Pragati – A House of Podcasts on Current Affairs, Public Policy and Governance, out of India. Shows in English, Kannada and Hindi.

Ep. 709: India’s COVID-19 Risk Communication Plan

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 26 Nov, 202126 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Public health incidents around the world have demonstrated that a well-timed and well-executed risk communication plan can help manage circumstances on the ground in a much better way. However, in unusual circumstances like the existing COVID-19 pandemic, implementing effective communication methods is difficult. In this episode, Mahek Nankani and Apurva Kumar talk about the communication successes and failures of the Union government and discuss the significant lessons we have learned for future crisis management.

Ep. 708: Talks with the TTP: Peace in sight for Pakistan?

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 25 Nov, 202125 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Recently, the government of Pakistan reached a month-long ceasefire agreement with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The deal, mediated by the Afghan Taliban, has revived the hopes of ending the long-running Islamist insurgency in Pakistan. Priyal Lyncia D’almeida talks to Shrey Khanna to get insights on the nature of the talks and the prospects of peace in Pakistan.

Ep. 707: India’s Jobless Growth

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 24 Nov, 202124 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

India’s economy has grown at 7% on average over the last thirty years, but employment elasticity has been constantly declining from 0.4 to 0.087. This number is significantly lower than the US (0.64) and Northern Europe (0.51). How can India increase employment elasticity? In this episode, Aarushi Kataria and Sridhar Krishna draw on ideas from Takshashila’s 20 Million Jobs project to look for ways India can create new jobs.

Ep. 706: Mental Health and India’s Police

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 23 Nov, 202124 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Indian police personnel are overworked, under-trained, and under-equipped. Yet they are at the forefront of jobs from traffic duty to pandemic management. This has lead to mental health problems in the force. Ruturaj Gowaikar and Aarthi Ratnam discuss the lack of systemic, institutional psychological support for India’s police personnel. They also dwell on the role of police as first-responders for a mental health emergency.

Ep: 705: Social Networks and Indian Women

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 22 Nov, 202122 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Access to social networks could potentially benefit Indian women, but women in India tend to be isolated. In this episode, Suman Joshi, Apurva Kumar and Sarthak Pradhan discuss the barriers women face in creating and accessing social networks. They also reflect on the possible implications of the same.

Here are the papers referred to, in the episode:

Ep. 704: Creating Safety Nets for Gig Workers

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 19 Nov, 202119 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Gigs are not new. Hollywood made the transition to gigs from the studio system 70 years ago and the result is not all bad. While the movie industry today does not offer wage stability unlike the studios of the past, it does offer employment today to millions more and the quality of movies made is decidedly superior. Listen to Anupam Manur, Aarushi Kataria and Sridhar Krishna discuss the reasons for growth of the gig economy and ideas around providing a safety net to gig workers.

Reading List:

The Global Gig Economy by Mastercard.

Unlocking the Potential of the Gig Economy in India by Boston Consulting Group and Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

Emerging Employment Patterns of 21st Century India by Bhandari and Dubey.

Gig Economy: Prospects and Challenges by iLearn Cana.

California Threatens $1 Trillion Gig Economy with New Law by Heidi Curter.

Gigs are here to stay, it is time to give them benefits by Alex Rosenblat

Ep. 703: How Piped Water Empowers Women

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 18 Nov, 202119 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Piped water allows women, the primary caretakers of a household, more time for labour and leisure, thus improving their bargaining capacity at home and in the labour market. Apurva Kumar and Suman Joshi discuss a new paper examining the impact of piped water on India’s women.

Ep. 702: China’s Military Power

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 17 Nov, 202117 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

The US Department of Defense (DoD) released its 2021 China Military Power Report last week. Based on the report’s findings, Aditya Pareekh and Suyash Desai discuss China’s military modernisation and its impact on the Indo-Pacific Region.

Ep. 701: Getting Our Feeds In Order

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 16 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers in the US has introduced a bill that would require online platforms to let users opt out of having personal data-driven algorithms select the content they see. The move could spell a significant change in how our news feeds are shaped. Rohan Seth talks to Prateek Waghre to discuss the fine print.

Ep. 700: China’s Nuclear Expansion

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 15 Nov, 202115 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

The latest Pentagon China Military Power Report highlights the PRC’s development of new nuclear warheads and delivery systems as potential areas of concern. Based on the report’s findings, Aditya Ramanathan and Suyash Desai discuss China’s nuclear strategy and military modernisation.

