hungama, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Chup Chup Ke and Bhool Bhulaiyaa series, among others, where he impressed audiences with his blend of humor and comic timing. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Rajpal Yadav opens up about his iconic comic roles and his views on nepotism in Bollywood. He highlights how ...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 303
Shashi Shekhar is the founder of AI for India, an initiative focused on building a strong ecosystem for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the country. He is also the former CEO of Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster. In this episode of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, Shashi Shekhar talks about the battle of narratives surrounding Operation Sindoor and how false narratives against India are often amplified in the West through misinformation and fake news. He highlights t...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 302
Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey is a former Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). He led a crucial operation in 2003 to capture terrorist Ghazi Baba, who was responsible for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. During the operation, Dubey was shot multiple times, and one of the bullets still remains lodged in his body. He was awarded the Kirti Chakra for his bravery. Sanjiv Krishan Sood is a retired Additional Director General of the BSF. In his 38 years of service, he served along all of ...
May 24, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 301
The Central government took everyone by surprise by announcing a caste census, a move that has long been the poll plank of the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. What prompted this sudden decision? Will it truly pave the way for social justice? And how will it impact the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal? In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we delve into these critical questions with three journalists. Joining us are Pallavi Ghosh, Sen...
May 21, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 300
Lieutenant General D’Cunha is the Director General of Army Air Defence (AAD). He assumed command as the Chief of Army Air Defence in 2023. An alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence in December 1988. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how India’s air defence system foiled a bid by Pakistan to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He discusses how India’s indigenous 'Aksahteer', intercepted and neutralised p...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 299
Byju Raveendran is a teacher and engineer, and the founder of BYJU’S, once India’s most valuable edtech startup, valued at 22 billion dollars. Divya Gokulnath, his wife and co-founder, played a key role in shaping BYJU’S content and brand. BYJU’S saw a rapid rise followed by a sharp fall due to financial losses, governance issues, and legal troubles. Its fast expansion and multiple acquisitions put pressure on its operations and finances. Regulatory investigations and investor backlash made thin...
May 18, 2025•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 298
Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) has served as the Director General (Inspection and Safety) of the Indian Air Force. He has also held the position of Commandant at both the Air Force Academy and the National Defence Academy. With over 7,800 hours of incident-free flying on various trainer, transport, and strategic aircraft, he is considered one of the stalwarts of Aerial Refuelling Operations in the Indian Air Force. He has also flown the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. In...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 297
Lieutenant General Satish Dua (Retd) served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and was also the Corps Commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. He played a key role in planning and executing the Uri surgical strikes in Kashmir. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he shares insights on the evolving nature of drone warfare between India and Pakistan, and how India's air defence systems have responded. He also speaks about the deep sense of patriotism among Indian youth and...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 296
Vice Admiral Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade served in the Indian Navy for 39 years and retired in 2022. He held several key positions, including serving as the 36th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations and Training), Controller of Personnel Services at Naval Headquarters, and Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command. Under his supervision, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned on September 2, 2022, in the presence ...
May 10, 2025•59 min•Ep. 295
