• EP-414 | Why Are India’s Roads So Dangerous? | IIT Delhi Professor Geetam Tiwari Explains
    May 14 2026

    Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians.


    In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems.


    00:00 – Introduction

    02:21 – Rising Road Deaths

    08:13 – International Driving Tests

    10:03 – Road Safety Rules

    11:49 – School Bus Safety

    13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws

    17:03 – Audible Road Markers

    21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs

    22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways

    23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers

    25:41 – Importance of Service Roads

    29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving

    31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists

    37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility

    39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads

    41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail

    46:31 – The Pothole Problem

    49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction

    53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads

    55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites

    58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment

    1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • EP-413 | Collapse of Global Order? NATO, West & Emerging World System | Arvind Gupta & Veena Sikri
    May 10 2026

    Dr Arvind Gupta is Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and a former Deputy National Security Advisor of India.

    Ambassador Veena Sikri is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Malaysia, with decades of experience in foreign policy.

    In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the discussion focuses on how the global power structure is changing and whether institutions like NATO, the Quad, the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 still remain relevant in today’s world.

    The episode also explores India’s foreign policy approach, including strategic autonomy, multi-alignment and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, as well as Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and its impact on South Asia.


    00:00 – Introduction

    02:04 – NATO Crisis

    07:15 – Decline of Post-Cold War Order

    13:34 – Gulf Countries’ Security Alliances

    18:25 – Germany and Japan’s Defence Reset

    21:48 – Future of US-China G2

    27:09 – Global Sea Route Security

    30:47 – India’s Balancing Act in West Asia

    35:25 – Pakistan as Mediator Between the US and Iran

    39:34 – Can SAARC Be Revived?

    43:36 – India, Pakistan & Narrative War

    52:47 – India-Bangladesh Ties

    55:44 – India’s Strategic Role in BRICS

    1:02:13 – ‘Vishwamitra’ Doctrine Under PM Modi

    1:05:08 – India’s Geopolitical Challenges

    1:09:08 – Regionalisation & Global Power Shifts

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • EP-412 | The 'Real' Samosa Caucus 8.0 Edition | Abhijit, Anand, Sushant & Tehseen
    May 6 2026

    The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus – Edition 8.0 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 discusses the recently conducted Assembly polls in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam; the Iran war; the Trump phenomenon; Pakistan’s stature after the war.



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    2 hrs and 57 mins
  • EP-411 | War, Tech & Strategy: Lessons Learned from Iran War & Operation Sindoor | Sushant & Tilak
    May 2 2026

    In this live session of the ANI Podcast, the guests discuss the lessons India has drawn from the Iran war and the learnings from Operation Sindoor as it completes one year. The conversation explores military readiness, evolving threats, and the role of technology and strategy in shaping India’s defence posture.


    Participants


    Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, ORF

    Tilak Devasher, Author; Former Member, National Security Advisory Board


    Moderators


    Smita Prakash, Chief Editor & Deputy CEO, ANI

    Naveen Kapoor, National Bureau Chief, ANI


    *Timestamps*


    00:00 - Introduction

    00:34 - Lessons from Operation Sindoor

    13:46 - Pakistan’s Close Ties with the USA

    25:48 - How Pakistan Handles the Media

    31:26 - What Changed in Pak After Op Sindoor?

    35:56 - Dhurandar Operations in Pakistan

    42:35 - India’s Strategic Autonomy

    48:45 - How Pakistanis View Indians

    1:00:28 - India’s Reaction to Global Conflicts

    1:09:09 - India’s Defence Strategy

    1:20:10 - India’s Border Security

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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • EP-410 | Inside India’s Food Culture: Street Food, Cloud Kitchens & Kitchen Hygiene | Sanjeev Kapoor
    May 1 2026

    Sanjeev Kapoor is one of India’s most well-known chefs, authors and entrepreneurs. From ‘Khana Khazana’ to global restaurants, and from cookbooks to food innovation, he has influenced how India looks at cooking and flavour over the last few decades.

    In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chef talks about how eating habits in India are changing, with busy lifestyles and ready-to-eat meals replacing home-cooked meals.

    He also explores India’s food culture, from street food and restaurant experiences to hygiene standards and cloud kitchens. Kapoor shares honest views on overhyped food trends, along with what makes a dish special.


