• EP-395 | “U.S. win is unclear..." Ex-US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Iran War
    Mar 5 2026

    Jon Finer is an international affairs expert and former Principal Deputy National Security Adviser to Jake Sullivan during the presidency of Joe Biden. Before that, he served in the White House under Barack Obama as a White House Fellow, working in the office of the Chief of Staff and the National Security Council. Finer was a foreign and national correspondent for The Washington Post. He reported from more than 20 countries around the world. He also co-hosts “The Long Game,” a weekly national security podcast with Jake Sullivan.


    In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jon Finer discusses the U.S.–Israel military action against Iran and its strategic implications. He says Donald Trump is creating ambiguity about the real objective of the conflict. According to him, “A U.S. win is unclear and politically difficult to define.” He adds that China is supporting Iran rhetorically, but not militarily. He also warns that this conflict could accelerate global nuclear proliferation. Finer also speaks about India–U.S. ties and America’s growing closeness with Pakistan.


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:18 – Regime Change in Iran

    04:30 – U.S. Objectives in Iran War

    07:36 – Gulf Nations Under Attack

    14:18 – China Helping Iran in War?

    16:39 – U.S.–Iran Nuclear Talks

    18:35 – Trump’s War Powers

    23:04 – U.S. Nuclear Umbrella

    27:23 – U.S.–Pakistan Relations

    33:52 – U.S.–India Ties

    37:13 – Serving Under Obama & Biden

    41:27 – China’s Limited Global Alliances

    47:54 – How U.S. Media Portrays India

    52:51 – Jeffrey Sachs’ Claims on Jake Sullivan

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    59 mins
  • EP-394 | “IRGC Has Gone Rogue”: What Happens to Gulf Security Now? | Defence Expert Swasti Rao
    Mar 5 2026

    Dr. Swasti Rao is a geopolitics and defence expert, commentator, and author. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Jindal School of International Studies and a Consulting Editor for Strategic and International Affairs at ThePrint. She explains key geopolitical and security issues from an Indian perspective.


    In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she discusses what could happen to Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei’s death and how the security structure of Gulf nations might change. She describes Donald Trump as the only U.S. President to have gone this far in supporting Israel, and explains what another war could mean for the Middle East. She also talks about the impact on global oil supplies and what is at stake for India.


    00:00 – Introduction

    02:05 – The Middle East War

    03:51 – Gulf Nations Under Attack

    09:09 – Israel’s Objectives in Iran

    12:24 – US–Israel Targeting Strategy

    16:12 – Did U.S. Abandon GCC Bases?

    24:01 – IRGC’s Command Structure

    29:48 – Iran’s War Mindset

    35:27 – Impact of Khamenei’s Death

    37:22 – GCC in Shock After Attacks?

    41:57 – What Do Saudi Arabia & Israel Want?

    44:41 – Iran–Turkey Ties: What’s Next?

    46:29 – Pakistan’s Role

    55:33 – The Modi–Netanyahu Meeting

    59:00 – Evacuation Plans & Economic Impact on India

    1:07:53 – The Roles of China and Russia

    1:18:57 – How Long Could This War Last?

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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • EP-393 | From Dalal Street to De-Dollarisation: NSE MD Ashish Chauhan on India’s Financial Rise
    Mar 2 2026

    Ashish Chauhan is the MD & CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). A technocrat from IIT Bombay and IIM Calcutta, he was part of the founding team that built the NSE. He is credited with bringing several key innovations to India’s stock market. He also served as the MD and CEO of the Bombay Stock Exchange for 10 years.


    In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the much-awaited NSE IPO, how the exchange handles cyberattacks, and how the NSE powers India’s stock market. He advises investors to stay away from social media “tips,” shares his views on India’s options market, and discusses the future of de-dollarisation and India’s growing number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).


    00:00 – Introduction

    00:42 – What Does NSE Do?

    06:35 – How NSE Earns Revenue

    09:16 – How NSE Powers India’s Stock Market

    15:18 – Regulations in Capital Markets

    20:02 – NSE IPO Coming Soon?

