The Modern India's Podcast

From New York to rural India, Ajaita Shah's journey is anything but typical. In this episode, we dive into the founding of Frontier Markets and her bold goal: to empower 100 million women through She-Leads Bharat by 2030.We ask:– What sparked her commitment to rural women's leadership?– How did she challenge social norms and win trust in male-dominated systems?– What setbacks taught her the most about resilience and scaling impact?– How are rural women quietly driving climate action and digital finance?– And what must change in funding and policy to truly unlock women's economic power?Ajaita doesn't just talk systems change—she lives it. Tune in for a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

In this episode of the Det Moderne India Podcast, we speak with Dr. Sulagna Chattopadhyay — a pioneer in climate journalism, environmental advocacy, and polar policy. As the Founder-Editor of Geography and You and the driving force behind the SaGAA think tank, Sulagna has spent over two decades shaping India's climate discourse.Her journey has not been easy. From facing exclusion in academic circles to building her own research and advocacy platforms, Sulagna shares what it means to be “the first and only” woman in male-dominated fields — and how perseverance, purpose, and quiet resilience helped her create space where none existed.This episode is part of a special podcast series connected to the book The First and Only: India & The Nordics – Breaking Barriers, Building Futures, launching in Oslo on May 14, 2025.Listen in as Sulagna reflects on her challenges, breakthroughs, and the urgent need for inclusive leadership in environmental policy.

Welcome to a new episode of Det Moderne India, where we explore leadership, diversity, and the evolving role of women in STEM across borders.This episode delves into the intersection of Indian and Nordic leadership through the lens of lived experience. Our guest is Vidya Basarkod, former Director of Ramboll in India. With over four decades of experience in civil and structural engineering, Vidya has broken barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field—both in India and Scandinavia.Together, we explore:- The cultural contrasts between Indian and Nordic leadership styles  - What it means to be “the first and only” woman in the room  - How engineering and infrastructure sectors can become more inclusive  - Lessons learned from working within a global company like Ramboll  - Advice for the next generation of women in STEM and leadership  Join us as we navigate leadership across borders and break new ground for the future of inclusive workplaces.

India has one of the largest youth populations in the world, yet digital accessibility remains a challenge—only 54% of households have computers, and nearly 40% lack access to one. However, with 88% of the population using smartphones, mobile technology presents an opportunity to bridge this gap.In this episode, The Rise of Gen Z Girls in Tech, we sit down with Mayank, the visionary behind Coding Pro, to explore how AI-driven learning and innovative mobile applications are ensuring equal access to coding education for students, regardless of their background.We discuss the impact of social norms on STEM careers, the challenges of parental hesitation and cultural expectations, and how AI-powered tools are helping families embrace digital education. Mayank shares how Coding Pro's scholarships and mentorship programs are supporting underprivileged girls, fostering a future where young women take the lead in tech.We also explore Iraaj, India's first humanoid robot, and its role in equipping students with real-world skills, as well as the emergence of AI-powered universities and Techno Schools that will redefine learning over the next decade.This conversation is about breaking barriers, reshaping education, and preparing India's youth—especially Gen Z girls—for the digital revolution.

In this episode, we sit down with Sunita R. Cherian, Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources at Wipro Limited, to explore how the company is leading the way in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the tech industry.  With over two decades of expertise in Human Capital Strategy, Sustainability, and Diversity & Inclusion, Sunita has played a key role in shaping Wipro's DEI initiatives, including the Women of Wipro platform. As a former Chair of NASSCOM's National D&I Council, she has been a driving force behind inclusion efforts at Wipro and beyond.  Wipro is recognized as a DEI Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, setting industry benchmarks through impactful policies, leadership programs, and gender diversity initiatives. In this conversation, we discuss:  - What it means to be a DEI Lighthouse and how Wipro has set itself apart in advancing diversity in tech  - How Wipro integrates DEI into its core business strategy, ensuring it goes beyond corporate rhetoric  - The company's efforts to accelerate women's leadership in tech through mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership programs  - How Wipro designs inclusive hiring and talent development programs to support women and underrepresented groups  - The policies and programs that have driven intersectionality, supporting cultural, socio-economic, and neurodiverse inclusion  - How Wipro is leveraging AI and technology to advance diversity and inclusion  - Key lessons for Nordic companies and how they can adopt best practices from Wipro's DEI journey  - Sunita's top action for individuals and organizations to create sustainable gender diversity in the workplace  Tune in to gain valuable insights from one of the leading voices in DEI in tech and learn how companies can build more inclusive and equitable workplaces.  Listen now.

India has built one of the world's strongest pipelines for women in STEM and technology, yet in the Nordics, where gender equality is a global benchmark, female representation in IT and tech leadership remains a challenge.  In this episode, Sunita Mohanty, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Invest India, shares insights on what's driving India's success and what the Nordics can learn. With experience leading diversity and workforce transformation at Google Singapore, Sunita discusses the key policies, corporate initiatives, and cultural shifts that have shaped India's growing female tech workforce.  We explore:  - How India became a global leader in female STEM graduates  - The role of government policies like Vigyan Jyoti and WISE-KIRAN in bridging gender gaps in tech  - Lessons from India's structured digital skilling programs and corporate-government partnerships  - The future of women in AI, quantum computing, biotech, and emerging tech fields  - Sunita's personal journey and the impact of mentorship and leadership in creating lasting change  This conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, policy support, and workplace inclusion in building a more diverse and innovative tech sector.  Listen now to understand how gender diversity in technology can be strengthened worldwide.  The Nordic Council of Ministers supports this podcast.