    00:00 - Introduction

    01:23 - Choosing a Cooking Career

    13:43 - Starting the Restaurant Journey

    26:10 - Western Cooking vs. Indian Cooking

    34:13 - Curating Restaurant Menus

    38:38 - Indian Food Plating

    42:33 - Curating Airline Menus

    56:11 - Cooking in Modern Times

    1:01:22 – Restaurant Culture

    1:04:26 - Snap Reactions

    1:08:16 - Hygiene In Cloud Kitchens

    1:22:37 - Indian Food Culture

    1:44:02 - Underrated Indian Spices

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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • EP-409 | Inside Bastar: The Journalist Who Made 200 Naxals Surrender | Vikas Tiwari
    Apr 27 2026

    Vikas Tiwari, also known as Ranu Tiwari, runs the YouTube channel Bastar Talkies. He has helped over 200 Naxals surrender and return to mainstream society. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how Naxalism began in Chhattisgarh, the challenges of reporting from Bastar, and the goal set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make India Naxal-free. He was awarded the Rameshwaram Hindi Journalism National Award in December 2025. This is a simple, first-hand account from a journalist reporting directly from the remote areas of Chhattisgarh.


    Timestamps


    00:00 – Introduction

    03:18 – From Truck Driver to YouTuber

    11:58 – Dangers in Naxal-Affected Areas

    15:34 – Naxalism and Its Causes

    22:07 – How Naxals Return to the Mainstream

    28:33 – Challenges of Reporting in Naxal Areas

    36:41 – Naxals in Bastar: What Has Changed

    41:10 – Thulthuli Encounter Explained

    44:41 – The Story of Mukesh Chandrakar

    50:58 – Why Maoists Resisted Development

    56:03 – The Reality of Salwa Judum

    58:28 – Life After Maoists’ Surrender

    1:00:53 – Youth and Maoist Ideology

    1:02:35 – Reporting from Naxal Areas

    1:07:22 – Stories from Families of Martyrs

    1:14:08 – When Maoists Started Losing Power

    1:16:36 – Attack on Congress Leader V.C. Shukla

    1:18:35 – Understanding “Urban Naxals”

    1:24:10 – Suggestions to Counter “Urban Naxals”

    1:27:15 – Reality of Bastar Villages

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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • EP-408 | Indian Economy, Energy Crisis, Stock Market, AI & Power Politics | Nilesh Shah
    Apr 24 2026

    India’s financial markets are going through a complex global situation, shaped by changing geopolitics and shifts in domestic growth. To help us understand what lies ahead, the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash is joined by one of the most respected voices in the investment world, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company. He is also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. With decades of experience across market cycles, he shares valuable insights on the economy, markets, and where investors should consider placing their bets. He also explains what lessons India can learn from the West Asia crisis.



    Timestamps


    00:00 – Introduction

    00:39 – Role in PM’s Economic Advisory Council

    03:49 – India’s GDP Ranking

    07:30 – India’s Economic Vulnerability

    12:30 – Progress of Banking in India

    16:16 – Impact of West Asia Conflict on India

    20:41 – How India Can Improve Its GDP

    25:22 – US Markets During Iran War

    27:44 – India–China Trade Explained

    31:07 – Monsoon Impact on Indian Economy

    32:30 – Why is Rupee Falling?

    37:55 – Role of AI in Indian Economy

    41:06 – Investor Trust in Indian Equities

    42:37 – IPO Rush in 2025 Explained

    44:09 – Buy or Sell in the Stock Market

    46:45 – How to Manage Money Better

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    48 mins
  • EP-407 | Delimitation, Women’s Quota Bill, North–South Divide & Census | Varghese K George & Swapnil
    Apr 19 2026

    In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we take a deep dive into Women’s Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.


    Joining the conversation are Varghese K. George, resident editor at The Hindu, and Swapnil Tripathi, lead at Charkha (Centre for Constitutional Law) at Vidhi.


    Together, they explain what the bill aimed to do and why linking it with delimitation and census data led to political disagreement.


    The discussion also covers concerns over North-South balance, population-based seat redistribution, and parliamentary accountability.


    *Timestamps*


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:47 – Political Timing of Women’s Quota Bill

    05:38 – Delimitation Debate

    11:02 – PM Modi’s Guarantee

    17:03 – Impact on South India

    20:24 – Chandrababu Naidu’s Stand

    25:49 – Furore Over Delimitation

    30:55 – Reserved Constituencies in India

    35:11 – Population & Tax Contribution

    40:28 – Tharoor’s Proposal

    49:23 – Political Consensus on Women’s Reservation

    52:44 – DMK’s Private Member’s Bill

    56:43 – Executive-Centric Governance in Democracies

    1:07:19 – Arvind Kejriwal & Mamata Banerjee in Court

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    1 hr and 13 mins