What India Needs with Shutapa Paul

Shutapa Paul
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Join Shutapa Paul as she delves into social, economic, and environment issues that should matter, speaks to inspiring individuals, while diving deep into every conversation.Shutapa Paul is an anchor, commenter, author, and media entrepreneur. She has spent almost two decades within the media space, first as a journalist, and now as a media entrepreneur. Currently, she is Founder of award-winning brand-building and communications company, Dharma Media Consultants, where she has been working closely within the investing, startup, and impact ecosystem.Shutapa has been recognised as:- BW 40 Under 40 (PR & Corp Comm)- BW Excel Communications Personality of the Year- Social Samosa 40 Under 40- Agency Reporter 40 Under 40- LinkedIn ‘Top Voice’- ‘100 Women Faces’ by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs- ‘Woman of the Year in Media and Journalism’ by Woman Times- Sattva Nation’s Iconic Wellness AwardSubscribe to our channel for insightful conversations

  1. Jul 15

    What India Needs: Making Data Work for India with Syed Nazakat

    Send us Fan Mail India is data-rich. But are we data-smart? What will it take for India to turn vast amounts of data into better governance and smarter decision-making? In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Syed Nazakat, Founder & CEO of DataLEADS, as they explore India's digital public infrastructure, the importance of data quality, misinformation in the age of AI, and the role of information integrity in governance. They also discuss why collecting data is only the first step, how reliable information influences public policy, and what India must do to build systems that are accurate, accountable and prepared for an AI-driven future. From digital governance to AI preparedness, this conversation looks at what it will take for India to move beyond collecting data to effectively using it to make better decisions. Tune in to hear insights on data, governance, AI and the future of public decision-making. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #DigitalIndia #Governance #PublicPolicy #Data #DataQuality #DataGovernance #DigitalTransformation #InformationIntegrity  --------------------------------------------- 00:00:00- Intro 00:02:18- Are we data rich or data smart? 00:04:23- The scale of India's digital public infrastructure 00:06:10- Balancing massive tech hubs with environmental sustainability 00:07:42- Pushing for responsible AI leadership in the Global South 00:10:40- The challenge of poor-quality data in institutional governance 00:13:08- Addressing structural flaws and gender disparity in public health data 00:16:20- The upcoming digital census and its role in evidence-based policy 00:30:07- Founding DataLEADS: Transitioning from journalism to data curation 00:37:53- Combatting the deepfake crisis with indigenous detection technology 00:44:32- Driving AI digital preparedness and training at the grassroots level 00:47:56- Blind spots, accountability, and cross-border lessons 00:51:06- Outro --------------------------------------------- #WhatIndiaNeeds #WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast #Podcast #DigitalIndia #Data #Governance #ArtificialIntelligence #DataLiteracy #InformationIntegrity #PublicPolicy Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul⁠  Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast⁠  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/⁠  Twitter X: ⁠https://x.com/ShutapaPaul⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/⁠  Follow Syed Nazakat on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/syed-nazakat-a591b3144/⁠  DataLEADS: ⁠https://dlfoundation.org/⁠  --------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The views, opinions and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its hosts. Guests appear on the podcast to discuss their knowledge, experiences and perspectives on the episode’s subject matter. Their participation should not be construed as an endorsement by the podcast of any individual, organisation, product, service or business. While we strive to present thoughtful and informative conversations, listeners are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and conduct independent research before making any decisions based on information shared in an episode. ---------------------------------------------

    What India Needs: Making Data Work for India with Syed Nazakat

  2. Jun 15

    What India Needs: The Next Chapter of the Indian Welfare State with Arshi Aadil

    Send us Fan Mail India has proved it can scale welfare. The next challenge is ensuring that scale translates into real outcomes. In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul speaks with Arshi Aadil, Senior Manager, Government Advisory at MSC (MicroSave Consulting), about India’s welfare delivery systems and what comes next. The conversation explores the shift from scale to substance, last-mile delivery, digital public infrastructure, social protection, financial inclusion, data systems, and building welfare systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and outcome-focused. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #SocialProtection #FinancialInclusion #DigitalPublicInfrastructure  — 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:33 - Building welfare systems at scale 00:05:49 - Convergence and welfare delivery 00:09:10 - Adaptive social protection 00:10:46 - e-Shram, informal workers and migrants 00:12:57 - Data quality and beneficiary databases 00:15:08 - MSC's work on delayed payments and just-in-time funding 00:18:13 - Unified social registries and MSC's work in Indonesia 00:20:53 - AgriStack and Bihar Krishi 00:22:10 - Awareness and access to welfare schemes 00:24:23 - Women's financial agency and lessons from Bangladesh 00:29:24 - Welfare, equity and social protection 00:30:38 - Measuring outcomes beyond enrollments 00:32:45 - The future of India's welfare state 00:34:46 - Outro — #PublicPolicy #WomenInclusion #IndiaDevelopment #SocialWelfare #WelfareState Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Arshi Aadil on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/arshi-a-35100261  Follow MicroSave Consulting on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsave/   Twitter X: https://x.com/MicroSave  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicroSaveConsulting/  MicroSave Consulting: https://www.microsave.net/

