UGC Regulations 2026 are witnessing protests in North India with General Category students raising concerns that these rules could increase discrimination. They also worry about weak safeguards against false complaints and unclear mechanisms for addressing their grievances. What is the purpose and scope of the UGC Equity Regulations? Are the protests against the new regulations organic? How do the new regulations differ from the 2012 regulations? In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Pra...
Jan 29, 2026•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 384
Rajeev Shukla is often described as one of India’s most well-connected public figures. Jokingly, many call him ‘Omnipresent’ Rajeev Shukla. Over the years, he has built friendships across political party lines and developed close ties with Bollywood stars, leading businessmen, and cricketers alike. In a career spanning nearly four decades, Rajeev Shukla has worn many hats. He began his professional journey as a journalist in Kanpur. Today, he represents the Congress party in the Rajya Sabha. He ...
Jan 25, 2026•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 383
Indrani Bagchi is the CEO of Ananta Centre, a platform for dialogue, leadership, and public policy. She has many years of experience covering the Ministry of External Affairs and is known for explaining global events from an Indian point of view. Earlier, she served as the Diplomatic Editor at The Times of India. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Indrani Bagchi talks about how Donald Trump’s policies have changed America. She says the U.S. tariffs on India feel personal and ...
Jan 20, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 382
Gaddam Dharmendra is a former Indian Foreign Service officer who joined the service in 1990. He served in senior diplomatic roles for over three decades and was India’s Ambassador to Iran from 2019 to 2023. He is known for his deep understanding of West Asia, sanctions, and regional politics. Dr Waiel Awwad is a Syrian-born journalist based in South Asia who covers Middle East affairs. He has reported from several war zones. During the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, he was caught in an ambush while r...
Jan 16, 2026•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 381
Sukanta Majumdar is a Lok Sabha MP from Balurghat and serves as Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region in the NDA government. In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sukanta Majumdar discusses the high-stakes politics of West Bengal ahead of the 2026 polls. He claims that Bengal government documents were found at Pratik Jain’s residence, whose company, I-PAC, handles the political campaign of the TMC. Sukanta also speaks about West Bengal...
Jan 13, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 380
Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar served in the Indian Foreign Service for over three decades. During his distinguished career, he served as India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden, and Latvia, and held key diplomatic assignments in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Moscow, Geneva, Tehran, Dhaka, and Bangkok. Today, Ambassador Sajjanhar regularly writes and speaks on issues related to international relations and India’s foreign policy. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Sajjan...
Jan 10, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 379
J. Sai Deepak is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India and a well-known author. His books include 'India, That Is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution' and 'India, Bharat and Pakistan: The Constitutional Journey of a Sandwiched Civilisation.' In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, J. Sai Deepak talks about the demographic changes taking place in India’s border areas and how these shifts could impact India’s democracy, governance and policy-making. He explains...
Jan 07, 2026•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 378
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), and Dinkar Srivastava, former diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation. They discuss the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the future of the Awami League, and the role of Sheikh Hasina. The conversation also revolves around at growing concerns about minorities, i...
Jan 04, 2026•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 377
Gaur Gopal Das is a life coach, author, and motivational speaker. He studied at the College of Engineering, Pune, and briefly worked with Hewlett Packard. Soon after, he chose a very different path and became a monk and has been living in an ashram in Mumbai for the past 26 years. Over the years, he has studied ancient Indian philosophy along with modern psychology. For more than two decades, he has travelled across the world, sharing his thoughts with students, professionals, charities, and ins...
Jan 02, 2026•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 376
Sanjeev Sanyal is a historian, economist, author, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. In this edition of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, he uncovers colonial ‘lies’ in India’s history. He talks about his project on INSV Kaundinya, showcasing India’s ancient maritime exploration. He speaks on the IndiGo crisis, freebies, pensions, and the future of India’s economy. He also explains urban challenges in Indian cities and GDP measurement ...