Welcome to Challenges in Recruiting Women in India, a podcast series where we explore the barriers, cultural nuances, and innovative solutions shaping women's participation in India's workforce.In each episode, we hear from industry leaders, policymakers, and changemakers who are driving efforts to create more inclusive workplaces and advance gender equality.In this episode, we focus on Leadership: Paving the Way as the First. We unpack the unique challenges women face in leadership roles and explore actionable solutions to inspire change.Annette Holte, the Country Manager at Kongsberg Maritime India, will join us. She'll share her journey, insights on leadership in a male-dominated industry, and strategies for breaking barriers to increase the number of women in leadership.

The podcast with Parul Soni will explore the multifaceted role of women in India's evolving socio-economic landscape, focusing on their contributions to sustainability, leadership, and innovation. As a renowned advocate for gender equality and empowerment, Parul will share insights into the challenges and opportunities for women in India and globally, offering a compelling vision for inclusive growth. The conversation will also explore strategies for fostering women's participation in the circular economy and aligning gender equity with sustainable development goals.

In this episode of our Podcast series on Challenges in Recruiting Women in India, we have with us Sohini Mishra who is the founder of Women in the Hood.Sohini is enthusiastic, performance-driven self-starter and team player. She has passion  for creating fun, compelling and addictive consumer engagement platforms.Mishra has Strong organizational and analytical skills & attention to detail.Sohini has over 15 years of wide experience in Brand Building & Management and direct experience in Automobile, retail, luxury industry and exposure of building start-ups.

Trailblazer in Sustainability and Gender Diversity: Seema AroraSeema Arora serves as the Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where she has been a driving force in championing sustainable business practices and enhancing gender diversity within the workforce.  Since joining CII in 1991, she has led transformative initiatives, pioneering services focused on sustainable development and engaging Indian industry for the Earth Summit in 1992.Her leadership portfolio at CII includes:  CII FoundationCentre of Excellence for Sustainable DevelopmentCII Development InitiativesIndian Women Network, which empowers women to unlock their economic potential.  Seema designs innovative frameworks to make sustainability and corporate social responsibility integral to business strategies. Her work not only promotes equal opportunities but also fosters collaboration and develops solutions to societal challenges.  Through her vision and persistence, she has become a key voice in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for India's industries.In this podcast, Seema Arora shares her invaluable insights on driving sustainable development and promoting gender diversity in the workforce. Don't miss her perspective on building a future that is both inclusive and sustainable.  

We're excited to announce our podcast series on Challenges of recruiting Women in India. This episode is on HR Practices and Company-level Challenges, featuring Ritu Kumar, Head of P&O EDC (Global People Services) at COWI India!With her vast expertise in HR and organizational development, Ritu has been a driving force behind people-centric initiatives, fostering inclusivity, and empowering diverse talent in the workplace. Her leadership journey is an inspiration, and her insights on sustainable gender diversity are a must-listen!In this episode, we discuss:Breaking cultural barriers in recruitmentCrafting supportive company policiesBuilding environments that empower women in STEMSkill development and retention strategies for sustainable growthThe podcast was made possible with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, ensuring we bring you impactful discussions that drive change.Lidten to this inspiring conversation that's sure to leave you motivated! 

In this episode, we'll dive into 'India's role in the Arctic' and its growing significance.We have with us President of SaGAA and Editor in Chief at Geography and You, Sulagna Chattopadhyay. She shares her insights on India's role in the Arctic and activities done by india in the last several decades.Also, our second guest is the Senior researcher/Associate Professor in International Relations at Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Andreas Østhagen. He is a public scholar specialised in International relations, focused on the arctic, maritime disputes, resource governance and security policies/geopolitics.

Samfundet i Trondheim inviterer til møte om India. India er et av verdens mest mangfoldige og multietniske land. Når du tenker på India, tenker du kanskje på Tikka Masala og Butter Chicken. Det er kanskje ikke så rart, for vi hører generelt lite om India i media. Men visste du at India blir omtalt som verdens største demokrati? At India har passert Kina i befolkningstall? Og at landet har vært styrt av samme parti og statsminister siden 2014?Lørdag 7. september inviterte Samfundet til et dypdykk inn i indisk politikk, hvor vi tar for oss alt fra sosial ulikhet, til økende hindunasjonalisme og anti-muslimsk retorikk, til et demokrati, en religionsfrihet og en ytringsfrihet under press. For hva er det egentlig som rokker seg innad i verdens mest folkerike land? For å svare på dette har de invitert professor emeritus i samfunnsøkonomi og India-entusiast, Karl “Kalle” Moene, samt forfatter, grunnlegger av Det Moderne India, og tidligere ISFiT president, Rina Sunder. Samtalen var ledet av Borghild Rauø.

