Podcast Archives • Pragati Express

Public Policy Reads Like an Airport Thriller

12 May, 201812 May, 2018 by Hamsini Hariharan and Amit Varma

Editors Amit Varma and Hamsini Hariharan discuss their favourite pieces and catch up on everything that took place over the week.
1. Why Spy, When You Can Buy? by Dheeraj PC
2. Frailty, Thy Name is Public Policy by Devika Kher
3. The Rockets’ Red Glare on The Pragati Podcast
4. The Interrogation of Our Editor on The Seen and the Unseen

Ep. 663: Younger Generals in the PLA
Over the last three months, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has appointed several new generals in the People’s Liberation Army. The head of the Western Theatre Command, which is responsible for India, has been changed four times in just the past year. Suyash Desai and Aditya Ramanathan discuss what’s driving these changes and what they might … Read more "Ep. 663: Younger Generals in the PLA"
Ep. 662: Tibet Before the Dalai Lamas
The Tibetan Plateau is one of Asia’s most important geopolitical regions, and it has shaped the history and culture of the continent in deep and abiding ways. Anirudh Kanisetti speaks to researcher Shivam Bahuguna to understand the intricacies of medieval Tibet. (Correction: The scholar mentioned by Shivam is Diane Weston, not Diane Watson).
Ep. 661: Is MSP Fulfilling its Purpose?
Minimum Support Prices have been integral to Indian agriculture for decades. Sarthak Pradhan and Suman Joshi discuss the hows and whys of MSPs with Takshashila’s alumni Saurabh Karamchandani and Rakesh Kumar Yadav. The discussion traces the trajectory of the MSP regime from its origins to the multiple market failures it has caused. This episode is … Read more "Ep. 661: Is MSP Fulfilling its Purpose?"
Ep. 660: New Cities – More Jobs
India needs to generate more than 20 million jobs every year to provide opportunities to its working population. However, even before the pandemic, it only produced somewhere between a million and 4.3 million jobs a year. One way to generate more jobs could be to build new cities, which need people to build and run … Read more "Ep. 660: New Cities – More Jobs"
Ep. 659: Russian Interests in Afghanistan
With its chaotic exit from Afghanistan, the US finds itself in the same camp as the British in the early nineteenth century and the Soviets in the late twentieth century. The collapse of the US-backed government and the near-complete takeover by the Taliban has also created a vacuum of great power influence. What role can … Read more "Ep. 659: Russian Interests in Afghanistan"
Ep. 658: The Climate Threat in the Indian Ocean
The IPCC Report released in early August reveals the potential impact of climate change on the Indian Ocean region. Atish Padhy talks to Arjun Gargeyas about why the report ought to be a wake up call for collective action by states in the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Suggested readings: Arjun’s Op-Ed in The Diplomat Effect of … Read more "Ep. 658: The Climate Threat in the Indian Ocean"
Ep. 657: The Curious Case of the Havana Syndrome
The Havana Syndrome was recently back in the news when US Vice President Kamala Harris had to postpone her flight to Hanoi due to suspected cases. The illness first came to prominence when CIA officers and State Department officials in Havana first reported experiencing symptoms like nausea, excruciating headaches and potential brain damage in 2016-17. In … Read more "Ep. 657: The Curious Case of the Havana Syndrome"
Ep. 656: What makes democracies tick?
In recent times, there have been apprehensions about the future of democracy. In this episode, Apurva and Sarthak talk about the factors and circumstances that might breed support for democracies. Click here to read the paper referred in the podcast Suggested readings: Aisi Taisi Democracy Pew Research Centre report – Many Across the Globe Are Dissatisfied … Read more "Ep. 656: What makes democracies tick?"
Ep. 655: The US Versus Facebook
In a renewed antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has alleged that Facebook used anticompetitive acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp to further its monopoly power. It also alleges that Facebook unfairly blocked rivals from accessing its application programming interface, or API. Rohan Seth talks to Sapni G Krishna and Prateek Waghre about … Read more "Ep. 655: The US Versus Facebook"
Ep. 654: Can India Mediate Between Russia and Japan?
Trilateral engagement between Russia, India and Japan is emerging, with Pacific Russia and the Russian Far East at its centre. However, the agenda in discussions so far has been limited to trade issues. Aditya Pareek and Suyash Desai discuss an approach India could take to further its strategic goals by helping Russia and Japan fix … Read more "Ep. 654: Can India Mediate Between Russia and Japan?"