Interpreting India Carnegie India

In this episode of Interpreting India, Konark Bhandari is joined by Karl Mehta, Chairman of the Quad Investors Network, to explore the integration of advanced technologies into the Indian context. The discussion spans artificial intelligence (AI), fundraising, friendshoring, and defense innovation—all considering India's national AI mission and emerging deep tech policies. Karl Mehta, with his experience as a serial entrepreneur, author, investor, and engineer, brings deep insights into how these technologies can shape India's future, both economically and socially.

In this episode of Interpreting India, Poornima Dore, an economist and business leader, joins host Suyash Rai to discuss the nuances of regional economic development in India. Their conversation centers around the themes explored in her co-authored book, “Regional Economic Diversity: Lessons from an Emergent India,” which delves into the dynamics of regional development and the stark economic disparities that exist within the country.

How should we measure regional economic development? What are the patterns of divergence and convergence across regions, if any? What factors explain these patterns? What are some institutional changes required to make a focus on regions more effective?

In this episode of Interpreting India, Steven Freeland, vice-chair of the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities, joins Tejas Bharadwaj to discuss space resource activities and governance.

What are some ongoing initiatives that aim to govern space resource activities? What challenges and opportunities do they present? And how can active spacefaring countries like India contribute to these initiatives?

In this episode of Interpreting India, former defence secretary Ajay Kumar joins Konark Bhandari to discuss defense innovation in India and the role of the partnerships in catalyzing defense projects. What have been the recent trends in military modernization? What role can India's indigenous industry play? What explains the recent surge in defence exports from India?

In this episode of Interpreting India, Jabin Thomas Jacob joins Saheb Singh Chadha to discuss China’s growing interest in South Asia and the drivers of its foreign policy. Why does China care about South Asia? How has China sought to engage the region to protect its interests? And what sort of influence has that resulted in?

In this episode of Interpreting India, Anupam Chander joins Anirudh Burman to explore the evolving landscape of online free speech. What is the best model for protecting free speech online? What are the benefits of the way online speech is regulated today? Are community guidelines for regulating online speech better than state regulations?