Dec 27, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 375
The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus –Edition 7.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations. 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 issues like illegal immigration and demographic changes, rising radicalisation in Bangladesh, the V...
Dec 22, 2025•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 374
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur, and Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Foreign Service officer and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation. Together, they discuss India’s narrative war against Pakistan and why winning this battle is crucial. Should India’s armed forces have a dedicated team to counter Pakistani propaganda in real time...
Dec 17, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 373
Bina Ramani is a fashion designer, author, and entrepreneur. She pioneered India’s boutique culture, played a key role in shaping Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, and was a key witness in the Jessica Lal case. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Bina Ramani recalls memories of the Kapoor family, including Raj Kapoor, and speaks about her romantic association with Shammi Kapoor. She also talks about her friendship with Rekha and her role in introducing her to Mukesh Agarwal. Bina Ram...
Dec 15, 2025•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 372
Taran Adarsh is a leading film trade analyst and renowned critic. With decades of experience, he is considered one of the most trusted voices on box office trends and reviews. Bhawana Somaaya is an Indian film journalist, critic, author and historian. She was conferred the Padma Shri in 2017. She has written over 13 books on Hindi cinema and iconic Bollywood personalities. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Taran Adarsh exposes how social-media armies and personalised PR mach...
Dec 10, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 371
Talmiz Ahmad is one of India’s most experienced diplomats, with decades of work across West Asia, the Gulf, and global strategic affairs. A former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, he has watched world politics change from the front row. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Ahmad breaks down India–Russia ties and why the West is rattled by New Delhi’s independent foreign policy. He explains the new Saudi–Pakistan defence pact, China’s growing influence i...
Dec 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 370
Madhuri Dixit is one of the film icons that India has loved for over four decades. From Mohini in 'Tezaab' to Nisha in 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' and Chandramukhi in 'Devdas', her characters live on in people’s memories. Her dance, her expressions, her screen presence, they shaped an entire generation of moviegoers. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Madhuri Dixit opens up like never before. She talks about being booed at IIT Bombay, then dancing for 1.5 hours, her legendary partn...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 369
Namrata Soni is one of India’s most celebrated makeup artists. Over the last two decades, she has worked with the biggest names in the industry and even built her own beauty brand, 'Simply Nam'. In this episode of the ANI Podcast, she talks about her early years, when female makeup artists were banned from working in Bollywood. She shares how Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan stood by her. Namrata also breaks down the truth about skincare, the Korean-skin myth, and why simple routines work best in ...
Nov 27, 2025•46 min•Ep. 368
Dr. (Col) Joy Dev Mukherji is one of India’s top neurologists with over 28 years of experience. After serving in the Armed Forces Medical Services, he joined Max Healthcare in 2006, where he continues to practice as a senior neurologist. He has spoken at medical forums across India and abroad, published several research papers, and received many honours, including the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Medal. In this episode of the ANI Podcast, Dr Mukherji explains why young adults are increasin...
Nov 24, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 367
Himani Shivpuri is famous for playing motherly and memorable character roles in Hindi Cinema. She has acted in many hit films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Hero No. 1, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bandhan, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Himani Shivpuri shares fun stories about Govinda. She talks about special moments from the sets of Hum Aapke Hain Koun and recalls behind-the-scenes memories from DDLJ. She also speaks about th...
Nov 19, 2025•59 min•Ep. 366
On 10th November 2025, a terror blast near the Red Fort shook the capital. For the first time in over a decade, Delhi witnessed an attack in the heart of the city. Early investigations pointed to Pakistan-backed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. The attackers were doctors and engineers. Is this the rise of white-collar terrorism in India? Was the Delhi blast a retaliation by Pakistan after India struck Jaish’s headquarters during Operation Sindoor? Was this an intelligence failure, or did Indian a...
