Interpreting India
News & Politics
About
In Season 5 of Interpreting India, we continue our exploration of the dynamic forces that will shape India's global standing. At Carnegie India, our diverse lineup of experts will host critical discussions at the intersection of technology, the economy, and international security. Join us as we navigate the complexities of geopolitical shifts and rapid technological advancements. This season promises insightful conversations and fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Episodes
- Can AI Resources Be Democratized? AI Summit Special
This episode is part of our special series on the India AI Impact Summit, examining the conversations, decisions, and debates that are shaping global AI governance. The working group was designed from the start to be bottom-up rather than…
- Space Security in the Age of AI
Almudena opens with a distinction that anchors the entire conversation: space security, unlike space safety, is about intentional harm. It concerns deliberate attempts to disrupt, deny, or destroy space systems and the services they provid…
- An African Perspective for Building AI for Global South | AI Summit Special
This episode is part of our special series on the India AI Impact Summit, examining the conversations, decisions, and debates that are shaping global AI governance. Raymond draws a distinction early in the conversation that shapes everythi…
- The India-EU Trade Deal: What It Delivers and What It Doesn't
For most of the last decade, a trade deal between India and the EU seemed unlikely. The nudge came as the world changed around both. Nicolas points to three converging forces: the pressure of US tariffs under Trump, which gave both sides p…
- From Bletchley Park to Delhi and What Comes Next | AI Summit Special
This episode is part of our special series on the India AI Impact Summit 2026, examining the conversations, perspectives, and debates that are shaping global AI discourse. Tino has been in the room at all four AI summits, and his account o…
- Data, AI, and the Laws Trying to Keep Up
The conversation begins with a close look at India’s data protection regime, particularly the DPDP Act and its emphasis on consent. Nikhil challenges the perception that the law is overly consent-driven, pointing to a range of exemptions a…
- Inside the Iran Conflict: Power, Strategy, and India’s Balancing Act
The conversation begins with a look at where the conflict stands today and how Iran has managed to absorb significant military pressure while still responding in a measured way. Dharmendra explains how the conflict has expanded beyond imme…
- Recalibrating BRICS: India’s Moment in a Fragmented World
The episode begins with a reflection on Brazil’s 2025 BRICS presidency, which emphasized continuity with the bloc’s original reformist agenda—particularly the push for reform of global financial institutions and greater representation for…
- Deciphering the “Mother of All Trade Deals”: The India–EU FTA
Kumar frames the India–EU FTA as a deal India needed, not one it merely chose, arguing that with the multilateral trade system weakened, FTAs have become the practical route to secure market access and signal openness to investment. He pla…
- AI Adoption Journey for Population Scale: The UCAF Framework
AI progress is often measured by the number of pilots launched, but this episode argues the real unit of progress should be how many AI use cases are reliably in production and embedded into everyday systems. Shalini Kapoor distinguishes A…
- Scarcity, Sovereignty, Strategy: Mapping the Political Geography of AI Compute
As AI systems grow more powerful, the computational infrastructure behind them has become a strategic resource, one that is unevenly distributed across the world. This episode takes a deep look at the three layers of compute sovereignty: w…
- Cybersecurity in Outer Space: A Growing Concern
The conversation explores how cybersecurity is integral to space operations, drawing parallels with traditional air defense strategies. Blount discusses the historical context of cybersecurity in space, the role of international law, and t…
- Unbundling AI Openness: Beyond the Binary
The episode challenges the familiar “open versus closed” framing of AI systems. Sharma argues that openness is not inherently good or bad—it is an instrumental choice that should align with specific policy goals. She introduces a seven-par…
- India’s Air Defense After Operation Sindoor: Lessons and the Road Ahead
India’s air defense has transformed from sparse radars in the 1960s to a multilayered network anchored by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), linking radars, interceptors, and layered missile systems into a cohesive shie…
- Military AI and Autonomous Weapons: Gender, Ethics, and Governance
The episode opens with Bhatt framing the global stakes: from drones on the battlefield to AI-powered early warning systems, militaries worldwide are racing to integrate AI, often citing strategic necessity in volatile security environments…
- Beyond Superintelligence: A Realist's Guide to AI
The episode begins with Kapoor explaining the origins of AI Snake Oil, tracing it back to his PhD research at Princeton on AI's limited predictive capabilities in social science domains. He shares how he and co-author Arvind Narayanan unco…
