ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems.

00:00 – Introduction
02:21 – Rising Road Deaths
08:13 – International Driving Tests
10:03 – Road Safety Rules
11:49 – School Bus Safety
13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws
17:03 – Audible Road Markers
21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs
22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways
23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers
25:41 – Importance of Service Roads
29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving
31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists
37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility
39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads
41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail
46:31 – The Pothole Problem
49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction
53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads
55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites
58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment
1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths

Dr Arvind Gupta is Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and a former Deputy National Security Advisor of India.
Ambassador Veena Sikri is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Malaysia, with decades of experience in foreign policy.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the discussion focuses on how the global power structure is changing and whether institutions like NATO, the Quad, the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 still remain relevant in today’s world.
The episode also explores India’s foreign policy approach, including strategic autonomy, multi-alignment and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, as well as Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and its impact on South Asia.

00:00 – Introduction
02:04 – NATO Crisis
07:15 – Decline of Post-Cold War Order
13:34 – Gulf Countries’ Security Alliances
18:25 – Germany and Japan’s Defence Reset
21:48 – Future of US-China G2
27:09 – Global Sea Route Security
30:47 – India’s Balancing Act in West Asia
35:25 – Pakistan as Mediator Between the US and Iran
39:34 – Can SAARC Be Revived?
43:36 – India, Pakistan & Narrative War
52:47 – India-Bangladesh Ties
55:44 – India’s Strategic Role in BRICS
1:02:13 – ‘Vishwamitra’ Doctrine Under PM Modi
1:05:08 – India’s Geopolitical Challenges
1:09:08 – Regionalisation & Global Power Shifts

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus – Edition 8.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.

Joining the panel are:

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF
Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst
Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

This episode discusses the recently conducted Assembly polls in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam; the Iran war; the Trump phenomenon; Pakistan’s stature after the war.

In this live session of the ANI Podcast, the guests discuss the lessons India has drawn from the Iran war and the learnings from Operation Sindoor as it completes one year. The conversation explores military readiness, evolving threats, and the role of technology and strategy in shaping India’s defence posture.

Participants

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, ORF
Tilak Devasher, Author; Former Member, National Security Advisory Board

Moderators

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor & Deputy CEO, ANI
Naveen Kapoor, National Bureau Chief, ANI

*Timestamps*

00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - Lessons from Operation Sindoor
13:46 - Pakistan’s Close Ties with the USA
25:48 - How Pakistan Handles the Media
31:26 - What Changed in Pak After Op Sindoor?
35:56 - Dhurandar Operations in Pakistan
42:35 - India’s Strategic Autonomy
48:45 - How Pakistanis View Indians
1:00:28 - India’s Reaction to Global Conflicts
1:09:09 - India’s Defence Strategy
1:20:10 - India’s Border Security

Sanjeev Kapoor is one of India’s most well-known chefs, authors and entrepreneurs. From ‘Khana Khazana’ to global restaurants, and from cookbooks to food innovation, he has influenced how India looks at cooking and flavour over the last few decades.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chef talks about how eating habits in India are changing, with busy lifestyles and ready-to-eat meals replacing home-cooked meals.
He also explores India’s food culture, from street food and restaurant experiences to hygiene standards and cloud kitchens. Kapoor shares honest views on overhyped food trends, along with what makes a dish special.

00:00 - Introduction
01:23 - Choosing a Cooking Career
13:43 - Starting the Restaurant Journey
26:10 - Western Cooking vs. Indian Cooking
34:13 - Curating Restaurant Menus
38:38 - Indian Food Plating
42:33 - Curating Airline Menus
56:11 - Cooking in Modern Times
1:01:22 – Restaurant Culture
1:04:26 - Snap Reactions
1:08:16 - Hygiene In Cloud Kitchens
1:22:37 - Indian Food Culture
1:44:02 - Underrated Indian Spices