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

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

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

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

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

Pawan Kalyan is the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the founder and chief of the Jana Sena Party, an actor, and a philanthropist. He is the younger brother of Telugu cinema megastar Chiranjeevi. Over the years, he has carved a unique place for himself in Andhra Pradesh politics and has become one of the biggest stars in Telugu cinema, with a devoted fan following that extends far beyond the silver screen.

In his first-ever podcast appearance, Pawan Kalyan opens up about his journey from movies to politics, his plans for Telangana, his days in Srinagar, his spiritual beliefs, and several untold stories from his life. He also shares his views on Gen Z, nationalism, language politics, governance, and the future of India.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

00:48: - Story Behind His Name

02:37 - Re-Entering Telangana Politics

07:03 - Telangana Expansion Plan

09:17 - "Outsider" Tag in Telangana

12:36 - North-South Debate

17:25 - Tax Allocation Debate

20:17 - Cockroach Janta Party

27:53 - Spiritual Journey

45:19 - Freebies Debate

48:54 - Hindi Imposition

57:54 - Plans for IT Jobs

1:00:15 - Brain Drain

1:08:47 - Special Status for Andhra

1:10:07 - Telangana Roadmap

1:14:27 - What's Next in Life?

1:16:59 - South vs North Films

1:21:54 - Fitness Routine

Neelkanth Mishra is an Economist and a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He has recently been appointed India’s Executive Director at the World Bank.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Mishra breaks down India’s current economic position amid the West Asia crisis. He discusses the impact of the falling rupee, energy problem, capital flows, and concerns around foreign investors leaving India.

00:00 – Introduction

1:09 – India's Economic Growth Outlook

7:37 – Are Foreign Investors Leaving India?

12:27 – Innovation Challenge in India

22:29 – India's Energy Vulnerability

25:41 – Economic Impact of West Asia Crisis

32:47 – US Tariffs on India

36:32 – Rupee’s Fall

48:31 – RBI’s Gold Reserves Position

53:02 – Why Gold Overtook US Bonds

57:29 – Domestic Demand vs Export-Led Growth

1:05:38 – 3 Key Policy Advice for India’s Growth

1:19:14 – Lessons from Global Capital Giants

1:25:23 – RBI’s Hold on Repo Rate

1:28:26 – Tax Exemption on Government Securities

1:32:38 – India’s Next Phase of Economic Expansion

Dr Shamika Ravi is a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and a Secretary to the Government of India. Her research focuses on development economics, with a special emphasis on finance, healthcare, urbanisation, gender equality, welfare, and poverty.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr Shamika Ravi discusses how the West Asia crisis impacts India's economy. She responds to critics who argue that India's growth story is over and shares her views on foreign direct investment, India's position in the artificial intelligence race, the falling rupee, rising inflation, and the country's economic outlook in 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:48 – India's Economic Future

04:29 – Foreign Direct Investment

07:11 – India's Approach to AI

11:09 – Indians' Purchasing Power

15:13 – Nuclear Reactors

17:28 – COVID-Like Crisis Coming?

19:56 – Advice for Investors

22:09 – India's Economic Growth

25:16 – Freebies and Welfare Politics

29:24 – Rural vs. Urban Consumption

30:52 – Economic Reforms

40:43 – PM's Advice Against Buying Gold

44:43 – World Abandoning Free Market?

48:43 – Market Privatisation in India

50:26 – Market Solutions for New-Age Problems

56:20 – India's Demographic Dividend

1:06:03 – Demographic Change in India

1:10:06 – Women's Reservation

1:18:24 – PM Modi's Economic Vision for 2047