    What India Needs: The Next Chapter of the Indian Welfare State with Arshi Aadil

  3. May 15

    What India Needs: Comedy, Censorship & Cancel Culture with Arvind Sunder

    Send us Fan Mail Comedy in India can make you famous, have you cancelled, or even arrested. In this episode, Shutapa Paul sits down with comedian Arvind Sunder to explore the changing landscape of stand-up in India. From censorship and ‘cancel’ culture to social media outrage and the pressure of being politically correct, Arvind Sunder shares his honest take on what it really means to be a comedian in India. The conversation also dives into the business of stand-up, regional humour, the role of comedians in society, and why India needs to laugh more than ever. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #standupcomedy #comedyindia #cancelculture #censorship #indiancomedy #freedomofspeech #humour #comedian ------------ 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:28 - India’s unique sense of humour across cultures and regions 00:05:47 - Cancel culture, backlash and surviving as a comedian in India 00:09:30 - The craft of making difficult subjects funny 00:11:37 - The dream of reaching every Indian 00:16:24 - Is stand-up comedy in India actually difficult? 00:17:48 - Social media outrage vs live comedy audiences 00:19:30 - Comedy and censorship 00:21:57 - Dark humour, offensive jokes and a comedian’s responsibility 00:26:51 - Comedy, politics and reflecting society without preaching 00:33:54 - From engineering and corporate life to stand-up comedy 00:41:16 - Women in comedy & changing gender expectations 00:45:15 - Advice for aspiring comedians 00:50:20 - The future of comedy in India & the rise of regional comedy 00:56:53 - Outro ------------ #standupcomedy #comedypodcast #indiancomedy #cancelculture #comedyshow #comedianlife #socialmedia #observationalcomedy #podcastindia — Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul   Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast   To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/   Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Arvind Sunder on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindsunder93/  Twitter X: https://x.com/IamArvindSunder  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comicarvind?igsh=MXE4ZWhoNDR0cjNsZw==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arvind.sunder.1

    What India Needs: Comedy, Censorship & Cancel Culture with Arvind Sunder

  4. Apr 15

    What India Needs: Racing to Build Breakthrough Biotech with Dr. Jogin Desai

    Send us Fan Mail India spends just 0.7% of its GDP on research and development, compared to 2.5%-5.5% in countries like the US and China.  What will it take for India to move from catching up to leading?  In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Dr. Jogin Desai, CEO & Founder of Eyestem, as they explore the structural challenges in India’s innovation ecosystem, from limited private risk capital to the gap between research and real-world impact.  They also discuss how India is uniquely positioned at a moment in time where global shifts, policy support, and entrepreneurial momentum could unlock a new wave of deep tech innovation.  From reversing vision loss to building scalable and affordable therapies, this conversation looks at what it will take for India to create solutions not just for itself, but for the world.  Tune in to hear insights on biotech, capital, regulation, and the future of innovation in India.  Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify.  #WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast #podcast #innovation #deeptech #biotech #researchanddevelopment #india #healthcareinnovation #startupindia #futureofhealthcare  --------------  00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:12 - Exploring India's R&D spending  00:04:31 - Opportunities in India  00:06:14 - The lack of risk capital  00:08:58 - Challenges in translating academic research to societal impact 00:11:38 - India's $300 billion bioeconomy and moving beyond generics  00:13:30 - The evolution of regulatory standards in India vs. the FDA  00:16:24 - Founding Eyestem and tackling unaffordable therapies  00:24:07 - Future pipeline: Parkinson's, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and more  00:26:09 - The importance of a lean, self-driven innovation team  00:27:24 - Myths about India's originality and lessons from China's biotech sector 00:31:14 - Leapfrogging globally in cell and gene therapy  00:32:46 - AI in biology: Opportunities, hype, and necessary guardrails  00:35:56 - Outro --------------  #innovation #deeptech #biotech #researchanddevelopment #india #healthcareinnovation #startupindia #futureofhealthcare #biotechnology #indiastartups #medtech #scienceandtechnology #globalinnovation  Subscribe to our channel:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shutapa_Paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more:  Follow Shutapa Paul on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Dr Jogin Desai on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jogin-desai/  Twitter X: https://x.com/jogin_desai  Eyestem: https://eyestem.com/

