Episodes

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...

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 r...

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...

Send a text 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 fr...

Send a text 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, a...

Send us a text 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 p...

Send us a text 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 sys...

Send us a text 67 lakh handloom weavers in the 1980s; just 31 lakh today. In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Emily Chakraborty, founder of Kaisori, on the challenges facing India's weaving communities, including supply chain struggles, low wages, and middlemen that threaten artisanal livelihoods. They discuss the importance of treating craft as a serious business and how rediscovery is key to preserving our heritage. Tune in to hear Emily's insights on empowering artisans, scaling hand...

Send us a text The Indian startup ecosystem may be thriving but over 28,000 startups have failed in recent years. In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Dr. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, about the challenges facing the Indian startup ecosystem and how innovation and entrepreneurship can bridge the urban-rural divide, empower women, and solve grassroots problems. From success stories in the Northeast to bold experiments in social entrepreneurship, this...

Send us a text India wants tourism and hospitality to fuel a $3 trillion economy by 2047. But here’s the truth: only 1% of the 37 million people employed in the sector are formally trained. In this episode of What India Needs!, Shutapa Paul speaks with Dr. Suborno Bose, hospitality educator and Founder of IIHM, on the future of hospitality, including skills gaps, sustainability, women in the workforce, policy hurdles, and AI-powered solutions like NamAIste. Catch the latest episode now on...

Send us a text Since April 1, 1935, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been protecting India’s economy. Printing currency, managing banks, controlling inflation, and handling the Rupee — the nation’s central bank has been doing it all. But the inner workings of this carefully guarded institution has remained an enigma. In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul is joined by Alpana Killawala, former Principal Advisor at the Reserve Bank of India, and an insider who gives us a ‘fly on...

Send us a text India’s green cover is increasing… or is it a facade? In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Vaibhav Raje, India’s first ISA-certified arborist, and together they explore the truth behind India’s forest cover statistics. From saplings replacing centuries-old canopies to tree protection policies that rarely work in practice, we examine the growing gap between perception and reality. Tune in to hear Vaibhav’s sharp insights, on-ground experience, and candid perspectives on th...

Send us a text Traditional media is being challenged, but can creators be trusted with the truth? In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Rishi Mukherjee, founder of Jist Media and co-founder of ScoopWhoop, to discuss the rise of India’s creator economy, the role of AI in spreading misinformation, and what it takes to build credibility in today’s digital age. From virality without massive following to the threat of fake news, we explore the biggest shifts in Indian media and what the fu...

Send us a text 93% of Indians get their news from YouTube. Are influencers the new face of journalism? Is this the beginning of the end of traditional media? In this episode, Shutapa Paul sits down with Saba Naqvi, author, columnist, and veteran journalist, to dissect the dramatic shift from traditional media to social platforms. Who controls the news we consume? And what does this mean for truth, trust, and democracy? Join us as we dive into the crumbling world of legacy news, the rise o...

Send us a text India’s OTT boom has transformed the entertainment industry. But with so much content available, are we facing oversaturation and a new battle for audience attention? In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks to Sidharth Jain, Founder of House of Talkies & The Story Inc., to discuss the changing face of India’s entertainment industry, and what really works in today’s streaming landscape. This conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities shaping digital entertain...

Send us a text Only 8% of key roles in the Indian film industry are held by women. Composing, sound engineering, and music production remain spaces where women struggle to be heard. In this Women’s Day special, Shutapa Paul speaks to Alokananda Dasgupta, the music composer behind Sacred Games, Jubilee, and Trapped, about challenges, biases, change that has happened, and that which is still to come. Catch the latest episode of the 'What India Needs' podcast on YouTube or Spotif...

Send us a text 15.8% of tested food samples in India were found to be substandard. How safe is the food we consume every day? Can we really trust food labels? What about street food? In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Rinka Banerjee, Founder of Thinking Forks, to explore India’s food safety challenges, the innovations driven by startups, and the future of food. Catch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify. #WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #FoodSafety #Con...

Send us a text Menstruation is a biological process, not a taboo. So why are women still shamed for it? In this episode of What India Needs, host Shutapa Paul talks with Vikas Bagaria, founder of Pee Safe. From his personal journey to sustainable solutions, Vikas shares facts about menstruation taboos, and sustainable solutions like menstrual cups and reusable pads. Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen to it on Spotify. #whatindianeeds #peesafe #menstrualhealth #...

Send us a text $1.4 trillion to build India’s future: Are we on the right track? In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Ashish Kukreja, CEO and Founder of Homesfy, to explore the opportunities and challenges of robust infrastructure development in India. Can decentralising development to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities lead India’s future? Tune in to hear Ashish Kukreja's professional and personal insights on balancing growth with sustainability. Don’t miss out! #whatIndianeeds #ur...

Send us a text Meet a crusader for environmental sustainability who has worked tirelessly to protect natural resources and promote sustainable development. He has confronted challenges head-on, inspiring hope for a climate-resilient future, and a healthier planet, sometimes even at personal peril. Tune in to the latest episode of the 'What India Needs' podcast, where we delve into the environmental challenges and opportunities faced by India with Dr T.V. Ramachandra, scientist at the Indian ...

Send us a text India is on track to becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2026-27. In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Rajat Tandon, President of IVCA (Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association) and together they explore the rise of startups, MSMEs and entrepreneurship in India. What sectors should be invested in? Tune in to hear Rajat Tandon's professional and personal insights on investing and governance in today's India. Don't miss out! Catch the full conversation on YouTub...

Send us a text 66% of a woman's work is "unpaid labour" compared to only 12% for men. In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Nupur Garg, Founder of Winpe and together they explore the gender gap and workplace inequalities faced by women. How can we build a workplace that treats everyone equally? Tune in to hear Nupur Garg's professional and personal insights on the challenges and discrimination that women face at the workplace. Don't miss out! Catch the full conversation on YouTube ...

Send us a text By 2050, one in five Indians will be a senior citizen, amounting to a remarkable 347 million elderly individuals. In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Rajinish Menon, Founder & CEO of Sukino Healthcare Solutions, to explore this demographic shift and the current state of senior citizens in India. How prepared are we to tackle the emerging challenges and seize the opportunities this shift presents? Tune in to hear Rajinish Menon's expert insights on senior care and ou...

Send us a text What makes a “good” bureaucrat? In this episode, we delve into the mind and life of an Indian bureaucrat. Featuring Anil Swarup, former Coal and Education Secretary, Government of India, this episode charts almost four decades of his extensive bureaucratic expertise. Discover Anil Swarup’s insights on navigating the delicate dynamics between civil servants and politicians, listen to awe-inspiring anecdotes drawn from real-life encounters with politicians, and gather valuable ...