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Artwork for Grand Tamasha
India
China
United States
BJP
Pakistan
Narendra Modi
Indian Politics
Hindutva
Congress Party
Donald Trump
U.s.-India Relations
Russia
Economic Growth
Indian Economy
Hindu Nationalism
Populism
Indira Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
Indian Constitution
Biden Administration

Each week, Milan Vaishnav and his guests from around the world break down the latest developments in Indian politics, economics, foreign policy, society, and culture for a global audience. Grand Tamasha is a co-production of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Hindustan Times.

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Latest Episodes

After the latest round of state elections, India’s political landscape looks more lopsided than at any time in the post-2014 era. The BJP claimed big wins in West Bengal and Assam—continuing its march across eastern India and solidifying its status a... more

India’s growth numbers shape how we understand everything from jobs to investment to global standing. But what if those numbers don’t tell the full story?

New research suggests India may have both underestimated and overestimated growth at different... more

For more than a decade, India has steadily deepened its ties with the Gulf while trying to balance competing interests across the region. But today, that strategy is under strain—thanks to the Iran conflict, shifting regional alignments, a reemerging... more

** NOTE TO LISTENERS: This week, we are releasing a special “flash episode” of Grand Tamasha to recap India’s recently concluded 2026 state assembly elections. As usual, we will still be publishing a new Grand Tamasha episode next Tuesday, May 12 at ... more

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Recent Guests

Abhishek Anand
Founder and Managing Director of Insignia Policy Research; Visiting Fellow at Madras Institute of Development Studies
Insignia Policy Research; Madras Institute of Development Studies
Episode: Rethinking India’s Growth Story
Kabir Taneja
Executive Director, ORF Middle East Office
Observer Research Foundation
Episode: Can India Keep Its Balance in West Asia?
Neelanjan Sircar
Associate professor at Ahmedabad University, analyst of Indian politics
Ahmedabad University
Episode: Flash Episode: India's 2026 Elections Explained
Shruti Rajagopalan
Professor of Economics and Constitutional Scholar
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Episode: India’s Delimitation Dilemma
Rosa Abraham
Head of the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University; lead author of State of Working India 2026
Azim Premji University
Episode: India’s Youth Boom Meets a Jobs Bust
Kanwal Rekhi
Entrepreneur, author of The Groundbreaker
Founder of Exelon; co-founder of TIE and Inventus
Episode: The Indian Who Helped Build Silicon Valley
Saurabh Mukherjee
Author, Breakpoint; founder of Marcellus Investment Managers
Marcellus Investment Managers
Episode: India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
Nandita Rajhansa
Economist; co-author of Breakpoint; small and mid-cap analyst at Marcellus
Marcellus Investment Managers
Episode: India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
Sapana Bhavsar
Co-author of Breakpoint
Unknown from transcript
Episode: India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point

Host

Milan Vaishnav
Host of Grand Tamasha; moderator guiding in-depth discussions on Indian politics, economics, and foreign policy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 282 ratings
  • Educational exceptional

    Expentionally educational on Indian issues. Thank you for doing so much and sharing so genrously 🙏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AtulatHK
    Hong Kong6 months ago
  • Excellent analyses

    I’m a scholar of South Asia and I still learn so much from these excellent episodes. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lalindia
    United Statesa year ago
  • Propaganda podcast

    This is an anti India propaganda podcast. The host chooses guests who are subtly anti India. The host also takes a line of questioning that deliberately highlights the anti India side of an issue and leaves the pro India argument under or un explored. The only positive thing I can say about this podcast is that at least it is not full on Jihadi.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RD2017
    United Statesa year ago
  • Glorified Book Review Stop

    A very talented and knowledgeable host, but way too many episodes are book reviews on esoteric topics. The latter point robs the show of its focus and impact, in my view.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RJG179
    United States2 years ago
  • Crucial listening to (start) understanding India

    Engaging, interesting and informative. Key podcast to understand major and timely issues in India.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Diaa Hadid
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews note perceived bias or heavy focus on book-length analyses.
Listeners praise the high-level analysis and global perspective.
Production quality and pacing are commonly highlighted as strengths.
Balanced, in-depth discussions with top experts on Indian issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#185
India/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#196
India/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#33
India/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

India’s Youth Boom Meets a Jobs Bust
Q: Tell us a little bit about the origin story behind doing this annual publication and what this year's focus is.
The SWI began in 2018 to map how the labor market evolves, with this edition focusing on youth in the labor market and school-to-work transitions, building on a long history of analyzing education, employment, and transitions with multiple editions.
India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
Q: What are the three waves of labor-market disruption identified in India, and how do they interact with AI and automation?
The three waves are manufacturing automation replacing shop-floor and clerical roles, the shift to non-routine cognitive work, and the widening supply-demand mismatch driven by excessive graduate supply and lagging demand; AI accelerates the shift by demanding creativity over rote learning, amplifying the disruption.
India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
Q: Could you explain why the middle class is defined as 40 million income taxpayers in India, and why that specific band is important?
The panel explains that using the 40 million income taxpayers captures the segment that truly drives the economy and can be considered the middle class, while also reflecting inequality and the broader multiplier effects on employment and social spending.
Inside The Complex: Family, Power, and India in Turmoil
Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book, and which sections demanded the most careful handling?
He notes that writing Sachin's perspective and the infertility subplot were particularly challenging, as he wanted to avoid simplistic resolutions and to portray gendered experiences with ethical nuance.
Inside The Complex: Family, Power, and India in Turmoil
Q: So tell us about that choice of weaving fiction with real characters and events, and how that shapes the reader's experience.
Mahajan explains that fiction can illuminate political realities by blending memory, biographical inspiration, and historical events, creating a sense of instability that makes readers question what is true and what is fiction.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Tamasha

What is Grand Tamasha about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers in-depth, expert-led analysis of India's politics, economy, foreign policy, and society with thought leaders from think tanks, academia, government, and industry. Episodes frequently feature nuanced debates on GDP measurement, regional power dynamics, elections, delimitation, labor markets, and technology policy, often pairing data-driven insight with historical and institutional context. A standout characteristic is its ability to blend rigorous scholarly perspectives with practical policy implications, inviting global audiences to understand complex Indian developments through multiple lenses. The show often highlights the interplay between domestic policy and international strategy, making it valuable for listeners ... more

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1. In Focus by The Hindu
2. ThePrint
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Empire: World History
5. Conversations with Tyler

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Grand Tamasha launched 7 years ago and published 292 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Grand Tamasha?

Recent guests on Grand Tamasha include:

1. Abhishek Anand
2. Kabir Taneja
3. Neelanjan Sircar
4. Shruti Rajagopalan
5. Rosa Abraham
6. Kanwal Rekhi
7. Saurabh Mukherjee
8. Nandita Rajhansa

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