Samrat Choudhary is the first BJP leader to serve as the Chief Minister of Bihar. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the Bankipur election result, Prashant Kishor, migration and jobs in the state. He also discusses the alcohol ban, reservation, infrastructure, the revival of sugar mills, and what his government plans to do next.

00:00 – Introduction

00:36 – Bihar Floods

4:08 – Water Treaty with Bangladesh

11:05 – Women’s Employment Scheme

17:23 – Jobs in Bihar

23:31 – Bihar’s Education System

27:29 – Skill Development

31:48 – Migration

35:50 – Alcohol Ban

36:50 – NDA Alliance

43:00 – BJP’s Bankipur Defeat

50:15 – Reservation

53:40 – Road and Bridge Collapses

Rasika Dugal is known for her performances in films and streaming series such as Mirzapur, Delhi Crime, Manto, Qissa and Out of Love. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, she is best known for playing Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, a role that brought her widespread recognition.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dugal discusses why she initially feared she was not right for Mirzapur and shares her experience of working with Pankaj Tripathi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. She also remembers Irrfan Khan and explains what he taught her about being a good co-actor. Dugal speaks about how streaming platforms have transformed her career, the challenges women-led stories face, and the patriarchal expectations placed on women in the entertainment industry.

*Timestamps*

0:00 – Introduction

0:34 – Acting Style

3:05 – Family's Reaction to Acting

4:12 – Moving to Mumbai

6:58 – Studying at FTII

9:49 – Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur

15:07 – Intimate Scenes in Mirzapur

22:17 – Working With Kulbhushan Kharbanda

26:28 – Role in Delhi Crime

29:03 – Long-Form Storytelling

31:51 – Working With Irrfan Khan

34:15 – Working in Manto

37:25 – Scrutiny on Women Actors

42:17 – Importance of Small Details

44:11 – Violence in Mirzapur and Delhi Crime

46:09 – Creative Freedom on Sets

52:29 – Beena Tripathi’s Revenge in Mirzapur

54:49 – Working With Saif Ali Khan

59:07 – Being an Outsider

1:03:07 – Women’s Stories in Indian Cinema

1:04:13 – Working With Male and Female Directors

1:09:07 – How AI Can Help Filmmakers

1:12:43 – Conclusion

Lobsang Sangay served as the democratically elected Sikyong, or President of the Central Tibetan Administration, from 2011 to 2021. He became its top political leader after the Dalai Lama gave up his political authority. Born in 1968, Sangay grew up in a Tibetan refugee settlement near Darjeeling, India. He studied at Delhi University and Harvard Law School before becoming an American citizen.

In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sangay discusses the Nepal–Tibet floods and questions why China failed to issue a timely warning that could have saved hundreds of lives. He also alleges that Beijing censored videos and controlled the information coming out of Tibet. Sangay also speaks about Xi Jinping’s health, the purges within the PLA, China’s plans for Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s succession and the risk of China weaponising water.

0:00 – Introduction

1:34 – Tibet–Nepal Flash Floods

2:24 – Internet Shutdown in Tibet

4:17 – Could China Have Warned Nepal?

6:51 – Why China Is Hiding the Truth

9:02 – The Real Death Toll in Tibet

10:58 – China Blocks Journalists and Scientists

12:18 – Melting Glaciers and 2030 Warning

15:06 – Dams, Earthquakes and AI Data Centres

23:51 – Nepal’s Rescue Efforts

28:12 – China’s Information-Control Playbook

30:16 – International Water-Sharing Laws

34:38 – China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra

36:52 – India–China Ties and Tibet

39:17 – China’s Claims Over Arunachal

43:15 – Purge of PLA Generals

46:00 – Xi Jinping’s Health

48:23 – Xi Jinping’s Succession Problem

52:12 – China’s Ethnic Unity Law

56:12 – Chinese Police Station

58:31 – Dalai Lama’s Succession

1:02:32 – Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas?

1:12:17 – Chinese Pressure on Nepal

1:14:59 – Tibet’s Future

1:22:29 – Nepal Rejects Foreign Rescue Teams

1:25:27 – The Human and Economic Cost

1:27:05 – Conclusion

Baba Ramdev is a yoga guru turned businessman, known for taking yoga into millions of homes in India and around the world. He runs Patanjali, an Indian consumer goods company that competes with major FMCG giants. Baba Ramdev also frequently makes headlines for his views on Hinduism, politics and national issues.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Baba Ramdev explains his idea of a Hindu Rashtra, responds to criticism over becoming a businessman, shares his views on the performance of the Modi government, and talks about how he sees Gen Z and protests in India.