    What India Needs: Racing to Build Breakthrough Biotech with Dr. Jogin Desai

  5. Mar 15

    What India Needs: Building India's Next Tech Decade with BV Naidu

    Send us Fan Mail India is projected to become a $110 billion semiconductor market by 2030. But can the country move beyond being the world’s back office and build a true deeptech and hardware innovation economy? In this episode, Shutapa Paul sits down with tech industry veteran, BV Naidu, Chairman of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), to discuss India’s transition from a software services powerhouse to a deep tech and hardware innovation economy. Tune in to hear BV Naidu’s insights from decades of experience shaping India’s technology ecosystem from the early days of the internet to the rise of deep tech today. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #Podcast #DeepTech #Semiconductors #InnovationEconomy #TechPolicy #StartupEcosystem #IndiaInnovation ---------------- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:08 - India's deep tech shift 00:06:26 - Government support and funding 00:07:43 - Innovation hubs beyond back-offices 00:09:38 - Sustainability in high-tech industry 00:11:21 - "Beyond Bengaluru" cluster development 00:15:48 - STPI implementation and evolution 00:18:50 - Historical Indian tech milestones 00:26:19 - StartupXseed Ventures, deep tech funding & mentorship 00:36:16 - Personal motivation and vision 00:40:37 - Advice for deep tech founders 00:42:04 - Outro ---------------- #DeepTech #IndiaInnovation #StartupEcosystem #TechLeadership #GlobalCapabilityCenters #InnovationEconomy #FutureOfTechnology #Entrepreneurship #IndiaGrowthStory #SustainableInnovation #FounderMindset #TechEcosystem #India2030 #GlobalTech #startupleadership  Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shutapa_Paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow BV Naidu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bv-naidu-92659529/

    What India Needs: Building India's Next Tech Decade with BV Naidu

  6. Feb 15

    What India Needs: The Financial Literacy Deficit with Karthik Rangappa

    Send us Fan Mail Only 27% of Indians have basic financial literacy, and that gap becomes dangerous as more people enter the stock market and rely on digital financial tools. In this episode of ‘What India Needs’, Shutapa Paul speaks with Karthik Rangappa, Chief of Education at Zerodha and Curator of Varsity, India’s largest open-source financial education initiative. Together, they discuss why financial literacy remains low in India, how digital scams are becoming more sophisticated with AI, and what individuals can do to make smarter, long-term financial decisions. From unrealistic expectations in stock markets to the importance of simple, common-sense investing, this conversation cuts through the noise. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify.  #WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinance #Investing #IndianStockMarket #MoneyManagement #FinancialEducation — 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:16 - Gaps in financial literacy in India 00:04:07 - Linguistic diversity in financial education 00:07:00 - The rise of demat accounts 00:10:05 - Women's in Trading and Financial Initiatives 00:14:50 - Financial fraud, digital scams, and regulatory efforts 00:21:55 - Finfluencers: Controversy and the Need for Sensible Advice 00:25:47 - Making Money Vs Managing Money 00:28:35 - The purpose and need for Varsity 00:34:00 - Karthik Rangappa’s personal journey 00:39:10 - Advice for First-Time Investors 00:48:18 - Outro — #LongTermInvesting #YoungInvestors #DigitalScams #AIFraud #WealthBuilding  #FinancialLiteracy #Zerodha #Varsity Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Karthik Rangappa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthik-rangappa0001/  Twitter X: https://x.com/karthikrangappa?s=20  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karthikrangappa/

