South Asia Chat

Episode 188: Examining a Decade of the BRI and CPEC

Since President Xi launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in September 2013, the global infrastructure development strategy has been a focus of many contemporary studies on China. Many academics and professionals have investigated several issues surrounding the sources of funding, project viability, accusations of tricking countries into ‘debt traps’ and implications of elite capture under the BRI. Despite the occasional criticisms, the BRI remains attractive to many countries in need of infrastructure development and investment. As of January 2023, 151 countries have signed up. In this podcast episode, Claudia Chia, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses with Ammar Malik, Senior Research Scientist, AidData, the evolution of BRI over the last 10 years and the challenges it faces in Pakistan.

Episode 187: Political and Economic Crisis in Pakistan

Pakistan is in the midst of major instability and polarisation in the political and economic spheres. Former Prime minister, Imran Khan, is leading a popular opposition movement across Pakistan. This contention and conflict continues in courts and on the streets. Simultaneously, the economic situation in the country has been on the brink of default. Foreign reserves dropped to dangerously low levels, an energy crisis ensued, and Pakistan was back in conversation with foreign lenders for bailouts. In this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow, ISAS. They discuss the structural aspects of the Pakistan polity that have led to the emergence of today’s situation.

Episode 186: The IPEF Negotiations

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is an economic initiative launched by United States President Joe Biden in May 2022. Comprising 14 member countries, the framework is considered to have formidable potential to further regional economic integration. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Mr Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director, Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS International). They discuss the four pillars of the IPEF, India's negotiating objectives, the response of the business communities and the likely next steps in the negotiation rounds.

Episode 185: Connectivity and Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region

The Bay of Bengal region is marked by abysmal levels of connectivity, missed economic opportunities, and rising security risks. In February 2023, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), New Delhi, released a report titled, ‘Connectivity and Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region’, which addresses nine areas of growing interdependence and proposes solutions to reduce the connectivity-cooperation gap. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with the editors of the report - Dr Constantino Xavier, Fellow, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, CSEP, and Non-resident Fellow, Brookings Institution; and Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS. 

Episode 184: State Elections 2023 - BJP and Northeast India

Three Northeast states of India –Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya – went to polls in February 2023. In Tripura, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its regional ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, won 33 seats. In Nagaland, the BJP and its ally, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, secured 37 seats. In Meghalaya, the BJP has formed a coalition government with the ruling National People's Party. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Wini Fred Gurung, Research Analyst at ISAS, interviews Professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing, Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Hyderabad, India. They discuss the electoral success of the BJP and the position of opposition parties in these states.

Episode 183: Critical Minerals in India

With the world’s energy system transitioning from a fuel-intensive to a mineral-intensive one, countries across the world are racing to access critical minerals like cobalt, lithium and rare earths. As a result, exploration for these minerals has grown in manifolds. Their use in manufacturing green technologies, in semiconductors and in defence and telecommunication equipment explain their appeal. India’s recent findings of inferred lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir, India, raise India’s potential in critical minerals. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Rajesh Chadha, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), India. They discuss India’s critical mineral supply chain and its vulnerabilities and opportunities. 

Episode 182: Air Pollution in North India

It is now widely known that parts of Northern India are amongst the most polluted in the world. As the winter months approach, the region extending from Punjab up till West Bengal experiences a rapid decline in air quality. This exposes people living in this densely populated region to deadly illnesses. In this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Mr Siddharth Singh, Author of the book 'The Great Smog of India'. They discuss the recurring issue of air pollution, its effects on large parts of Northern India and approaches to address it.

Episode 181: Sustainability Issues in the Himalayas

In recent years, the discussion on the political, economic, and environmental crisis in the Himalayan region has gained significant prominence. These crises have implications not only on the ecosystem of the region but also spillover effects on aspects like border and human security, among others. In this episode, Ms Wini Fred Gurung, Research Analyst, ISAS, interviews Professor Mahendra P Lama, Senior Professor in the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of Sikkim. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in the Himalayan region.

Episode 180: Green Hydrogen in India

There is optimism around green hydrogen globally given its potential in aiding the drive towards decarbonisation and at the same time helping developing countries like India become energy independent countries. In January 2023, the Indian government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which outlines an action plan to create a green hydrogen ecosystem in the country. In this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Mr Hemant Mallya, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi. They discuss the opportunities and challenges green hydrogen presents for India.

Episode 179: The Indian Budget 2023

On 1 February 2023, the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. Presented as the first Amrit Kaal budget, it gains importance as it comes at a time when the world faces a gloomy economic prospect. It is also the last full budget of the current Modi administration before India heads to polls in 2024. To unpack the budget in detail, in this edition of South Asia Chat, Ms Divya Murali, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with two experts – Mr Vinod Rai, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS and Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS. They discuss announcements pertaining to direct taxes, indirect taxes, growth, and the political implications of the budget.