Arendalsuka is over for this year!We are excited to share with our beloved listners our engaging debate at Arendalsuka through our podcast.The Nordic countries are renowned for their pristine nature and pure water, with Cleantech being a cornerstone of our societies. By combining advanced technology with effective water management, the Nordics have managed to maintain and restore some of the world's finest water resources.This year's debate centered on the topic: "India: The Potential of Recycling Water and Waste – Myth and Reality in Achieving a Circular Economy."Our goal was to explore and develop sustainable solutions for India's water challenges by leveraging both Indian and Nordic knowledge and technology. We were fortunate to have an exceptional lineup of speakers and panelists who shared their insights and expertise on this critical topic.We also focused on Indo-Norwegian cooperation projects, particularly in waste management – an area ripe for conversation.Here are some of the key questions we explored:1. What are India's ambitions within the circular economy, specifically in the waste and water sectors?2. How do existing regulations and other policy instruments help bring India closer to achieving these ambitions, and are there areas that need adjustment?3. How do we see Indo-Norwegian cooperation projects helping to advance India's innovation and ambitions?We look forward to continuing this important dialogue and exploring how we can work together to create sustainable solutions!

The climate emergency, loss of nature and deadly pollution threaten to destroy our homes and eliminate many of the millions of species that share this beautiful planet with us. Join ACT NOW in commemorating World Environment Day with the 5th Edition of #TomorrowNeverComesActNow, the world's largest and longest environment online event. The event brings together organizations and individuals from the world over to present their climate actions, share their insights, and generate awareness about how we are geared towards restoration of our environment, and for taking care of the only planet we know.More than 50 000 participants have participated the past 4 years. DMI was part of the world's longest and largest environment online event, collaborating to ensure Nordic countries are represented as we gear up for Narendra Modi's visit to the third Indo-Nordic summit later this year. Listen to the 2 seesions of the event led by Erik Solheim and Rina Sunder.

March 8th

Listen to Ambassador May-Elin Stener in conversation with our founder, Rina Sunder! As The Modern India (Det Moderne India) are gearing up for the World Economic Forum we invited the Ambassador of Norway to India for a conversation on India - Nordics.

Wilhelmsen Ship Management operates 250+ ships in global trade. Supporting their operational excellence, Indian seafarers plays an important role.In this episode, we have with us Lasse Kvarsnes Hansen, Global Head of Marine HR in Wilhelmsen Ship Management. Rina Sunder interviews our guest for all our listerners focusing on how India is a Strategic hub.

A packed crowd gathered for the debate on India's politihus and economy - why should we care? KÅKÅ|nomics host many debates to a broad audience how they see the world develop. Joining economists are psychologists, technologists, philosophers, historians, journalists, artists, politicians and comedians. This year they had a strong focus on India. The timing was perfect as India, the world's fifth largest economy in the world, is likely to overtake Japan to become the world's third-largest economy with a GDP of USD 7.3 trillion by 2030.DMI was represented by Erik Solheim and Rina Sunder.Please note the episode is in Norwegian.

This month The Modern India (Det Moderne India) was co organizer at the International Climate Summit held on 14-15 September, 2023 in New Delhi. The Conference had more than 60,000 people attending physically and virtually combined! 60 000!This mega event unfolded at the prestigious Vigyan Bhawan, a venue reserved for only the most distinguished guests — usually graced by the presence of the President, Vice President, or Prime Minister of India. ICS 2023 had the honor of hosting the former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.We rolled out the first The Indo-Nordic Cooperation seminar, which focused on Clean Energy and Renewables. The session fostered collaboration between India and the Nordic countries in clean energy, sustainability, and renewable technologies. This session focused on two key aspects: cities and the unique offerings of individual Nordic countries towards the Indian market. 2 rooms had to be set up to give space to the audience present at the Indo-Nordic Cooperation session.It was an overwhelming and humbling experience to be part of this mega event. The credit goes to PHD Chamber of Commerce and industry, Sturle Harald Pedersen and my partner in crime Knut Linnerud.  Special thanks to all the amazing women who joined us. DEIB is core of DMI. We always try to give women an equal seat at the table. Here is the first session of the Indo-Nordic Cooperation!

Vi i Norge kan når vi vil! Det fikk vi bevis for da Sadhguru besøkte Norge juni i år.Vi visste en stund at vi kom til å få storfint besøk fra India. Tidspunktet visste vi nesten også, men ikke om dette besøket faktisk ble noe av. Endelig dato og bekreftelse kom først seks dager før besøket startet. Over 50 selskaper møtte Sadhguru på Stortinget. Flott at Kompass NRK lager en egen sending Sadhgurus besøk til Norge. Hør på samtalen mellom Pål Plassen og Rina Sunder.English:We in Norway know the worth of having what we want! We got proof of that when Sadhguru visited Norway in June this year.We knew for a while that we were going to have a great visit from India. We almost also knew the time, but not whether this visit actually came to fruition. The final date and confirmation only came six days before the visit started.Over 50 companies met Sadhguru at the Storting. Great that Kompass NRK is making a separate broadcast of Sadhguru's visit to Norway.Listen to the conversation between Pål Plassen and Rina Sunder.The episode is in Norwegian.

