Season 1, Episode 1955 · All Things Policy
What Happens After a Rocket Fails? | Space Launch 3
16 Sep 2026 · 30 min
Season 1, Episode 1955 · All Things Policy
16 Sep 2026 · 30 min
Failure is an unavoidable part of developing launch vehicles, but not every launch company survives it. Lokendra Sharma and Ashwin Prasad Rao discuss why states sometimes continue supporting launch firms after expensive failures and sometimes allow them to disappear. Drawing on cases from the United States, China and elsewhere, they ask what India’s first serious private-launch failure will reveal about the state’s willingness to preserve domestic launch capability. The discussion draws on this newsletter: https://orrery.ashwinprasadrao.com/p/still-on-the-umbilical All Things Policy is a…
by Takshashila Institution · English · News
Ever wondered how automation will change the world? Maybe you puzzle over what India could do to ease traffic congestion, or how China's aircraft carriers will transform Indian Ocean geopolitics?
S1 · E1958 · 21 Sep 2026 · 37 min
State governments love lobbying for premier institutes, hoping they'll magically turn into the next Silicon Valley. But without the right ecosystem, top talent just takes the first flight out. In this episode of All Things Policy, host Kavya and guest Arindam unpack the real blueprint for building a tech hub. From state-backed venture capital and regulatory sandboxes to the live-test of India's Semiconductor Mission, discover the foundational policy levers required to turn a shiny campus into a thriving innovation economy. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you…
S1 · E1957 · 18 Sep 2026 · 37 min
Rockets need things to launch. Increasingly, that demand comes from large satellite constellations whose spectrum and orbital filings are mediated by states. Lokendra Sharma and Ashwin Prasad Rao discuss how Starlink and China’s megaconstellations are reshaping launch demand, why orbital rights matter to launch capacity, and whether India can use its own emerging constellation plans to strengthen its domestic launch industry. If you often think about space and India's foray into it, then we think you may like to take the Technopolitik survey designed by the Takshashila Institution. It aims…
S1 · E1956 · 17 Sep 2026 · 27 min
China’s mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo has raised concerns about downstream risks for India. Beyond the prospect of sudden floods, how could gradual changes in river flows and sediment reshape the Brahmaputra and the lives that depend on it? In this episode of All Things Policy, Kavya Rai speaks with Dr Y. Nithiyanandam about Himalayan hazards, climate change and the implications of upstream development for downstream states in India. They also discuss the role of geospatial monitoring, data sharing and scientific cooperation in strengthening India’s preparedness. The original op-ed about…
S1 · E1954 · 15 Sep 2026 · 40 min
In this episode of All Things Policy, Anisree Suresh sits with Manoj Kewalramani and Anushka Saxena to unpack the 26th SCO Summit. They analyse the key takeaways from the Summit and its Bishkek Declaration, the utility of the Organisation itself from an Indian perspective, and its wider impact on regional security and cooperation. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution,…
S1 · E1953 · 11 Sep 2026 · 25 min
India’s participation in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation often appears contradictory. New Delhi shares the table with China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan even as it deepens ties with the United States, Europe and other Indo-Pacific partners. In this episode, Vanshika Saraf and Bhumika Sevkani examine what India actually gains from being on the table, where these groupings fall short, and whether continued participation strengthens India’s influence across regions and institutions important to a multipolar world. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to…
S1 · E1952 · 10 Sep 2026 · 36 min
In this episode of 'All Things Policy', Aditi Palo quizzes Anushka Saxena on her takeaways from the recently concluded session of the 14th Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress. They discuss the revisions to China's National Defence Mobilisation Law, removals of key members from the Central Military Commission, and the budget report introduced at the NPC session. Anushka also addresses a question often asked by watchers of the NPC: Is it just a rubber-stamp parliament, or something more relevant? Tune in to find out her reasoning. All Things Policy is a daily podcast…
S1 · E1971 · 9 Oct 2026 · 35 minNew
China is often seen as a highly centralised system where policy is decided at the top and simply implemented by the bureaucracy. But is Chinese policymaking really that straightforward? In this episode, Shreya Ramakrishnan speaks with Shobhankita Reddy about how policymaking actually works in China. They explore the iterative nature of the policymaking process, the different stakeholders who shape it, and how these dynamics are reflected in China’s approach to AI. The conversation then looks at the broader domestic economic trends shaping China’s technology ecosystem, and what these could…
S1 · E1970 · 8 Oct 2026 · 31 min
In this episode of All Things Policy, Aditi Palo speaks with Abhishek Kadiyala about the impacts of an altered US Congress composition on India-US ties. In the past, the US Congress has proven to be a relatively consistent element in India-US ties and a reliable institution in times of political uncertainty. But early trends in the midterm elections indicate a shift towards a more ideologically divided composition of Congress, which could potentially erode this very reliability. Aditi and Abhishek unpack the uncertainties a fragmented Congress would bring in, and delve into the measures…
S1 · E1969 · 7 Oct 2026 · 35 min
In this inaugural episode of 'America Votes', All Things Policy's series covering the US mid-terms, Brigadier Anil Raman and Abhishek Kadiyala cover the early trends in November elections. They discuss the process, the politics and its relevance for India. It frames the midterms as a contest for Congress, whose powers over war, tariffs and aid outlast any executive action. Tracing the President's record-low approval and Republican fears, the episode shows how American domestic politics now sets the cost and tone of ties with India. It argues that India remains strategically essential but…
S1 · E1968 · 6 Oct 2026 · 28 min
Can the US and China cooperate on AI safety while competing to lead the technology’s development? Bharath Reddy and Shobhankita Reddy examine what the Trump–Xi summit revealed, why calls to slow the AI race face resistance and what areas they might possibly cooperate on going forward. All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution,…