- Navigating the Open v. Closed Source AI Debate with Kailash Nadh
The episode opens with an in-depth discussion about the value of open source as a model of development and how the definitional contours of open-source AI differ from those of traditional open-source software. The discussion also explores…
- Interpreting China: From the LAC to Taiwan – Mapping China’s Assertiveness
In this conversation, Aadil Brar and Saheb Singh Chadha examine how China's strategic behavior across the India-China border, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea reflects a broader effort to create regional influence and redefine border sec…
- Interpreting China: The People’s Liberation Army—Reforms and Challenges
Saheb and Suyash begin by laying out where the PLA stands today in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, and the factors driving its evolution. While the PLA has made major strides in modernizing across land, air, sea, space, and cyber, it s…
- Interpreting China: The Economy and its Impact on Foreign Policy
In this conversation, Saheb and Amit examine the three major structural dilemmas facing China’s economy: a persistently low domestic consumption rate of around 40 percent of GDP, making China an outlier among large economies; the Chinese s…
- Securing Space: Opportunities for U.S.-India Cooperation in a New Strategic Frontier
The conversation delves into the shifting contours of global space governance, touching on the rise of dual-use technologies, the importance of transparency and norms in space activities, and the need for trusted partnerships. Samson outli…
- India's Defence Industry: The State of Play
Episode Notes Lt Gen P. R. Shankar outlines the evolution of India’s defense industry and how it is nurturing a growing ecosystem of indigenous production. He highlights that India’s armed forces have always been adequately equipped for na…
- The Missing Pieces in India’s AI Puzzle: Talent, Data, and R&D
Anirudh Suri outlines the current AI landscape, discussing how the U.S. and China dominate the AI space while other nations, including India, strive to carve their own niches. The discussion focuses on India's AI strategy, which has emphas…
- Trade, Tariffs, and Technology: U.S.-India Relations in Trump’s Second Term
Peter Harrell outlines the Trump administration's evolving approach to tariffs and their implications for U.S.-India trade relations. The discussion covers the impact of proposed reciprocal tariffs, which could significantly affect Indian…
- Trump 2.0: Navigating the India-U.S. Relationship in a New Era
This episode explores the trajectory of India-U.S. relations as Donald Trump embarks on his second term as president. Arun K. Singh provides a detailed analysis of the highs and lows during Trump’s first administration. He highlights major…
- Syria in Transition: Regional Dynamics and India's Interests
This episode unpacks several critical issues shaping the future of Syria and its broader regional impact. Gaddam Dharmendra provides a historical context to Syria’s crisis, beginning with the Arab Spring, the civil war, and the consolidati…
- Bridging East and West: India’s Pursuit of Stability Amid China, Russia, and U.S. Dynamics
This episode unpacks several key issues that shape India’s role on the global stage. As India navigates the path to re-establishing stability along its contested border with China, Gokhale and Varma analyze what the recent BRICS Summit out…
- India's Lunar Exploration: Past, Present, and Future with Jatan Mehta
India's lunar exploration journey began with Chandrayaan-1, which marked a significant milestone in 2008 by becoming the first Indian mission to orbit the moon. This mission also contributed to the discovery of water ice on the moon, catal…
- The U.S.-India Partnership Under Modi and Biden with Arun K. Singh
The Modi-Biden era is characterized by a profound deepening of ties between India and the U.S., with significant cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, enhanced defense partnerships, and strengthened diplomatic ties. Arun K. Si…
- Europe’s China Policy with Janka Oertel
There has been a significant transformation in Europe-China relations over the past decade, with a shift from economic optimism to cautious de-risking. While Europe has sought partnerships with China, particularly in industrial and technol…
- Understanding Drivers of China's Foreign Policy with Helena Legarda
There are many factors that have led to China's more assertive foreign policy, especially under Xi Jinping. In this episode, Helena Legarda discusses the centralization of power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how this has inf…
- 5 Years of Interpreting India
In this special 5th-anniversary episode of Interpreting India , the Carnegie India team reflects on five years of insightful conversations that have shaped the podcast. With over 100 episodes produced, the podcast has consistently explored…
- Ajay Shah on Union Budget 2024: Fiscal Policy and Economic Challenges
The episode provides an in-depth analysis of the structural challenges that led to the slowdown in private investment in India from 2011, highlighting the impact of policy uncertainty, weak rule of law, and central planning on business con…