    What India Needs: The Financial Literacy Deficit with Karthik Rangappa

  7. Jan 19

    What India Needs: Reading India’s Past Today with Dr. Vikram Sampath

    Send us Fan Mail India’s past has many versions. Which version of history do you believe? In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul deciphers bygone times with historian and acclaimed author Dr. Vikram Sampath. From Mahatma Gandhi and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar to Jawaharlal Nehru and B R Ambedkar, the conversation touches upon many controversial Indian leaders. They also discuss the realities of being a contemporary historian in India, challenges of writing biographies amid political pressure, cinema’s overarching influence on public memory, and why parts of India’s freedom struggle remain missing from textbooks.  Dr. Sampath also speaks about truth and reconciliation, the dismal state of Indian archives, and how technology and AI can help democratise access to knowledge. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #WhatIndiaNeeds #WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast #IndianHistory #PublicHistory #FreedomStruggle #TruthVsNarrative #Historians — 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:08 - The Challenges and opportunities of being a contemporary historian 00:05:22 - History, Politics, and the Role of the Historian 00:12:18 - Handling Criticism and Trolling as an Author 00:16:20 - The Politicalisation of Historical Debates 00:17:07 - History in Cinema and the Problem of Whitewashing 00:19:53 - Biographer's Approach 00:22:34 - Debunking Myths: V.D. Savarkar's Petitions 00:28:52 - The Armed Struggle for Independence and its Erasure 00:34:57 - Savarkar vs. Gandhi: The Conflict 00:37:57 - Controversies in History Curriculum 00:40:59 - History, Politics, and Healing 00:44:03 - Truth and Reconciliation process 00:46:34 - The state of Indian Archives 00:52:36 - Overcoming Bureaucracy: FIHCR 00:59:05 - NAAV AI: Using AI Translation and Content Accessibility 01:12:52 - From corporate life to history 01:14:10 - Outro — #Podcast #IndianHistory #HistoryAndPolitics #Savarkar #Gandhi #FreedomStruggle #PublicIntellectuals #Archives #HistoricalMemory #IndianIdeas Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Dr. Vikram Sampath on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vikram-sampath-frhists-056910/  Twitter X: https://x.com/vikramsampath  Instagram:

    What India Needs: Reading India’s Past Today with Dr. Vikram Sampath

  8. 11/18/2025

    What India Needs: Building Equitable Workplaces with Shreya Krishnan

    Send us Fan Mail 36% of India’s tech workforce is women, but only 8% reach senior leadership. What’s keeping women from leading the future of work? In this episode of the What India Needs Podcast, Shutapa Paul speaks with Shreya Krishnan, Managing Director - India, of AnitaB.org, a global non-profit working to advance women in technology. Together, they explore how India can build equitable workplaces where inclusion drives innovation. Join the conversation as we unpack the numbers, the systemic challenges women face, and the roadmap for creating inclusive workspaces. Catch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #WomenInTech #GenderEquity #FutureOfWork #Inclusion #Leadership #WhatIndiaNeeds ____ 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:02:43 – Women in India’s tech workforce 00:04:00 – Representation versus inclusion 00:05:28 – Academic Conditioning & STEM Bias 00:12:00 – Post-COVID Crisis & The Loss of Agency 00:19:17 – Pay Gap & Performance Bias 00:24:03 – Choosing Our Bias Over Data 00:31:19 – Why Tech Isn't Built for Women 00:34:44 – About ‘Words Matter’ 00:37:30 – AnitaB.org's Vision and Programs 00:41:30 – Outro ____ #WorkplaceCulture #CareerGrowth #WomenEmpowerment #Sustainability #WordsMatter #Mentorship #WorkplaceInclusion #BreakingBias Subscribe to our channel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapapaulpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shutapa_paul  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shutapa-paul-podcast  To know more: Follow Shutapa Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutapapaul/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShutapaPaul  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutapa?igsh=MWZ5cHB3aDg3b21jcQ==  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutapapaulpage/  Follow Shreya Krishnan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-krishnan-3190098/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/shreyakrishnan_?s=20 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drama.rani/

    What India Needs: Building Equitable Workplaces with Shreya Krishnan
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About

Join Shutapa Paul as she delves into social, economic, and environment issues that should matter, speaks to inspiring individuals, while diving deep into every conversation.Shutapa Paul is an anchor, commenter, author, and media entrepreneur. She has spent almost two decades within the media space, first as a journalist, and now as a media entrepreneur. Currently, she is Founder of award-winning brand-building and communications company, Dharma Media Consultants, where she has been working closely within the investing, startup, and impact ecosystem.Shutapa has been recognised as:- BW 40 Under 40 (PR & Corp Comm)- BW Excel Communications Personality of the Year- Social Samosa 40 Under 40- Agency Reporter 40 Under 40- LinkedIn ‘Top Voice’- ‘100 Women Faces’ by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs- ‘Woman of the Year in Media and Journalism’ by Woman Times- Sattva Nation’s Iconic Wellness AwardSubscribe to our channel for insightful conversations

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