0:00 – Introduction

1:55 – Hindu Rashtra

7:30 – Religion and Conversion

18:19 – Youth Protests and Unemployment

25:00 – India Against Corruption and CJP

28:29 – Gen Z and a Changing India

33:57 – Black Money and Corruption

36:00 – Modi Government’s Report Card

44:39 – Youth’s Expectations from Modi

49:36 – Yoga Guru Turned Businessman

53:06 – Daily Routine

54:22 – Patanjali Products and Legal Battles

1:00:14 – Ayurveda vs Allopathy

1:04:28 – Rahul Gandhi

1:05:36 – Business Advice

1:09:31 – A Caste-Free India

1:13:48 – Gurukuls, Youth and Addiction

1:19:13 – Free Speech and Godi Media

1:22:38 – Deep State

1:27:46 – Succession Plan

1:29:46 – Ramdev’s Legacy

1:32:29 – Sings a Song

1:34:34 – Conclusion

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a former fighter pilot who served in the Indian Air Force for more than 39 years. In January 2025, he took charge of the Western Air Command, one of the IAF’s most important operational commands. Just months later, he led the command during Operation Sindoor.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Air Marshal Mishra explains how India blinded Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and achieved air superiority, gaining the ability to strike anywhere inside Pakistan.

He also speaks about the operational freedom given to the Indian Air Force and the role of women pilots in striking terror hubs in Pakistan. The conversation also covers drones, indigenous weapons and whether India is ready for Operation Sindoor 2.0.

00:00 – Introduction

01:36 – IAF’s Planning for Op Sindoor

06:16 – IAF’s Precision Strikes

11:37 – Op Sindoor’s Target Selection

17:21 – Women Pilots in Op Sindoor

21:25 – Mental Makeup of IAF Pilots

28:09 – Decision-Making Behind Op Sindoor

32:44 – Psyche of Pakistan’s Military

39:00 – IAF’s 314-km S-400 Strike

45:42 – Blinding Pakistan’s Air Defences

54:30 – PM Modi’s Adampur Visit

58:27 – IAF’s Core Team for Op Sindoor

1:03:48 – BrahMos

1:08:06 – Drone Warfare

1:18:37 – Operation Safed Sagar

1:29:58 – Pakistan’s Attempts to Find S-400

1:29:58 – Narrative Warfare

1:42:26 – Track 2 Diplomacy

IAS Rajit Punhani is the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the organisation responsible for setting food-safety standards and regulating the country’s food industry.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Punhani explains what the FSSAI mark on a product actually means and why it does not mean that every product has been tested or certified by the regulator.

He addresses concerns surrounding fake paneer, misleading food labels, excessive sugar in packaged drinks and baby food, palm oil, synthetic colours, protein supplements and ultra-processed food.

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction

1:29 – What FSSAI Logo Means

8:31 – Misleading Food Labels

14:14 – Drinks in Europe vs India

20:57 – Palm Oil Reality

25:27 – Sugar in Baby Food

30:04 – Indian Thali

32:54 – Nutrition Labels

37:05 – ‘Zero Sugar’ Meaning

39:36 – Food Industry Lobbying

42:54 – Fake Paneer and Food Adulteration

50:08 – Quick-Commerce Apps

53:58 – Dark Stores and Cloud Kitchens

58:17 – Street Food and Reused Cooking Oil

1:00:27 – Shortage of Food Safety Officers

1:04:16 – Food Recalls and Unsafe Products

1:08:10 – Protein Supplements

1:10:43 – Ultra-Processed Food

1:14:06 – Synthetic Colours in Food

1:16:53 – How Consumers Can File a Complaint

1:21:10 – Conclusion

Sanjeev Sanyal is a historian, economist and author. He currently serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he explains why India’s education system is failing its youth and why Indian degrees no longer guarantee jobs. He also speaks about India’s large population, the future of the economy, the falling rupee, AI and income tax.

The podcast also explores the story behind INSV Kaundinya and India’s forgotten maritime and civilisational history.

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction

1:00 – India's Education System

4:28 – How China Conducts Exams

9:36 – Youth Unemployment

25:16 – Theory vs Real-World Skills

29:04 – India's Economic Outlook

32:01 – India's Private Investments

36:08 – GDP Growth vs Consumption Gap

39:22 – Foreign Media Narratives

47:47 – India-US Trade Deal

51:03 – Fall of the Rupee

57:35 – India's Growth Story

1:02:43 – Are Indians Overtaxed?

1:05:47 – Global Birth Rate Crisis

1:17:43 – INSV Kaundinya

1:25:21 – Indian History

1:29:27 – What's Next for Sanyal?