On one side we are screaming after talent on the other we have exceptional internationals not being fully utilised.In a recent statement by Hans Christian Holte Director of NAV states we are lacking 53 000 employees in different industries today.  In addition, we know Norway has a big challenge when it comes to recruitment of tech talent with a shortage of 40,000 IT professionals by 2030. The competition for the best global talent is a tough one! Recruiting from international borders is one thing but how to include them in our society is another. How can we make sure Norway is rigged up for welcoming internationals? Does our own biases prevent us from hiring from the broader talent pool?Get answers to your queries regarding recruitment of international talents in this episode where Jyoti Sohan-David, Co-founder & COO of Umbrella makes her debut on The Modern India Podcast by hosting Øystein E. Søreide, CEO of Abelia.

Welcome to The Modern India's Podcast episode on March 8, International Women's Day with a very special guest, Rolee Aranya, Professor in Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture and Design at NTNU.Do listen to the podcast episode to find answers to the following questions:What are the common challenges when it comes to implementation of smart cities in cities in Norway and cities in India?How do cities build capacity building competence in India? What is required to build competence?How are cities in India adapting to slow change to rapid change society?What is the impact of Complex multi-level governance structures  to knowledge-based urban developmentBy 2050, more than 2,400 hospitals and healthcare facilities in C40 cities could be overwhelmed by flooding. 45% of those healthcare facilities at risk are located in India. How can Handling Compounded Uncertainty in Spatial Planning and Humanitarian Action in Unexpected Floods?Happy International Women's Day, 2023 !!

Norway and India share a long maritime history, and maritime issues are central to the bilateral dialogue between our two countries. Our guest for this episode is Cristina. Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria is responsible for DNV's maritime operations in South East Asia Pacific & India since October 2017 in her capacity as Vice President, Regional Manager. She has worked in newbuilding and operations phases as a ships surveyor and project manager in Spain, Portugal, South Korea and Norway.  In 2015 she became responsible for DNV GL's maritime and oil & gas operations in Africa in her capacity as Area Manager and Country chair for Africa until September 2017.A significant channel to start reducing carbon emissions is by using coastal shipping. Coastal shipping is widely acknowledged as a viable and effective substitute for road transportation. India can look to the unique Norwegian shipping ecosystem for inspiration. Norway is at the forefront of developing and using technology and concepts that help to reduce emissions and improve the environment. Norway becoming one of the most advanced maritime nations in the world today. Do listen to this insightful episode of The Modern India Podcast!

Sustainability DialoguesThe Standing Committee on Energy and Environment of the Norwegian Parliamentary visited India last week. Our guest today is Nikolai Astrup.Nikolai is a MP, a Norwegian politician representing the Conservative Party.Astrup - the first person to hold the post as the minister of international development for in years.India is rapidly undergoing sustainable green transformation. Norway is the leader in the whole of Europe in terms of renewable energy. Ties between Norway and India have deep historical roots.We all know that developments in India will have a significant impact on how successful the world is in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and global climate targets.Do listen to Nikolai's experiences in India!

The government of India is hosting the 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention from January 9 to January 11 on the theme  - 'Diaspora : Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal.' On this special occasion, NewsX presented a special one-hour telecast from 6 pm to 7 pm ist on Monday, January 9, to highlight the successes and achievements of the 17.9 million strong Indian diaspora community in the globe as well as to find new ways to harness their potential to innovate, invest and initiative their ideas in India. Through VaKu Diaspora Broadcasting Network - Diaspora Dialogue - NewsX has built a dedicated community-based ecosystem to connect India's brilliant and change-making diaspora with a large Indian audience by providing them a platform on the channel to narrate their storiesOur founder, Rina Sunder, beautifully presented her life journey in both the countries, India & Norway.

In light of the objectionable comments made by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto against PM Modi, there has been outrage across India. We are conducting a live discussion. We are aiming to bring together Indian diaspora to share their views on how Indians across the world must rally against Pakistan's disrespect on international forums, are global protests the answer? Along with Rina Sunder, the founder of our NGO, Det Moderne India, other panel members in this discussion are:1 - PROFESSOR KISHAN Devani BEM - UK POLITICIAN, BUSINESS MAN2 - KULDEEP SINGH SHEKHAWAT - PRESIDENT OVERSEAS FRONT OF BJP, UK3 - DR RAVI GODSE - INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR EXPERT4 - DEEPAK KAVADIA - INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR EXPERT

Our built environment is also one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and drives a significant  amount of air pollution in our cities.The ‘Clean Construction' approach promotes the reduction of air pollutants from construction activities. The Government of India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), in 2019, that aims to reduce air pollution levels by 20-30% by 2024.In this episode we have invited a guest who represents the private sector: Kristin Sæterøy. She has hands on knowledge on clean construction.Kristin Sæterøy is the Managing Director of Aneo Build.This is how we attempt to drive the transition towards clean construction.