    27:56 – NSE Co-Location Scam

    33:12 – 1992 Harshad Mehta Scam

    39:23 – India’s Options Market

    44:55 – NSE’s Investor Awareness Initiatives

    47:29 – Why India Bans Prediction Markets

    50:45 – How NSE Survives Cyberattacks

    57:29 – Challenges as NSE MD

    1:02:09 – Future of De-Dollarisation

    1:06:55 – India’s FTAs

    1:16:04 – Modinomics vs Manmohanomics

    1:23:42 – NSE’s Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047

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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • EP-392 | Beyond Kashmir: Is the Target the Whole of India? | Author Abhinav Pandya
    Feb 25 2026

    Abhinav Pandya is an author and scholar who has studied the concept of jihad in great depth. He has also advised the former Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik, on security matters.


    In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the conversation focuses on the challenges India faces as a target of global jihad. With what appears to be an emerging axis involving Turkey, Pakistan, China and even Bangladesh, is India facing a larger strategic encirclement?


    Is Kashmir the central objective, or is the target much bigger, the whole of India? And most importantly, what must India do to counter this jihadist strategy?



    Timestamps


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:15 – Balochistan Uprising

    05:15 – Pakistan’s Double Standards

    09:03 – How the ISI Controls Pakistan

    13:39 – The Core Issue of Kashmir

    15:46 – Pak’s Interference in Kashmir’s Politics

    21:53 – Pakistan-Sponsored Terrorism

    25:08 – Entire India Pakistan’s Target?

    32:23 – Pakistan’s Foreign Relations

    35:11 – Pakistan–Bangladesh Ties

    40:12 – Global Superpower vs Civilizational Power

    43:06 – South Asia & the Ottoman Empire

    47:32 – Hybrid Militancy in Kashmir

    53:05 – Al-Falah University’s Terror Links

    1:00:47 – Militancy in Kashmir

    1:06:07 – How Should India Tackle Terrorism?

    1:15:25 – Satya Pal Malik’s “Fax Machine” Story

    1:23:34 – Kashmir After Article 370

    1:27:36 – How to Deal with Terrorism

    1:29:26 – West Asia Conflict Explained

    1:32:52 – Operation Sindoor

    1:34:52 – Khalistan

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    Not Yet Known
  • EP-391 | China’s Digital War, EVM Hacking, OTP Frauds & AI Misuse EXPLAINED | Amit Dubey
    Feb 24 2026

    From OTP scams and phone data leaks to AI misuse and digital warfare, how safe are we really? Cybersecurity affects you, your family, your workplace, and even the country you live in. Amit Dubey is a national security expert and cybersecurity specialist. He has worked closely with Indian government agencies and police departments on cybercrime investigations. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he explains how AI is being misused for fraud and scams, and breaks down China’s digital warfare strategy and India’s cybersecurity reality in simple terms.


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:01 – U.S. Cyberattack on Venezuela

    05:38 – How to Stop Deepfakes

    12:58 – Legal Action on AI

    14:26 – A Great Firewall for India?

    17:43 – Deepfakes Influencing Elections

    22:10 – AI and Voter Fraud

    26:55 – Risks of Posting Personal Details

    32:24 – How Personal Information Is Exploited

    37:02 – Credit Card Scams

    40:58 – OTP Scams & Password Theft

    48:00 – Sancharsathi App Controversy

    58:14 – Protecting Private Photos Online

    1:01:20 – Can EVMs Be Hacked?

    1:07:49 – Hybrid War Threats

    1:10:44 – Gen Z Protests & Disinformation

    1:14:04 – Spreading Disinformation Online

    1:20:19 – Cyber Attacks During Op Sindoor

    1:22:47 – Foreign SIMs & Cyber Threats

    1:26:32 – Agniveer Protest & Fake SMS

    1:30:02 – AI Videos Targeting India

    1:35:08 – Influencers Spreading Fake Content

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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • EP-390 | John Brittas on Kerala Model, Hindutva Politics, Congress, Communism & Malayalam Cinema
    Feb 19 2026

    John Brittas wears many hats: parliamentarian, journalist, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Malayalam Communications Limited, which runs Kairali TV and Kairali News. He is currently the CPI(M) Parliamentary Party Leader in the Rajya Sabha.

