EP-417 | UPSC Obsession, Dowry, Corruption, Bureaucracy, AI & Education System | Major SPS Oberoi

EP-427 | US-Iran Deal, Pakistan's Role, Trump's Retreat & India's Stakes | Former Envoy Talmiz Ahmad

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 edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he says Benjamin Netanyahu misled Donald Trump by promising a quick victory in Iran, only for the war to drag on. He calls Trump an unpredictable leader, argues that U.S.-Israel ties have suffered, discusses Pakistan's role in the peace talks, and explains why the Iran war is India's war because New Delhi's strategic interests lie in the Gulf. 00:00 – Introduction 01:35 – US-Iran Talks 03:51 – Netanyahu's Influence 06:33 – Trump's Shift on Israel 10:26 – Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 14:18 – Hegemon in West Asia 21:25 – Trump Vs Netanyahu 26:59 – Pakistan's Role 33:49 – Netanyahu's War Strategy 37:27 – Gulf's Response to Israel 43:29 – Pakistan's Influence 52:36 – Why West Asia Matters to India 57:27 – New Multipolar World Order

EP 426 | Dhaka to Kathmandu to New Delhi: Truth About Gen Z Protests | Sanjay Bhardwaj & Pathikrit Payne

Pathikrit Payne has over 20 years of experience in journalism and policy analysis. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. Sanjay Bhardwaj is the former Chairperson of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies. He specialises in India's foreign policy towards its neighbours, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and China. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the Gen Z-led protests in India's neighbouring countries, the rise of the Cockroach Janata Party, and whether Gen Z has the power to influence or even topple a government in India. 00:00 - Introduction 01:40 - Youth in West Bengal & Tamil Nadu 13:55 - Youth Protests Around the World 21:44 - Challenges to Democracy 33:53 - Are India's Youth Angry? 46:04 - Gen Z Protests 1:02:10 - The Sanatan Debate 1:12:40 - Do Neighbours Distrust India? 1:24:33 - India-Bangladesh Relations 1:37:57 - The Aspirations of Today's Youth

EP 425 | Narendra Modi 4.0 or Rahul Gandhi in 2029? | Neerja, Rasheed & Shekhar | ANI Podcast

From Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to Punjab, political equations are shifting across India. Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi still the defining force in Indian politics? Can Rahul Gandhi transform the Congress into a credible alternative? What role will regional parties play in shaping the next phase of Indian democracy? And is India moving towards a two-coalition political system? In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, senior journalists Neerja Chowdhury, Rasheed Kidwai and Shekhar Iyer join the discussion to analyse the changing political landscape. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:20 – TMC's Collapse 08:05 – Defections in TMC 15:10 – The Fall of Abhishek Banerjee 23:31 – Congress & Regional Parties 31:53 – Congress–TMC Merger? 37:57 – TVK-Congress Alliance 47:33 – Rahul Gandhi vs Modi in 2029? 54:27 – BJP's Core Voters 1:00:23 – Why Voters Relate to Modi 1:08:19 – Modi's Feedback Mechanism 1:14:44 – Rajasthan Congress & Sachin Pilot 1:24:46 – Punjab Assembly Polls 2027 1:31:58 – UP Polls 2027 1:38:48 – Journalists and Politicians

EP-424 | U.S.-Iran Deal, Hezbollah, Trump, Pakistan & India-Israel Ties | Israeli Envoy Reuven Azar

Reuven Azar is Israel's Ambassador to India. A career diplomat, he has held several key positions in Israel's foreign service and has been closely involved in shaping his country's foreign policy and international relations. In this edition of the ANI Podcast, Reuven Azar speaks to Smita Prakash about the Iran–U.S. peace deal, Israel's position on Lebanon, the future of the Middle East, and whether the region is moving towards peace or another phase of conflict. He also discusses India-Israel ties and what has changed under the leadership of PM Modi. 00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – U.S.–Iran Peace Deal 07:45 – What Israel Wants Next 09:22 – Defence vs Aggression 18:00 – Trump & Netanyahu Relationship 19:47 – Iran’s Nuclear Program 24:32 – Strait of Hormuz Crisis 29:05 – Buffer Zones in Gaza, Lebanon & Syria 35:02 – Netanyahu Under Pressure? 43:04 – Humanitarian Cost of War 46:35 – Two-State Solution 51:50 – India–Israel Relations 53:10 – Israel’s Wartime Economy 55:24 – Modi’s Visit & Iran Strikes 59:18 – Six Shared India–Israel Values 1:03:21 – Trade & Investment Future 1:08:23 – Pakistan as a Mediator

EP-423 | CEA V. Anantha Nageswaran on India's Economy, AI, Rupee, Freebies & China | ANI Podcast

Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran is the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. He is also a writer, author, and teacher. He has taught at several business schools and management institutes in India and Singapore. He was a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2019 to 2021. In this edition of the ANI Podcast, Dr. Nageswaran speaks to Smita Prakash about the future of the Indian economy, the impact of the West Asia crisis, the outlook for the rupee, and whether AI is a bubble. He also explains why he believes the era of the MBA is over. 00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - Foreign Investors 04:14 - Rupee-Dollar Debate 08:24 - Rupee Stability 14:20 - Foreign Banks 20:07 - Critics of India's Economy 28:20 - China's Manufacturing 33:09 - Unemployment in India 35:09 - Freebies Debate 44:24 - India's Aging Population 50:41 - Demographic Dividend 58:36 - The Skill Gap 1:00:21 - Artificial Intelligence 1:05:55 - India's Economic Strength 1:09:52 - Myths About Indian Economy 1:12:00 - India in 2047 1:18:22 - Per Capita Income 1:22:56 - Viksit Bharat Target 1:27:59 - Vision for India 1:36:42 - Old Economic Beliefs 1:38:07 - India's Economic Mindset 1:44:52 - Advice vs. Execution in Govt 1:48:40 - Fake News