Ep. 699: The Unique History of the Early Deccan

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 12 Nov, 202112 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

The Deccan Plateau is generally believed to have been “conquered” by the Mauryan empire of the Gangetic Plains – but the reality of its early history is far more complex and thought-provoking. Anirudh Kanisetti speaks to Prof. Namita Sugandhi about her excavations at the site of Tekkalakota, Karnataka, to learn about how archaeology challenges not only our understanding of the Deccan in the Iron Age but our ideas about urbanisation and civilisation itself.

Ep. 698: How Sports Shapes Diplomacy

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 11 Nov, 202111 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Sports have been used to bolster diplomatic relations between states as well as to make political statements on the international stage. There is also extensive evidence of sports’ involvement in international politics and vice versa. Priyal Lyncia D’Almeida talks to Arjun Gargeyas on instances which have seen an intersection of sports, politics and diplomacy.

Ep. 697: The Geopolitics of International Technical Standards

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 10 Nov, 202110 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

With a new technological revolution underway, emerging technologies are at the heart of geopolitical competition between States. Standard-setting is one key dimension of this competition. But what does this entail and how should India navigate related challenges? Ameera Rao talks to Arjun Gargeyas about his new report, which recommends action points for Indian policymakers.

Read Arjun’s Report here

Read Arjun’s Op-Ed in the Hindustan Times here

Ep. 696: How India’s Canals Shape its Cities

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 9 Nov, 20219 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

According to a recent study, towns situated close to canals in India witnessed faster urbanisation and demand for education but not industrialisation. And agriculture still remains the biggest employer in the rural areas near these canals. In this episode, Apurva Kumar and Sarthak Pradhan, discuss the strange ways in which canals have shaped India.

Sources referred in this episode:

Ep. 695: The EU’s Arctic Strategy and India

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 8 Nov, 20218 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Last month, the European Union (EU) came out with a publication detailing its strategy for the Arctic. The focal points of the strategy are the implications of melting permafrost on geopolitical developments, biosecurity, digital connectivity, and a push for sustainable energy for the region. Ruturaj Gowaikar and Aditya Pareek discuss the strategy, its background and the opportunities it may contain for the EU to cooperate with India and Russia in the Arctic region.

Link to sources mentioned in the episode:

Ep. 694: Can Fortifying Rice Tackle Malnutrition?

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 4 Nov, 20214 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

India is set to fortify rice distributed through the PDS (Public Distribution System) and mid-day meal programmes to alleviate malnutrition. Will fortification achieve its aims? What will be the unintended consequences of this move? Are there better ways to tackle malnutrition? Shambhavi Naik and Sarthak Pradhan try to unpack some aspects of this issue.

Ep. 693: Digital Activism in China

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 3 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

How does digital activism work in China when the Internet is so heavily regulated? Netizens in China get creative when they have something to say online. Recent viral trends like “Lying Flat” and projects like “996ICU” are part of this creative tradition. In this episode, Ruturaj Gowaikar and Arjun Gargeyas join Megha Pardhi to discuss the nature of digital activism in China.

Subscribe to Megha’s newsletter “China Tech Dispatch” here.

Ep. 692: Going Beyond Disinformation

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 2 Nov, 20212 Nov, 2021Comments are Disabled

Conversations about the impact of Digital Communication Networks on public discourse tend to focus heavily on misinformation and disinformation. While these two terms are used interchangeably, Prateek Waghre and Rohan Seth discuss why some researchers are calling for an expansion of the problem definition to look beyond the frame of mis – and – disinformation.

Read MisDisMal-Information Edition 52 here.

Ep. 691: The Strange History of South Indian Coffee

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 29 Oct, 202129 Oct, 2021Comments are Disabled

How did a bean from West Asia become one of India’s most popular morning drinks? It’s a story of innovation, trade, capitalism, and media. Anirudh Kanisetti speaks to food blogger Sujata Shukla about how coffee took root in South India.

Ep. 690: India’s Hunger and Nutrition challenge

by Pragati StaffAll Things Policy - A Pragati Initiative 28 Oct, 202128 Oct, 2021Comments are Disabled

The recently released Global Hunger Index sparked discussion on the methodology used to arrive at the figures. What exactly is this index? What are the larger challenges India faces in tackling hunger? Apurva Kumar and Suman Joshi try to unpack some aspects of this issue.

Read Apurva’s Newsletter here: https://gentleleviathan.substack.com/p/dispatch-51-the-specter-of-south