Nov 17, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 365
Arun Kumar is Associate Editor of the Hindustan Times, with over three and a half decades of experience covering Jharkhand and Bihar. Ravi Upadhyay is a Senior Journalist who has worked with the news agency UNI for several years in Chandigarh and Patna. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, senior journalists break down the latest opinion polls, voter trends and ground realities from across the state. They analyse the Bihar elections to see who was ahead - Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi...
Nov 11, 2025•53 min•Ep. 364
Chirag Paswan is the Founder and Chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). He serves as the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries in the NDA government. His party is contesting 29 seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chirag speaks about his party’s prospects in the Bihar polls and shares his political ambitions. He calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi his inspiration and says PM Modi is the only reason he remains with the ND...
Nov 10, 2025•53 min•Ep. 363
Prashant Kishor, the man who has designed winning election campaigns for leaders across party lines, is now in the political battlefield himself. After the first phase of the Bihar polls, Kishor speaks his mind like never before. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he calls migrant workers the “real X-factor” of this election. He claims that “Nitish is going” and that the people of Bihar want change. He takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his appeal to Gen-Z voters, asking, “Why ...
Nov 09, 2025•41 min•Ep. 362
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. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha discusses the dynamics of NDA's Modi-Nitish factor, record voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar election, and explains the Gen-Z factor in Bihar elections. Jha also speaks about Nitish Kumar's health and whether he...
Nov 09, 2025•36 min•Ep. 361
Soha Ali Khan is an actor, author, podcaster, and one of the most articulate voices from the Pataudi family. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Soha opens up about fame, family, and finding her own identity away from the shadow of her legendary parents, Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. She talks about Rang De Basanti, why she chose to step away from films, and what shaped her journey. Soha also reflects on her brother Saif Ali Khan’s career and what it was like g...
Nov 06, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 360
D. Sivanandhan is one of Mumbai’s most respected former Police Commissioners, a man who saw the city’s darkest days up close, from the bloody gang wars of the 1990s to the 1993 bomb blasts that shook Mumbai. He led the fight against Dawood Ibrahim’s underworld empire and is known for cleaning up the mafia. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, D. Sivanandhan takes us back to that era, when gangsters ruled the streets, businessmen were shot in broad daylight, and the Mumbai Polic...
Nov 03, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 259
Ajai Chowdhry is one of India’s leading tech visionaries and a co-founder of HCL, the company that helped build India’s computer revolution. Over the decades, he has advised governments and industry leaders on how to make India a true technology powerhouse. He is also the chairman of the EPIC Foundation, an initiative aimed at developing electronic products of national importance and driving India toward self-reliance in technology. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ajai Cho...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 358
Jaiveer Shergill is a Supreme Court lawyer and national spokesperson of the BJP. He is known for his sharp arguments, nuanced views, and fearless commentary. Once among the Congress party’s national spokespersons, he made headlines when he quit the party, citing “sycophancy over merit,” before joining the BJP. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaiveer Shergill opens up about Punjab’s drug crisis, unemployment and migration, his take on the ‘Vote Chori’ campaign, and the stat...
Oct 27, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 357
Prahlad Kakkar is one of India’s most iconic ad filmmakers. He is the man behind some of the most memorable commercials in Indian advertising history, including “Yehi Hai Right Choice Baby! Aha!” for Pepsi and the “2 Minutes!” Maggi noodles ad. Known for his sharp wit, creativity, and fearless storytelling, he is called the ‘adman’ of India. For over 40 years, Kakkar has changed how brands talk to people through advertisements. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Prahlad Kakka...
Oct 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 356
Sudhir Chaudhary is one of India’s most prominent television journalists, known for his sharp news analysis, bold opinions and decades-long career in broadcast media. He has been at the forefront of Indian journalism’s evolution and its many controversies. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sudhir Chaudhary opens up like never before, on the TRP-driven state of TV news, the pressure anchors face from political and corporate forces and the criticism that comes with being one o...
Oct 19, 2025•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 355
