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Through conversations with top thinkers in the social sciences and beyond, economist Shruti Rajagopalan explores the ideas that will propel India forward.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes166Founded6 years ago
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Society & CultureScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Ideas of India

Latest Episodes

Today my guest is Ritam Chaurey, who is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

We talked about structural transformation in India over the last three decades, how firm level behavior responds ... more

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Today my guest is Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, who is the Laurance Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton and former president and chief executive of the Center for Policy Research, New Delhi. He is the author of various books and e... more

YouTube

Today we are releasing a webinar recording from April 24th where Milan Vaishnav and I had a conversation on delimitation in India. Milan is a senior fellow and the director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ... more

Today my guest is Samanth Subramanian, who is a journalist and writer and the author of the recent books The Web Beneath the Waves and A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane.

We talked about under water... more

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Recent Guests

Ritam Chaurey
Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins SAIS
Episode: Ritam Chaurey on Placing the Firm at the Center of India's Structural Transformation
Pratap Bhanu Mehta
Lawrence Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton; former President and Chief Executive of the Center for Policy Research (New Delhi)
Princeton University / Center for Policy Research
Episode: Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Liberalism, Nihilism, and the Collapse of Sincerity
Milan Vaishnav
Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Shruti Rajagopalan and Milan Vaishnav on India's Delimitation Dilemma
Samanth Subramanian
Journalist and writer, author of The Web Beneath the Waves and The Radical Science and Restless Politics of JBS Haldane
Independent journalist and author
Episode: Samanth Subramanian on the Fragile and Resilient Technologies that Bind Us
Arvind Subramanian
Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India
Peterson Institute for International Economics
Episode: Arvind Subramanian and Devesh Kapur on India's Precocious Development Odyssey
Devesh Kapur
Starr Foundation Professor of South Asian Studies; Director of the Asia Programs at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Arvind Subramanian and Devesh Kapur on India's Precocious Development Odyssey
V. Anantha Nageswaran
Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India
Government of India
Episode: V. Anantha Nageswaran on Surveying the Growth and Financialization of the Indian Economy
Ornit Shani
Associate Professor of History, University of Haifa; author
University of Haifa
Episode: Ornit Shani and Rohit De on Assembling India's Constitution
Rohit De
Associate Professor of History, Yale University; author
Yale University
Episode: Ornit Shani and Rohit De on Assembling India's Constitution

Host

Shruti Rajagopalan
Host of Ideas of India

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 189 ratings
  • Passionate Guests and Host

    This is a great source of quality information about India. I am thoroughly impressed by the knowledge and passion exhibited and the sincerity of their ideas Thank You. These learned guests seem to care a lot about unemployed youth in India and are cautioning us to avoid a demographic curse.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SomaTekumalla
    United States2 years ago
  • Shruti is exceptional

    Almost every episode is fascinating and enlightening. Thanks for sharing and teaching.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    totally disappointed 123
    United States2 years ago
  • Solid and interesting discussions.

    (Importantly, very little crap like minute-long songs, "let's take a break", minute-long roadmaps of the podcast, as is the case with too many other podcasts like Brookings Cafeteria.)

    Podchaser
    5
    John
    3 years ago
  • Recording of Khushdeep is very poor.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Vijay Modi
    4 years ago
  • Dont miss these episodes

    Shruthi’s knowledge is impeccable

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ksnsimha
    Australia6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thought-provoking and rigorous, with deep guest expertise.
Some episodes feel slow if you don't have deep India-policy interest.
Quality guests and ideas, though some episodes feel dense for casual listeners.
Host brings clarity and strong intellect to complex ideas.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pranay Kotasthane on the Political Economy of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals
Q: What can India realistically do to improve its position in the rare earths value chain?
India should focus on becoming a strategic node in the supply chain, invest in exploration subsidies, expand recycling capacity, and form bilateral/multilateral arrangements to share stockpiles and guarantees, rather than attempting to mirror China's entire approach.
Pranay Kotasthane on the Political Economy of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals
Q: Why is China so dominant in rare earths, and what are the consequences for global markets?
China dominates both mining and refining, creating leverage that can influence prices and supply stability; this has driven other countries to pursue substitutes, recycling, and diversified partnerships to reduce vulnerability.
Pranay Kotasthane on the Political Economy of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals
Q: What makes rare earths and other critical minerals 'critical' beyond their chemical properties?
They are essential in use and subject to supply risks due to a combination of geological, environmental, and geopolitical factors, which can disrupt production and industrial output if not diversified.
2025 in Review
Q: Where does Shruti get the time to read so much?
I read every day, and I will read anywhere, enjoying a wide variety of genres.
2025 in Review
Q: How does Shruti pick the young PhD scholars to feature on the podcast?
We just try to include as many as possible and don't gatekeep in any way.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ideas of India

What is Ideas of India about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers thoughtful conversations with leading social scientists and policy experts, focusing on India's political economy, institutions, and society. Episodes span liberalism, constitutional history, health systems, tech infrastructure, and macro policies, often tying historical context to contemporary policy challenges. Visitors are treated to nuanced, data-informed discussions that connect theory with real-world implications, appealing to listeners who want rigorous, interdisciplinary analysis. Notable strengths include a strong host-centered throughline, high-caliber guest rosters, and a willingness to tackle long-running debates about democracy, development, and governance in India.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ideas of India?

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Which podcasts are similar to Ideas of India?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ideas of India:

1. In Focus by The Hindu
2. Conversations with Tyler
3. Grand Tamasha
4. ThePrint
5. EconTalk

How many episodes of Ideas of India are there?

Ideas of India launched 6 years ago and published 166 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ideas of India?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Ideas of India?

Recent guests on Ideas of India include:

1. Ritam Chaurey
2. Pratap Bhanu Mehta
3. Milan Vaishnav
4. Samanth Subramanian
5. Arvind Subramanian
6. Devesh Kapur
7. V. Anantha Nageswaran
8. Ornit Shani

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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