OSLO-the first city in the world that began with the first zero-emission urbanconstruction by using only electrified construction equipment. Oslo is also leading the Clean Construction Forum @ C40.New C40 research reveals that fossil gas use contributed almost as much as coal power plants to premature deaths in 2020 and current NDCs would result in 776,000 more premature deaths in C40 cities by 2050, compared to a 1.5oC scenario. In contradiction with their own inadequate NDCs, key nations are undertaking a gas expansion that will add 86% to gas use capacity in and around C40 cities by 2035, while a 1.5oC scenario would require a 30% decrease.While in the seven years since world leaders signed the Paris Agreement, no nation has developed 1.5°C-compatible plans, 62 C40 cities have done so, with more in the works. Three quarters of C40 cities are reducing emissions faster than their respective nation states. Thanks to the work of cities around the world, air pollution is down 5%.In this episode, we have with us Andre Aasrud, Senior advisor for the C40 Clean Construction Programme.Do listen to this latest informative episode of The Modern India Podcast!

Norway India Sustainabilty DialoguesWe have with us: Kristin Skofteland, Chief Commercial Officer & Legal Counsel for Beyonder AS&Soumya Kukreti, CEO of Midwest Energy Private Limited.Beyonder designs and manufactures safer battery solutions based on Norwegian sawdust, with high power, fast charging and a long lifetime. Produced without cobalt and nickel using clean energy and energy-efficient methods, Beyonder batteries have the smallest environmental footprint possible. Beyonder´s high power battery cells can be fully charged and discharged in just a few minutes and is designed as power storage for renewable energy grids, heavy transportation and offshore energy infrastructure. Midwest Energy is engaged in  developing solutions to resolve the current impediments faced by the electric mobility and aid acceleration in its adoption bids to March towards Decarbonizing the environment with an aim to positively impacting the businesses and transforming lives.Beyonder and Midwest Energy have entered into an agreement to start planning giga scale battery production in India, based on Beyonder's unique and patented technology. The agreement was signed at Beyonder's Battery Centre in Sandnes, Norway a few weeks back. Listen to this informative episode!

Save Soil is a global movement launched by Sadhguru to address the soil crisis, by bringing together people from around the world to stand up for Soil Health. Furthermore, it supports leaders of all nations to institute national policies and actions toward increasing the organic content in cultivable Soil.Agriculture, deforestation, and other factors have degraded and eroded topsoil at alarming rates. Globally, 52% of agricultural land is already degraded. The planet is in crisis. If current rates of soil degradation continue, this would cause the end of life as we know it.We are happy that 250+ people enjoyed the debate we had at Arendalasuka. This was the first time we streamed an event from Arendalsuka. For this debate we have with us: •Heidi Bade, Norad•Katrine Sund-Henriksen, CEO, Norwegian Forum for Development and Environment•Torleiv Næss Ugland, CEO, Terramarine AS•Ashish Sahu, Marketing Manager, Cambi ASThe Panel discussion is led by Rina Sunder.We are extremely proud that we had with us Sadhguru JV and Erik Solheim at Arendalsuka. Listen to their conversation in episode #39 Saving Soil where Sadhguru was interviewed by Erik Solheim, published on India's Independence Day, 15th August, 2022.

This episode is the speech by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the International Climate Summit 2022 held in Bergen on 30-31st August.International Climate Summit 2022 is an initiative of the Indo-Norwegian partnership with a special focus on exploring ‘Opportunities for Green Hydrogen in India'. It aimed to present the next-generation opportunities for Bi-Lateral Trade, Joint Ventures, Technology Transfer, and International funding across the green hydrogen industry value chain in India.Greenstat, Arena H2Cluster, Det Moderne India and the Norwegian Hydrogen Forum represented the Norwegian Partnership, together with the Indian side represented by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Invest India.

Save Soil on India's Independence Day!!DMI and Norad are hosting a Save Soil debate at Arendalsuka.DMI is celebrating India's 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Independence Day at Arendalsuka to discuss Save Soil - a global movement launched by Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru JV.  Sadhguru is a yogi and a mystic a man whose passion spills into everything he encounters. Named one of India's 50 most influential people, Sadhguru's work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through his transformational programs. Sadhguru has a unique ability to make the ancient yogic sciences relevant to contemporary minds, acting as a bridge to the deeper dimensions of life. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system, but offers methods for self-transformation that are both proven and powerful.Do listen to this insightful and informative talk where Sadhguru is interviewed by Erik Solheim, Board Member of DMI.

Sustainability Dialogues Make in India is an initiative by the Government of India to make and encourage companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products made in India and incentivize dedicated investments into manufacturing. The Make in India initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2014.Cochin Shipyard Ltd has built two autonomous electric vessels for ASKO Maritime AS, Norway.The two vessels are central to ASKO's passion for sustainability and for driving business efficiency. It currently has a fleet of some 700 trucks and trailers and aims to become carbon neutral in 2026.The construction project is partially funded by the Norwegian Government with the aim of setting up an emission-free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord.Plate cutting ceremony for both the vessels was held at Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi in the end of June.Do want to know more?Listen to this episode!

