South Asia Chat

Episode 283: NPP's Inaugural Budget 2025

Sri Lanka’s national budget for 2025 was presented last month by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This marks the inaugural budget of the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which came to power in November 2024. To provide an overview and analysis of the 2025 budget, ISAS Research Fellow Dr Rajni Gamage is joined by Mr Umesh Moramudali, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

 

Episode 282: U.S. Trade Policy - Tariffs and Turmoil

In the first 50 days of the Trump administration, President Trump has signed several executive orders, many of which focus on tariffs and trade issues. Tariffs have come to be used as instruments of foreign policy, and this has important implications for the global trading architecture. Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore in conversation with Mr Stephen Olson, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute unpacks the chaos, unpredictability and pauses emerging from the US and its implications for global trade.

Episode 281: Six Months In - Bangladesh’s Path to Reform and Accountability

Six months into the administration led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh finds itself navigating troubled waters. The country is currently grappling with socioeconomic instability, political issues, and governance challenges. The coming months will be crucial as more reports from the interim government's appointed reform commissions emerge and the government responds to allegations of human rights violations committed by the previous regime. In this episode, Mr. Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, converses with Dr. Sayeed Ferdous, Professor of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University. The podcast discusses the progress of reforms, responses to human rights violation allegations, and the constitutional reform commission's report.

Episode 280: Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Washington D.C.: New Opportunities in US-India Ties

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington D.C. and the new opportunities and challenges the meeting set out for US and India.

Episode 279: Piety Politics and Post feminism in Pakistan

Populist leaders in South Asia leverage mass appeal, nationalism, and religious identity to consolidate power. In recent years, politicians such as Narendra Modi in India and Imran Khan in Pakistan, while often claiming to empower marginalised groups as part of their campaign rhetoric, frequently exploit religious cleavages as part of a strategy termed ‘piety politics’. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Afiya Zia, a researcher, writer and activist based in Karachi. She is the author of “Faith and Feminism in Pakistan”, having conducted extensive research on the role of religion in politics and the way it influences women and their voting behaviours.

Episode 278: India's 2025 Budget

On 1st February 2025, India’s Finance Minister, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget. While last year’s budget was shadowed by coalition politics, this budget seems to be very different. It has focused on stimulating weak consumer expenditure while also prioritising capital expenditure to sustain the economy’s growth at 6 percent. In this episode of South Asia Chat , Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Mr Vinod Rai, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at ISAS and former Comptroller and Auditor General of India to discuss the strengths, gambles and long-term measures of the Budget 2025.

Episode 277: Delhi Votes 2025 - Welfare Politics, Voter Sentiments, and the Battle for Power

In the upcoming Delhi elections, welfare promises and populist measures take centre stage. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, hosts Dr Neelanjan Sircar, Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad University, to delve into the dynamics shaping this high-stakes electoral contest. Dr Sircar discusses the escalating 'auction of votes,' the long-term economic implications of welfare politics, and the 'Kejriwal versus who' narrative. He also examines voter sentiment, anti-incumbency factors, and the prospects of major players such as the BJP and Congress in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Episode 276: Trump’s Second Term - Implications for India and the World

Donald Trump’s recent re-election marks a pivotal moment for India-US relations, with his administration set to shape trade, immigration, and global power dynamics in ways that could significantly impact India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS, is joined by Ambassador Nirupama Rao, former Foreign Secretary of India to discuss the implications of Trump’s second term. They delve into the potential for heightened tariffs on Indian exports, the challenges posed by Trump’s hawkish immigration policies on skilled Indian professionals, and the evolving power balance between China and the US.

Episode 275: South Asian Strategic Outlook 2025 - Trade and Economics

With global and regional economies still stabilising from the various events of the first half of the decade,  in this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics) at ISAS-NUS shares the strategic economic outlook for the region in the year 2025. He is in conversation with Ms Divya Murali, Research Associate, ISAS. They discuss the year that was for South Asia economically, the region's economic outlook for 2025, debt stress of the states in the region, graduating LDCs prospects and risks that the region has to deal with while in pursuit of its growth agendas during 2025.

Episode 274: South Asia in 2025

The year 2024 was marked by human conflicts, political shifts and intensification of transnational challenges. In this episode of South Asia Chat,  Associate Professor Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, ISAS discusses with Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, the impact of these crises on South Asia. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities for the region in 2025.