- Quentin Verspieren on a Zero Debris Approach in Space Exploration
Space sustainability has become a critical issue with the increasing presence of space debris. In this episode, Quentin Verspieren provides insights into the ESA’s zero-debris approach and the collaborative efforts needed to achieve it. Th…
- Raj Shukla on Modernizing India’s Armed Forces and Defense Industry
India's quest for military modernization has been marked by significant reforms in recent years. In this episode, Raj Shukla provides insights into the progress and challenges faced in this transformation. He highlights the importance of t…
- Vidyadhar Phatak on Urban Planning Challenges and Solutions in India
India's rapid urban growth has brought to light numerous challenges, including unmanageable expansion, inadequate housing, and air pollution. Vidyadhar Phatak discusses how historical planning models and regulatory frameworks have contribu…
- Madhumita Murgia on Addressing Unintended Harms of AI
In the past two years, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a burgeoning technology to a transformative force, reshaping industries and everyday life. Enthralled by AI's promises and potential, the tech world and society a…
- Karl Mehta on India's Tech-Driven Future
Karl Mehta highlights the critical role of trustworthy tech supply chains and the necessity for international collaboration among partner nations. Mehta examines the potential of India’s national AI mission and the growing space tech ecosy…
- Poornima Dore on the Dynamics of India’s Regional Economies
India, a continent-sized country, exhibits profound regional economic disparities, with some regions having economic outputs comparable to upper-middle-income countries, while others resemble the impoverished regions of sub-Saharan Africa.…
- Steven Freeland on the Governance of Space Resource Activities
In the realm of space exploration, there's a growing focus on extracting resources from celestial bodies like the Moon and asteroids. This calls for a strong governance framework to ensure responsible and sustainable practices. Internation…
- Ajay Kumar on Defense Innovation in India
The recent war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East have provided valuable lessons when it comes to the nature of future military modernisation and defense innovation. While traditional warfare remains relevant, we a…
- Jabin Jacob on China’s Increased Presence in South Asia
South Asia is a region of remarkable diversity, encompassing countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. Typically, India has been considered the power most capable of exercising its i…
- Anupam Chander on the Challenge of Regulating Free Speech Online
One of the guiding norms that has shaped the internet over the last few decades is that of online free speech. This norm is protected in many countries by exempting online platforms and intermediaries from liability for the user-generated…
- Vijay Gokhale on Crosswinds of History: India, China, and the Cold War's Hidden Game
In this episode of Interpreting India, we delve into the often-overlooked history of India's early relationship with China. Author Vijay Gokhale former Indian Foreign Secretary, takes us back to the 1940s and 50s, exploring pivotal moments…
- Karthik Ganesan on the Current State of Electrical Connectivity in India
India has seen superlative progress in electrical connectivity, achieving 96.7 percent connectivity to the grid as of 2020 from around 67 percent over a decade ago. For context, the electricity sector can be broadly split between generatio…
- Izumi Nakamitsu on Exploring the Geopolitics of Technology: Insights into Military Applications of AI
There are similarities between the UN’s efforts to pursue a disarmament strategy for nuclear weapons and the regulation of the military applications of AI. Given the multiple parallel initiatives on this issue, inputs would also have to be…
- Amit Bhatt on Effective Ways to Achieve Cleaner Transportation
With the onset of winter, severe levels of air pollution have reemerged as a concern in North India. Various factors have been put forth to explain this malaise: stubble burning in farms, vehicular pollution, and pollution due to the const…
- D. Shyam Babu on Caste Census and the Politics of Social Justice in India
The last publicly available nation-wide caste census in India was conducted in 1931. Now, a state-wide caste census has become available from the government of Bihar. Even though we know the Indian state collects data on a variety of marke…
- Devashish Dhar on Understanding the Indian City
One of the most visible signs of India’s economic development in the past seventy-five years has been the growth of its cities. Some of them are now among the largest on the planet, both in terms of area and population. However, Indian cit…
- Stephen Ezell on Cultivating a Robust Semiconductor Environment
The U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) was launched during the Quad Summit in Tokyo in May 2022. The purpose of the iCET was to expand partnerships in critical and emerging technologies, including semiconducto…