Sustainability Dialogues The Klemetsrud CO2 capture and storage project will be the world's first waste-to-energy plant with full-scale CCS by 2026.Our guest for this episode of Norway India Sustainabilty Dialogues is Jannicke Gerner Bjerkås.So much is happening in the Carbon capture landscape!(ONGC) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Equinor ASA, the Norwegian state-owned multinational energy company, for energy exploration and climate change mitigation options in March this year.And just a week back, Celsio - Oslo's district heating company - who is also heading the Klemetsrud project secured its funding.Jannicke is Director CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) in Celsio,Jannicke is heading the full-scale carbon capture project at Norway's largest waste-to-energy plant since 2018.Please find the following addressed in this episode:Norway's largest waste-to-energy plant has secured the funding. How did this happen?Let us take a step back. What is Carbon Capture and why is CCS important to Norway?What does it mean to be full scale CCS. How will you enable capture and storage of 400 000 tonnes of CO2 in practice?The City of Oslo plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 95 per cent by 2030. The Klemetsrud waste-to-energy CCS project provides a blueprint for cities across Europe on how to best deal with non-recyclable waste, while producing heat and electricity for city inhabitants.  What is it like to be a pioneer? Why waste-to-energy with CCS?Across the world, waste is an increasing problem, causing both local pollution to soil and groundwater and a climate issue as landfills are emitting large amounts of methane, contributing to climate change.  The carbon capture project in Oslo provides a range of innovative solutions that can be exported to other countries. Please elaborate.How do you collaborate with other countries and cities for knowledge sharing in regard to CO2 capture and storage?What does the carbon capture project means for Oslo's climate targets - and what can cities like Mumbai learn from this project?Stay tuned!!

Sustainability DialoguesCities form networks, engage in dialogue with counterparts, facilitate public diplomacy, share best practices & encourage collaboration.Find answers to the following in this podcast-About C40 and its work.How does C40 use city diplomacy to help cities meet their climate ambitions? Cities earn their membership through their actions and both of you work with two very different cities - Mumbai and Oslo  The kind of work being done by Mumbai to address the issue? What are the key lessons that Mumbai can share with the world?What does Oslo do to align with C40's requirements? What climate budgeting means? How does C40 facilitate this peer-to-peer knowledge sharing on climate budgeting, based experiences from OsloWhat do you see as a priority for C40 in the coming years? Where do you see C40 in the year 2050?Did you know that 3% of the total surface of the #planet is occupied by cities, and that they are home to more than half of the world's #population? 

Sustainability DialoguesOslo is the first city in the world that has developed a dedicated climate budget which serves as the governance tool for its climate work. Many cities are following Oslo's climate leadership in action.Get to know our podcast guest: Heidi Sørensen Heidi Sørensen is the Director of the Climate Agency, City of Oslo.In her youth, Sørensen was an active environmentalist and was leader of both Natur og Ungdom and Friends of the Earth Norway. She was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo in 2001.She became State Secretary to the Minister of the Environment between 2007-2012 and left national politics in 2013.Sørensen was a member of the Norwegian Consumer Council from 1997 to 2001, the Norwegian Board of Technology from 1999, the board of the Research Council of Norway from 2000, and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences from 2013.She has also been a member of committees producing Norwegian Official Reports on energy and waste management.Did you know that The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) climate action cell will share its assessment results with the City of Oslo for a year-long program to develop the climate budget? 

Millions have watched Pose on HBO. In India, people don't watch! Government acts!  While recognition of genders outside of male and female has only recently been discussed in Western societies, in the Indian society, people of non-binary gender expressions have played important roles for over 2000 years.India's Supreme Court has ruled that transgender people are created as a third gender in the country.  The decision is seen as a milestone in India. This was the first time in world history that a Supreme Court recognizes transgender people as a separate gender.Diversity campaigns and Pride flagging notwithstanding: Research indicates that it is difficult to be a trans person in working environments. According to the report "Sexual orientation, gender diversity and living conditions" from 2021, transgender people stand out in terms of mental health, life satisfaction and experiences of discrimination. Transgender rights matters!We have with us Celia Sandhya Daniels interviewed by Chisom Udeze.

Awesome conversation with the President of the Storting of Norway, Masud Gharahkhani.Mr. Masud Gharahkhani is the country's second highest ranked person, after the king. The President is what we would describe as a male ally: A man who will advocate for women even when there are no women in the room. We need more men like him, Men who walk the talk. He was elected as The President of the Storting in November 2021. 

Women will drive India´s future as India now officially has more females than males. In Norway, many high profile leaders have joined the Norwegian campaign #arnekampanjen. The information campaign is inspired by a Dutch LinkedIn campaign called Peter. There are more leaders in the Netherlands named Peter than there are female leaders in total.Among the 100 highest paid leaders in Norway, there are as many named Arne as there are women in total.As DEIB is in the core of DMI, we have decided to support #arnekampanjen.We are happy to share that we have invited Men who support women for International Women's Day, March 8th conversation as we can not achieve any of the SDGs without gender equality.We have with us:1. Sindre Finnes, the husband of Erna Solberg. Erna was the Prime Minister of Norway till October 2021. His wife, Erna Solberg, was elected as Prime Minister in 2013 and re-elected in 2017, thus making her the second female to hold the position in Norway. From 2016 the Erna co-chaired the UN Secretary General's Advocacy group for the Sustainable Development goals. Among the goals, she takes a particular interest in access to quality education for all, in particular girls and children.Norways First Man, Sindre Finnes, is a Norwegian economist and organizational leader in Norsk Industri.2. Christian Lund is an appeal court judge in Oslo. He is married to one of the most powerful business women in Norway: Kristin Skogen Lund. Kristin was EVP for Nordic activities within Telenor. She has been a member of the board of the Orkla Group. Skogen Lund has served as Director general of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. Fortune cited Skogen Lund among the "Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in Business». Kristin was featured on the "10 Global women on the rise" list. The  Norwegian business magazine Kapital has two years in a row put her on the top of the list of Norway's most powerful women.3. Parul Soni, Founder & Global Managing partner of Think Through Consulting. He has worked in over 54 countries with Fortune 500 companies, global alliances, industry associations,  international development organizations and knowledge institutions. Soni has driven many programs including women entrepreneurship across South Asia. Parul is also the founder and secretary general of Association of Business Women in Commerce & Industry (ABWCI).  It is a Virtual Global Chamber of  Commerce for Women.

India is a multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-cultural country. Its secular status is, however, a heated topic for debate today. India has a long and mostly honorable tradition of using soft power in its diplomacy. Religion plays a very central and definitive role in Indian society and culture. It can often be seen to influence businesses and the economy.We have with us Sadhguru interviewed by Erik Solheim.Sadhguru is a yogi and a mystic.A man whose passion spills into everything he encounters. Named one of India's 50 most influential people.Sadhguru's work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through his transformational programs.He has initiated large-scale global initiatives, including the UNCCD accredited Isha Foundation, with 11 million volunteers in 300 centers worldwide.In 2017, Sadhguru also launched Rally for Rivers, a campaign to raise awareness about the dire state of India's rivers, which was supported by 162 million people, making it the largest ever ecological initiative of its kind. Erik Solheim was Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme between May 2016 and November 2018. Prime minister Narendra Modi recoqnizes Erik as a friend of India and wrote a letter to him last week on the Republic Day of India.Listen to this insightful conversation and stay tuned for our upcoming episodes.

India now officially has more females than males. There has been a demographic shift. According to latest data released by the Indian government from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), there are now 1,020 women for every 1,000 men. Women's economic empowerment is highly connected to poverty reduction because women tend to invest their earnings into their communities and family's development. According to World Bank estimates, India's women in workforce contribute 17% to GDP, which is less than half the global average. Norway was the first country in the world to put a 40% gender quota on boards of listed companies and public enterprises. Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that works to advance children's rights and equality for girls. The Association of Business Women in Commerce & Industry (ABWCI), on the other hand, is an integrated platform dedicated to the economic empowerment of women in business. DMI would like to present to you the panelists for our podcast:Isabelle Ringnes - Isabelle is the co-founder of Equalitycheck.comParul Soni - founder of Association of Business Women in Commerce & Industry (ABWCI)Kari Helene Partapuoli - General Secretary, Plan Norway Rina Sunder - Founder, DMIThe conversation will be moderated by Ritika Dhall and Rina Sunder. Ritika is the Head of Gender Equality at Norad. A few of the questions we will touch upon are: What does it mean for India now that it has more females than males? What lessons are there for India to learn from Norway? What roles do health care, education, protection from violence, as well as empowerment and participation play for women in order to leverage their potential in a countrys growth?How can employers walk the walk regarding supporting women?Simply put — women are the key to unlocking the full potential of Indias economy and society. It's critical that we pave pathways that allow women to soar. DMI is happy to collaborate with Norad on this seminar. 

It was fantastic to have Atle Vidar Nagel Johansen, EVP & CEO for Orkla Foods, with us for our upcoming podcast on ESG.(Environmental Social Governance)Atle has worked 25+ years in various leadership positions in the Orkla Group; - in finance, marketing and general management. He served on the Executive Management #Board of Orkla as EVP since 2012. In January 2021, Atle took on the responsibility as CEO for the merged Foods business area. Orkla Foods is the largest business area in Orkla, with operations in 15 countries in Europe and a strong food business in #India. Net sales in 2020 was NOK 18 billion, and Orkla Foods has in total 7,500 employees. Over the last two years, he has held, in parallel, both the positions of CEO for Orkla Care's business area and EVP for Orkla's Group Operations and #Procurement, responsible for more than 100 factories around the globe, and sourcing for more than NOK 20 billion annually.Last year Orkla entered into an agreement to acquire 67.8 per cent of the shares in Eastern Condiments Private Limited (“Eastern”). With this move, Orkla will double its sales in India.In 2013, India became the first country to mandate corporate social responsibility with the Companies Act of 2013. 9 years down the road. How does India view ESG? Atle is sharing ORKLAs journey of establishing and growing their business, MTR Foods and  Eastern in India. 

At COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference, countries committed to new, ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions this decade. Delivering on these promises will rely on the development, financing and scale up of green technologies. China and India, the two biggest producers, consumers and importers of coal, sparked the last-minute drama at the COP26 talks by forcing a compromise that led from "phase out" to be changed to "phase down."What does this mean? And what about Norway and Norways role at COP26? We invited: - Stig Traavik, Director of Climate & Environment in Norad - the Norwegian Govt Agency for Development Cooperation-Truls Gulowesen, Managing Director of Naturvernforbundet. - Surbhi Singvi, manager for energy at World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WBCSD) for an update on COP26.

We have with us Chief Information Officer of Posten Norge, Arne Erik Berntzen.ARNE ERIK BERNTZEN is the CIO at Posten Norge. His passion is the interaction between technologies and business development and how compnaies can grow in a sustainable way. He has experience from consulting services and different roles within postal and logistic operations. He is skilled in IT Strategy, IT System Development, IT Operations, IT Cost Management, e-commerce and digital innovation. He works hard to support Posten Norge to succeed with their strategy and to make a difference in the Nordic Market.

We have with us Abhishek Thepade.Abhishek Thepade comes from India and Joined DNB Asset Management in 2008. He is currently the portfolio manager for Emerging market funds at DNB. He has over 12 years of experience in investing and currently is responsible for investments into Asian markets like India, China, Korea and Taiwan. HE has a MSc in Financial analysis and Fund management from University of Exeter, UK.He is being interviewed by Rina Sunder.It will be interesting to see if India will become the largest stock market by 2024.

Dfavo® - formerly known as studyportal.io - has developed a fast, easy to use online service that enables access to education worldwide. By digitizing the application services the team have developed a popular solution to make international student recruitment both secure and transparent. This is clean and efficient Scandinavian communications design that improves the experience for applicant, counsellor, and university. We have with us Pål Kvalheim and Harinder Aulakh, the founders of Dfavo.Harinder Aulakh COO and founder, MSC Mechanical Engineering, MBA. Indian born Norwegian that after having worked in the oil and gas industry for almost 20 years decided to establish a platform that enables students to apply to higher education across the globe.  Paul KvalheimCEO and co-founder, MA Political Science and MBA, successful entrepreneur and former executive in SaaS technology and telecom industry, shares the passion to enable students to get access to higher education around the world.Both company founders Paul Kvalheim and Harinder Aulakh benefited from studying abroad and they firmly believe the opportunity for mobility improves career and life prospects. Improving access to higher education is their ultimate goal and having generated enrolments across a wide variety of different countries they are already seeing success. In addition to the main English-speaking study destinations such as Canada, USA, and UK, Dfavo are already supporting applications to alternative study destinations such as Ukraine and Japan.

DMI invited Ganesh Shenoy, Chair of the Board of the Norwegian Business Association of India (NBAI)for a c-suite conversation on Foodtech: a foundation boon to sustainable food systems. Shenoy is also CFO & VP IT, MTR Foods Pvt Ltd (owned by Orkla). Here is what was discussed: •What is FoodTech? How it has emerged and secured its place on the the market? •COVID-19 is changing how we work, travel, communicate, shop and more, but how has it shifted the focus of consumers with respect to food preferences? •In Norway we have been talking about «Kjøttskam» for a while, meaning the meat shame. Organisations like EAT get a lot of limelight. They want us to eat less meat. What are your thoughts on that? •Due to advancing technologies within the food industry, as well as a demand for healthier, cheaper, and safer food products, the market is forecast to exceed 342 billion USD by 2027 from 220.32 billion USD in 2019. How would you describe India in the market share?•What challenges lie ahead of foodtech? •What is the future of Foodtech?The conversation was lead by Charanleen Kaur. Listen to the first part of the conversation here.

India has given the world many of its leading intellectuals. We are proud to have with us Dr. Parakala Prabhakar , a well known Indian political economist, political commentator, economic, and social affairs. Dr Prabhakar was an advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government from 2014 to 2018 and he is the Managing Director of RightFOLIO. Dr Parakala Prabhakar does not shy away from being critical of the government while being the Finance Minister's husband. By 2030, the two countries will account for 34 percent of the world's population.  Keeping in mind China's growing elderly population, declining number of childbearing women and shrinking working population base, the Chinese government has announced a three-child policy permitting a couple to have three children. India, home to one-sixth of all humanity, holds the key to the success of the 2030 Agenda. Panel:1. Dr Parakala Prabhakar, Managing Director, Rightfolio2. Kim Gabrielli, Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network Norway3. Karoline Linde, CEO Laerdal Global Health4. Rina Sunder, founder, Det moderne INDIA

The Modern India was honoured to hold 3 events at Arendalsuka 2021.Day 1-How India will redesign the WorldThe world was last designed seventy-five years ago.This is the time to look at a world redesign beyond the narrow national interests, to one which would serve the best interests of people and our planet. In the late nineteenth century, the three great powers were imperial Britain, the United States, and a rising Germany. In the mid-twentieth century, the US, Britain and the Soviet Union formed the dominant troika.As the twenty-first century enters its second quartile, the three most important nations will be the US, China, and India.The most remarkable phenomenon in Asia in the 21st century is arguably the economic rise of China and India. Amazingly, the two most populous countries in the world are uplifting millions of their citizens annually from poverty through rapid economic growth. India will be the third largest economy in the world by 2030.We had with us on the panel:Sam Pitroda, The father of India's communication revolution, an internationally recognized telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker who has spent fifty years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments.Shabnam Siddiqui, Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network India,Kim Gabrielli, Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network Norway, &Rina Sunder, founder, Det moderne INDIA.