    In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the decline of communism in India and across the world, and why the Left struggles to connect with a wider audience today. He discusses the Kerala model, migration from the state, and Kerala’s social harmony.

    He argues that Hindutva politics will not click in Kerala and says the BJP is unlikely to become a major force there in the near future. He also speaks about the Congress and claims it continues to follow a “right-wing economic ideology.”

    The conversation also covers the India–US trade deal, the 2008 nuclear deal, the UPA era, Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, and the strength of Malayalam cinema.


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:11 – Why Communism is Failing in India

    10:38 – Kerala’s Vibrant Culture

    12:28 – How CPI(M) Is So Powerful in Kerala

    23:55 – India–US Nuclear Deal

    26:15 – India–US Trade Deal

    33:08 – The Kerala Ecosystem

    36:16 – Why Kerala Supports the Left

    40:57 – Can Kerala Inspire a Left Revival?

    43:23 – BJP’s Prospects in Kerala

    52:55 – Religious Harmony in Kerala

    58:20 – BJP’s Mayoral Win

    1:05:14 – Life as a Journalist

    1:10:56 – Malayalam Cinema

    1:14:49 – Political Leadership in India

    1:15:56 – Pinarayi Vijayan’s Leadership Style

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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • EP-389 | Dhurandhar, Modi, Rahul, Vijay, DMK, Sanatana & ED Raids | Karti Chidambaram
    Feb 16 2026

    Karti Chidambaram is an Indian National Congress MP representing the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu.


    In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the Parliament Budget Session, DMK-Congress alliance, Actor Vijay, freebies politics, money laundering investigations against him, and BJP’s presence in Tamil Nadu.


    He also addresses the Dhurandhar controversy and his alleged cameo in it, highlighting the absence of official records related to it.


    *Timestamps*


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:47 – Parliament Deadlock

    12:33 – Congress-DMK Alliance

    20:04 – Congress in Tamil Nadu

    25:30 – BJP-AIADMK Alliance

    31:09 – Anti-Incumbency Against DMK

    37:36 – Legal Cases & Investigations

    43:40 – Sonia’s Role in UPA

    47:27 – Sanatana Debate

    51:23 – Freebie Politics

    59:09 – Dhurandhar Controversy

    1:05:16 – KYC, Re-KYC & Citizen Rights

    1:11:13 – Family-Centric Politics

    1:15:31 – Relations with Rahul Gandhi

    1:16:26 – Snap Reactions

    1:23:47 – Bonding with Father

    1:32:09 – South Indian Food

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • EP-388 | Farmers, Jobs, Women’s Safety, Gurugram, Water Crisis & More | Nayab Singh Saini
    Feb 16 2026

    Nayab Singh Saini, the Chief Minister of Haryana, led the BJP to win a third term in the state, despite predictions of anti-incumbency against the party.


    In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, CM Saini talks about the key issues shaping Haryana’s future, including farmers, job creation, and women’s safety.


    He also shares his vision for the development of Gurugram, focusing on better urban planning, improved drainage systems, and long-term growth for the city.


    00:00 – Introduction

    00:52 – No Anti-Incumbency in Haryana

    08:51 – Promises Made During the Polls

    13:27 – Farmers’ Protest

    18:08 – Crop Diversification in Haryana

    23:27 – Youth Skill Development & Women’s Safety

    26:06 – Gurugram’s Development

    28:28 – Punjab’s Drug Crisis

    35:49 – Jobs and Employment

    40:05 – Lado Lakshmi Yojana

    41:52 – Welfare Schemes

    44:38 – Yamuna Poison Controversy

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    49 mins