South Asia Chat

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South Asia Chat podcast series will feature conversations with analysts, academics and thought leaders on topical issues impacting South Asia.

  1. FEB 9

    Episode 310: India's 2026 Budget: Beyond the Headlines

    In this episode of South Asia Chat, Iqbal Sevea discusses India’s 2026 Union Budget with Vinod Rai and Amitendu Palit. The discussion focuses on the budget’s approach to macroeconomic stability, including managing inflation, fiscal deficit and growth amid global uncertainty. Key themes include manufacturing and investment policies, incentives for cloud computing and data centres, the India Semiconductor Mission, and measures supporting MSMEs. The conversation also covers India’s evolving semiconductor strategy, challenges in attracting private and foreign investment, and budget priorities related to energy security, critical minerals and carbon capture.

    58 min

  2. JAN 29

    The Bookshelf: Performing Sovereign Aspirations: Tamil Insurgency & Postwar Transition in Sri Lanka

    In this episode, we speak with Bart Klem, author of Performing Sovereign Aspirations: Tamil Insurgency and Postwar Transition in Sri Lanka. The author is in conversation with Rajni Gamage, Research Fellow, ISAS.

    1h 27m

  3. JAN 23

    Episode 309: South Asia Outlook: Tariffs, Trade and Growth in 2026

    In this episode of South Asia Chat, host Iqbal Sevea speaks with Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, to assess how the Indian economy navigated global shocks in 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026. The discussion explores the impact of US tariffs, domestic demand, inflation trends, trade reforms, and India’s evolving free trade strategy, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping India’s economic trajectory in a changing global order.

    43 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    Episode 308: COP30 and the Changing Politics of Climate Action

    Held in the Amazon, COP30 carried significant political and symbolic weight for global climate negotiations. Positioned by the Presidency as an “implementation COP,” the conference was intended to pivot the focus from setting goals to tackling the practical challenges of delivery. The summit highlighted both renewed momentum and familiar tensions around finance, forests, trade measures and fossil fuels alongside participation from a broad range of stakeholders. To discuss these developments, in this episode of South Asia Chat, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is joined by Ms Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. They discuss the outcomes on trade and fossil fuels, as well as the expanding role of developing countries in pushing the frontiers of climate leadership.

    27 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    Episode 307: India-Russia Relations : Exploring New Facets Of Cooperation

    Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on 4th and 5th December- marking it his first trip in the last four years. This visit comes at a very delicate geopolitical moment. With the Ukraine war approaching its fourth year and Russia -US relations warming, major power relations are likely to see a critical shift. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor, ISAS on what the visit meant and what would be the future of this partnership.

    27 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    The Bookshelf: Art Cinema and India's Forgotten Futures: Film and History in the Postcolony

    In this episode, we speak with Rochona Majumdar, author of Art Cinema and India's Forgotten Futures: Film and History in the Postcolony. The author is in conversation with Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS.

    1h 7m

  7. 11/25/2025

    Episode 306: Unpacking Bihar Assembly Elections 2025

    The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have delivered a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance. The outcome has renewed discussions on the state’s long standing social coalitions, organisational strategies, and shifting political narratives that shaped voter behaviour. From the performance of the Grand Alliance to the limited electoral impact of new entrants such as the Jan Suraaj Party, the results offer important insights into Bihar’s political landscape. At the same time, debates around the voter roll revision process have raised questions about electoral credibility and institutional trust. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Dr Neelanjan Sircar, Associate Professor at Ahmedabad University, to unpack the elections.

    27 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    Episode 305: Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Tensions

    The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, long defined by porous boundaries and competing national interests, has once again become a flashpoint for regional instability. In recent months, tensions have escalated over border management, cross-border conflict, and the broader geopolitical implications of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. To discuss the evolving border tension and its context, Ms. Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr. Zahid Shahab Ahmed, an honorary fellow at Deakin University, and a researcher specializing in peace and security across South Asia and the Middle East. His work explores how sectarianism and extremism shape domestic, regional, and global stability.

    24 min
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About

South Asia Chat podcast series will feature conversations with analysts, academics and thought leaders on topical issues impacting South Asia.

Information

  • Creator
    ISAS-NUS
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    South Asia Chat