South Asia Chat

Episode 311: The 2026 Bangladesh Elections and Referendum

In this episode, we dive into Bangladesh’s February 12 elections and referendum—a pivotal moment that brought a familiar party back to power while calling for deep structural change. The central question is whether a status-quo political force can carry forward an agenda born out of anti-establishment protest, and what this means for Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory. To discuss this unfolding situation, Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS is in conversation with Professor Asif M. Shahan, Professor, Department of Development Studies, Dhaka University and Senior Research Fellow, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development. They discuss the expectations around institutional reforms, the fragmented political landscape in the country, issues of inclusion and representation and the foreign policy challenges. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

The Bookshelf: Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India

In this episode, we speak with Aditya Balasubramanian, author of Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India. The author is in conversation with Sandeep Bhardwaj, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS.