The Morning Brief

Tata Capital is about to drop 2025’s biggest IPO. In this episode of The Morning Brief, we bring you exclusive comments from Rajiv Sabharwal, MD & CEO of Tata Capital on the company’s plan around its ₹15,512 crore markets debut. Host Dia Rekhi also speaks to Tarun Singh, MD of Highbrow Securities and IPO expert, to unpack the company’s landmark listing set to be among India’s largest ever. The conversation explores the strategy behind expanding retail participation, the challenges from the merger with the vehicle financing arm, valuation pressures, and fundraising strategies.Tune in: You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & TwitterYou can follow Sangita Mehta on her social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Reid is one of Google’s most powerful women. She also has one of its most challenging jobs. At a time when AI is reshaping how people seek information, as standalone LLMs become their foremost information sources, friends and therapists, Reid, Head of Search, has to constantly grapple with the challenge that it’s no longer the only answer to all the world’s questions And yet, Google’s search clicks are up and more qualified, people are asking detailed questions and, as she insists, the story of the blue link is far from over. In this episode, she talks to host Anirban Chowdhury about why Google isn’t facing an innovators’ dilemma yet, although it is trying to constantly improve the search experience, how Google and its searchers now talk differently to each other, whether there is a gap in gauging their intent and setting context, if agentic AI is truly an innovation worth chasing. She also talks about why the tech behemoth’s latest innovations must come to India weeks after the US, compared to two years earlier and how, soon, some of them might come to India first. Tune in. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quiet race is on to give India its own AI voice. From call-centre automation to defence and legal systems, Abhishek Upperwal of Soket Labs and journalist Swathi Radhakrishnan tell us why AI trained only on Western, English-heavy data cannot meet India’s needs. Translation isn’t enough; models must “think” in Hindi, Tamil or Marathi to capture nuance and reduce bias. The government’s IndiaAI mission, with nearly ₹10,000 crore in funding, is catalysing startups to build these Indic models. But their biggest bottleneck is data. Only a sliver of the world’s open datasets are in Indian languages, and even public archives like Doordarshan take time to unlock. Startups are scrambling crowdsourcing voices, licensing publishing-house content, generating synthetic text and negotiating with ministries to reach the 15–20 trillion high-quality tokens needed for a world-class foundation model. In this episode Host Anirban Chowdhury, ET’s Swathi Moorthy and Soket AI’s, founder, Abhishek Upperwal try to answer the following questions: What makes sovereign, Indic-first AI critical for India’s economy and security? How are innovators overcoming the huge shortage of quality language data? Can low-cost, DeepSeek-style methods help India build frugal yet powerful models? Where will the commercial payoffs voice AI, regional apps, enterprise tools arrive first? Tune in.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow Swathi Moorthy on her social media: Twitter and LinkedIn and also read Newspaper ArticleListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when gold, long seen as a timeless store of value, begins to redefine its place in global finance? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by ET’s banking editor Sangita Mehta and Ritesh Jain, founder of Pinetree Macro and a leading voice in global wealth and finance, to explore the forces behind gold’s resurgence from central banks shifting reserves away from the dollar to the rise of dual trade settlement systems splitting along geopolitical lines. With prices recently hitting a record high of $3,791 an ounce more than double since the Russia-Ukraine war and India now the sixth-largest holder of gold after China, the conversation probes what this surge really signals. As economic paradigms shift, the discussion raises a pressing question: is gold moving from commodity to cornerstone in the architecture of global trade and policy?Tune in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow Sangita Mehta on her social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s sudden $100,000 H-1B visa fee has shaken the U.S. tech landscape and left Indian IT giants scrambling. With renewals, contracts, and billions of dollars in deals on the line, what does this mean for companies, employees, and the future of global talent flows? Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with ET’s tech reporter Beena Parmar, immigration law expert and founder of LawQuest Poorvi Chothani, and political scientist Ranabir Samaddar to place this move in the larger anti-immigration story developing in the west. How are new rules and hidden costs from visa integrity fees to tougher naturalization checks reshaping the lives of students, professionals, and families? And at a deeper level, is today’s anti-immigration wave about economics, or about identity, race, and who gets to belong? Tune in.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credits: New York Post, make.europe.great.again.ty, louisovaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Federal Reserve has delivered its first rate cut since December 2024, trimming the benchmark rate by 25 basis points and hinting at two more cuts this year. Markets had expected the move, but Jerome Powell’s cautious tone on sticky inflation, slowing growth and rising job market risks left investors with more questions than answers. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by ET’s Markets Editor Nishanth Vasudevan to decode the implications. What does Powell’s “risk management” cut really signal? How did global markets from US treasuries and the dollar to emerging markets react? And most importantly, what does this mean for India: can foreign flows revive? Will Sensex and Nifty hit record highs? Or should investors look to gold and bonds for safer returns?You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credit: USA TODAYSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reliance is making its boldest leap yet into artificial intelligence. Backed by gigawatt-scale data centres, alliances with global giants like Nvidia, Google and Meta, and the unmatched power of data from 450 million Jio users, Mukesh Ambani wants to position India as an AI builder, not just a consumer. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by Neil Shah, co-founder of Counterpoint Research, and ET’s AI expert Himanshi Lohchab to decode what “Reliance Intelligence” really means. Can Ambani turn this vision into reality and build AI “for everyone, everywhere”? We dive into Reliance’s grand plans for cloud infrastructure, affordable AI services for small businesses, vernacular voice assistants, enterprise solutions, and even smart-city applications. Can India produce enough AI talent to power this ambition? Will execution challenges and global competition from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud derail the vision? Or could this finally give India its own AI infrastructure and a credible homegrown alternative to U.S. tech giants?You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Why Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?, How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Of Dragons and Elephants: Modi–Xi in Focus and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.Credits: moneycontrol, CNBC-TV 18See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s semiconductor dream is taking shape in Assam, where Tata Electronics is building a ₹27,000 crore chip assembly and testing facility. But this high-tech mission has run into a very unusual roadblock: wild elephants and snakes. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with ET’s Dia Rekhi joined by noted veterinarian popularly known as the 'Elephant Man of Asia' Dr. K.K. Sarma, to unpack the clash between cutting-edge technology and nature. From elephant herds that can cause damaging ground vibrations, to snakes that spooked construction workers, the story reveals how Tata is building elephant-proof walls and even employing snake rescuers to keep the project on track. The conversation also zooms out to a larger question: how do industries balance mega-investments in technology with the ecological realities of the land they’re built on? With anecdotes of animals disrupting industries worldwide from moths in computers to monkeys causing blackouts, this episode examines why India’s semiconductor mission must be not only technologically advanced but also ecologically future-proof.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinListen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Corner Office Conversation, we sit down with Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India and Chairperson of NASSCOM. From being the first woman to lead SAP Labs India to driving its AI-first transformation, Sindhu shares her journey, the bold decisions that shaped her career, and why India has become SAP’s biggest R&D hub outside Europe. Joined by Anirban Chowdhury and ET’s tech expert Beena Parmar, she discusses how the geopolitical turmoil is an opportunity for problem solving, how the AI boom is no bubble and why it’s now about whether India will build its own Anthropic…it’s how soon. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow Beena Parmar on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.Listen to Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nepal’s GenZ has torched, overthrown and reformed its government. On September 9, tens of thousands of young Nepalis poured into the streets. What began as a protest against a social media ban spiraled into the country’s biggest uprising in decades. Parliament was stormed, buildings burned, and Prime Minister K.P. Oli was forced to resign. On Friday, the youth’s candidate of choice Sushila Karki took oath as the interim prime minister. At the heart of this revolution: a generation fed up with corruption, elite privilege, and years of political mismanagement. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury traces how Nepal got here and what comes next. With insights from Professor Jeevan Sharma of the University of Edinburgh and Ashish Pradhan of International Crisis Group to voices from Kathmandu’s Gen Z movement, we explore how TikTok memes, “nepo kids,” and deep frustration over inequality turned into a powerful street movement. We look at Nepal’s political instability, its fragile economy propped up by remittances, and the global parallels from Sri Lanka’s collapse to Bangladesh’s student protests and even France’s “Block Everything” movement. Tune in.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credits: wehatethecold, NDTV, ANI News, Sudan GurungSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s insurance sector is at a turning point with the government scrapping the 18% GST on health and life insurance premiums from September 22. Policies from term plans to ULIPs and health covers just got cheaper, but questions remain : Will insurers absorb the loss of input tax credit or pass on the full benefit to policyholders? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Shilpy Sinha speaks with Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, Nilesh Sathe, former Member of IRDAI, and Dr. Bhabatosh Mishra, COO of Niva Bupa Health Insurance to unpack the reform’s impact on insurance. From cheaper premiums and better coverage for families to industry concerns over margins and grey areas like credit life policies, they explore how this change could reshape consumer behavior and support the government’s ambition of “Insurance for All by 2047.You can follow our host Shilpy Sinha on her social media: Twitter and Linkedin and her Newspaper article. Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years after the Ukraine war began, India has become one of Russia’s largest oil customers. From negligible imports before 2022, Russian crude now accounts for nearly a third of India’s oil basket delivering big savings for refiners and keeping fuel prices steady at home. But these benefits come with rising diplomatic costs, including pressure from Washington, the threat of higher tariffs, and accusations that India is profiteering by exporting refined Russian crude back to Western markets. Host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by energy markets expert Vandana Hari and Nandan Unnikrishnan, Head of Euraisan Studies, Observer Research Foundation. Together, they examine how much Indian refiners truly gain from Russian discounts, whether those margins are sustainable as sanctions tighten, what risks loom over India’s US trade ambitions, and how long New Delhi can balance its need for cheap energy with its strategic partnerships in the West.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. CREDITS: Firstpost, BroaderlinesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s biggest GST shake-up since 2017 is here. The new structure with just two slabs 5% and 18% plus a steep 40% for sin and luxury goods, promises cheaper essentials and faster refunds. But will consumers and businesses really feel the difference? On this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by Bipin Sapra, Partner - Leader, Indirect Tax & Economic Policy at EY, to unpack NextGen GST 2.0. From challenges of compliances to resolving inverted taxation issues, to Centre–State revenue tussle, to export efficiencies, they explore how these reforms could change spending, business margins, and the economy at large.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.Credits: DD India, WIONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, Archana Rai, Economic Times’, Editor, South speaks with Rajat Taneja, President Technology at Visa, about how India is shaping the future of payments. The discussion spans India’s trillion-dollar digital opportunity, the growing role of AI in fraud prevention, and Visa’s cutting-edge innovations from tokenized credentials and biometrics to agent-led e-commerce. Rajat noted that one-time passwords are no longer foolproof as they can be compromised, arguing that trusted platforms will shape the future of secure payments. Stressing AI’s transformative role, he also called for closer cooperation with regulators to build safer, faster digital transactions. He further highlights India’s pivotal role in Visa’s global R&D, while offering perspectives on regulation, financial inclusion, and the essentials of safe online shopping. Tune in.You can follow Archana Rai on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Listen to Corner Office Conversation our new show:: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, US’ Tariff Blow: What can India Do?,Rare Earths to Rx: Explaining the India-China Reset, Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat and much more Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when two of the world’s most populous nations attempt to reset ties amidst a multipolar order? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by ET’s Executive Editor, Politics, Pranab Dhal Samanta to unpack the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Xi Jinping. Against a backdrop of cordial but cautious exchanges, the conversation probes whether this rare chemistry signals a genuine shift or a pragmatic pause. From trade imbalances and supply chain vulnerabilities to the broader triangle of India, China, and Russia navigating U.S. dominance, the discussion examines how global realignments shape regional choices. With echoes of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan recalibrating their positions, the episode raises the subtle but pressing question: can India normalize ties with China while preserving balance in its wider strategic partnerships?Tune in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow Pranab Dhal Samanta on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

800 episodes strong! The Morning Brief isn’t just a podcast—it’s your morning essential for sharp insights, credible voices, and conversations that matter. Here's what some of its best guests had to say on the milestoneRavi Kumar S (CEO of Cognizant)Rajesh Jejurikar (Executive Director & CEO (Auto & Farm Sector) at Mahindra Group)Ashok Kantha (Indian diplomat & Former Ambassador to India & China)Vinay Dubey (Founder and CEO of Akasa Air)Srikanth Fractal (Co-Founder, Group Chief Executive & Executive Vice-Chairman)Sunil Singhania ((Founder - Abakkus Asset Manager Pvt Ltd)John Strickland (Director at JLS Consulting)Tune inSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Corner Office Conversations, host Ratna Bhushan sits down with Vipul Parekh, co-founder of BigBasket, to discuss how India’s leading online grocer is gearing up for the festive season amid the quick commerce boom. From IPO buzz and profitability challenges to category expansion beyond groceries, Parekh shares insights on competition with Swiggy, Zepto, JioMart, and Amazon, and BigBasket’s strategy around dark stores, assortment, and growth. With the Tata Group backing and a rapidly evolving e-commerce market, this conversation explores what it takes to stay ahead in a fiercely contested space.You can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Listen to Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last five weeks, The Morning Brief explored the investment stories shaping southern India through exclusive conversations with senior ministers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. From manufacturing and infrastructure to IT, green energy, and start-ups each state is vying to stand out in India’s growth race. In this wrap-up episode of our special series South Capital, hosts Nidhi Sharma and Dia Rekhi break down the key takeaways, the sectors to watch, and how competitive southern states really are when it comes to attracting investments.​​You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & TwitterYou can follow our hosts Nidhi Sharma on their social media: Twitter & Linkedin Listen to our new show called Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, US’ Tariff Blow: What can India Do?,Rare Earths to Rx: Explaining the India-China Reset, Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat and much moreCatch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword in film editing rooms — it is beginning to script, generate, and even direct visual storytelling. In the second part of our special series on AI filmmaking, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Rajesh Naidu speak to acclaimed director Shakun Batra — the creative force behind Kapoor & Sons and Gehraiyaan, now experimenting with AI-powered cinema. From building entire car chases through prompts, to rethinking workflows where “post becomes the new prep”, Shakun shares how AI is democratising imagination by freeing filmmakers from the traditional constraints of cost and scale. He also addresses the tough questions: authorship, ethics, data ownership, and whether AI can ever capture the “soul” of storytelling. Tune in.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to our new show called Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, US’ Tariff Blow: What can India Do?,Rare Earths to Rx: Explaining the India-China Reset, Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat and much moreCatch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s Online Gaming law, 2025 has jolted the country’s fast-growing gaming industry. The law bans real-money games while promoting e-sports and casual play, a shift that could transform a sector valued at over ₹30,000 crore. Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with Vidushpat Singhania, managing partner at Krida legal and Rohit Agarwal, Founder - AlphaZegus Marketing to unpack the battles now unfolding, questions of state versus central authority, the unresolved debate of skill versus chance, and whether prohibition will truly safeguard users or simply drive betting underground. The fallout is already visible. Big-ticket sponsorships have been cancelled, major platforms have shut down operations, and creators who once thrived on gaming promotions are seeing sharp cuts in income. As courts weigh in and companies scramble to adapt, the future of gaming in India remains uncertain. What’s clear is that this legislation marks a turning point, not just for the industry, but for millions of players across the country.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to our new show called Corner Office Conversation: Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, Corner Office Conversation with The New Leaders of Indian Pharma and much more.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, US’ Tariff Blow: What can India Do?,Rare Earths to Rx: Explaining the India-China Reset, Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat and much moreCatch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.Credits: ET NOW, Business Today, WION, Sansad TV, NDTV ProfitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of South Capital, the focus is on Tamil Nadu, India's manufacturing powerhouse and one of its most industrialized states. Known as the “Detroit of Asia” for its auto sector and the “Manchester of the South” for its textiles, Tamil Nadu plays a pivotal role in India’s GDP, exports, patents, and electronics manufacturing, including iPhone assembly. Host Dia Rekhi speaks with Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, who shares the state’s vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy, a goal built on decades of progress in education, manufacturing, IT, textiles, electronics, and renewable energy. He underscores the state’s strengths in women’s empowerment, robust infrastructure, and policy consistency, while highlighting new opportunities in semiconductors, technical textiles, shipbuilding, seafood processing, and offshore wind. Tamil Nadu also hosts India’s largest base of MSMEs, many of them women-led, which drive innovation and strengthen supply chains. Unlike states that compete domestically, Tamil Nadu positions itself against global economies, striving to stand out as a leader in industry, sustainability, and investment. With infrastructure upgrades, climate-resilient planning, and green energy targets set ahead of national goals, Tamil Nadu is firmly establishing itself as a global industrial hub.You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & TwitterListen to more of South Capital: South Capital: Andhra Pradesh’s Comeback, South Capital: Kerala Rising, South Capital: Karnataka Grows Beyond Bengaluru & South Capital: Telangana’s Push for Mini-HyderabadsCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, India has felt the squeeze of China’s export chokehold on rare earth magnets vital for EVs, fertilizers key to food security, and raw materials that keep pharma running. Automakers faced stalled assembly lines, farmers braced for higher costs, and drugmakers feared supply disruptions. Now, with Prime Minister Modi set to visit China for the SCO summit, a narrow trade package is on the table. Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with ET’s Sharmistha Mukherjee, Shambhavi Anand, Vikas Dandekar, and economist Sachin Chaturvedi to unpack the freeze, the fragile easing, and the big questions: Can India trust Beijing as a trade partner? Could pharma rivals really collaborate? And can China balance out an increasingly protectionist U.S. in this tense economic triangle? You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow our host Sharmistha Mukherjee on his social media: Linkedin & Twitter and read his Newspaper Articles.You can follow our host Shambhavi Anand on his social media: Linkedin & Twitter and read his Newspaper Articles.You can follow our host Vikas Dandekar on his social media: Linkedin & Twitter and read his Newspaper Articles.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credits: Bloomberg Television, DD India, ABC News (Australia), FirstpostSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another week, another rulebook for India’s digital economy this time, a competition code. The Digital Competition Bill (DCB) would flip enforcement from ex-post litigation to ex-ante guardrails for “systemically significant” platforms, banning self-preferencing, data misuse against business users, coercive tying, and stealth blocks on interoperability under the CCI, not a new super-regulator. It’s meant to supplement the Competition Act, not replace it. In this episode Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director of The Dialogue, a public policy think-tank, tells Anirban Chowdhury that India may not need a new statute now: first test the 2023 Competition Act amendments (settlements/commitments), build capacity, and let case outcomes prove speed and effectiveness citing the CCI’s recent 12-month Google Android TV matter as evidence that ex-post can work with resources.He also brings data from The Dialogue’s survey of MSMEs using digital platforms to show the rules may hobble Indian digital-first firms. Ex-ante code now or sharper ex-post tools first? Tune in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Naveen Tewari thrives on pivots and preempting market demand before it becomes obvious to everyone else.In this deep-dive with the founder and CEO of InMobi and Glance, host Anirban Chowdhury traces India’s earliest unicorn from its 2007 pivot from mKhoj (SMS search) to mobile advertising, SoftBank’s $200 million backing, and a “born-global” scale-up: InMobi today derives 65%–70% of revenue from North America. We also unpack the second act: Glance, the AI-led lock-screen platform with 400 million users, and its newest bet—AI commerce: a business built on a foundation model trained for shopping, with monetization via transaction take-rates and brand enablement. Tewari argues that his businesses’ US concentration is a feature, not a bug. He outlines why post-cookie privacy guardrails have largely stabilized, and explains why advertising keeps the internet free. He also predicts 80% automation of software coding at InMobi and what that means for talent, velocity, and quality—plus where an eventual IPO fits when you’re already profitable and well-funded. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Listen to the first installment of Corner Office Conversation called Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACeCatch the latest episode of the new show “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telangana, India’s youngest state, is charting an ambitious path to become a trillion-dollar economy by leveraging its strengths in technology, AI, and skilled talent. In a candid conversation host Dia Rekhi talks with Industries and IT Minister Sridhar Babu to analyse how Hyderabad, already a global hub for tech giants, pharma leaders, and GCCs is driving growth into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, expanding tourism, and adding value to agriculture through processing and market linkages. The state is making a bold push into AI with a planned 200-acre AI City, a dedicated AI university, and integration of AI across government services. Alongside, it is bolstering aerospace, defense, electronics manufacturing, and data centers, while ensuring sustainability through renewable energy and infrastructure planning. Competing fiercely yet strategically with its southern neighbors, Telangana is working to create multiple “mini-Hyderabads” and future-proof its workforce while speaking out against perceived biases in national project allocations.You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & TwitterListen to more of South Capital: South Capital: Andhra Pradesh’s Comeback, South Capital: Kerala Rising & South Capital: Karnataka Grows Beyond BengaluruCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI in films is no longer a fringe experiment. It moved from a backstage assistant to calling the shots. In three years, Gen AI models have evolved from conjuring massive battle scenes in Lord of the Rings to making full fledged feature films through prompts. Questions of course remain on credibility and credits, but film makers like Darren Aronofsky are helming AI film projects too. In this heady jamboree of tech, creativity and storytelling can India be far behind? In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury chronicles the rise of this technology and talks to Gurdeep Singh Pall, a former Microsoft veteran and co-founder of Intelliflicks, to unpack his journey in creating a full length hyper-real historical AI-generated feature film. They explore the creative breakthroughs and strange quirks of synthetic actors, the ethical minefields of authorship and consent, and why Pall is determined to push the limits of what’s possible on screen. It’s a front-row seat to the moment when technology becomes both the camera and the storyteller.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credits: TheClord123See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we dive into why foreign investors have been quietly pulling billions out of India’s stock markets even as they talk up the country’s growth potential. We break down the main drivers: stock prices are high compared to history and other Asian markets, corporate earnings growth has slowed, the rupee has weakened, and economic activity has lost some steam. And then came the curveball hefty U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. This unexpected move has rattled investors already on the edge. While strong domestic inflows from Indian investors have helped steady the market, foreign money still matters, because it’s often seen as a measure of global confidence in the economy. Host Anirban Chowdhury with ETs markets editor Nishanth Vasudevan explore the different kinds of foreign investors from “hot money” chasing short-term opportunities to patient, value-focused funds waiting for the right moment. The question now is: will they return if the market takes a dip, earnings bounce back, or growth accelerates again? You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow our host Nishanth Vasudevan on his social media: Linkedin & Twitter and read his Newspaper Articles.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karnataka drives 65% of India’s aerospace and defence output, over half of its machine tools, and 60% of its biotech exports but much of that growth is concentrated in and around Bengaluru. This week, we unpack the state’s broader industrial ambitions and historic legacy from the Wadiyar dynasty’s investments in education to Asia’s first hydroelectric power in Mysore and the streetlights of Bengaluru in 1905. Host Nidhi Sharma speaks with Karnataka large and medium industries minister M.B. Patil on the state’s new industrial policy, the Invest Karnataka Forum, and its efforts to spread growth across districts. But with neighbouring states like Andhra snapping at its heels with faster land clearances and aggressive pitches, can Karnataka stay competitive and inclusive?You can follow our hosts Nidhi Sharma on their social media: Twitter & LinkedinListen to the Latest installments of South Capital called South Capital: Andhra Pradesh’s Comeback & South Capital: Kerala Rising.Check out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virtual Reality in India has long been seen as a futuristic gaming gimmick flashy, expensive, and niche. But that’s changing. Host Anirban Chowdhury and ETs Rajesh Naidu talk to national award winning film maker Ram Madhvani (Neerja, Aarya) who is reimagining VR as a cultural and spiritual experience. His latest project? A five-minute immersive film on the Bhagavad Gita not for streaming, but to be experienced through VR headsets in temples, forts, and museums across India. With plans to roll out 100 such films by 2028 and place headsets in cultural hubs, Madhvani wants to democratize VR not through Silicon Valley, but through Bharat. Priced at just ₹100, these bite-sized experiences could bring in pilgrims, students, and families, not just gamers and techies. As India’s spiritual tourism surges and the government pushes cultural pride, could this be the unlikely tipping point for VR adoption in the country? We dive into the vision, the tech, the economics and the big bet on storytelling as India’s gateway to the metaverse.Tune in.You can follow Rajesh Naidu on his Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read his Newspaper Articles. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.CREDITS: Jaroslav Beck - Topic, Happydent, DisneyPlus Hotstar_IN, Fox Star StudiosSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when economic friction between two global partners sparks deeper strategic questions? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury talks to Agneshwar Sen, trade policy leader, EY India, to unpack the implications of recent US tariff on India and threats for more. From the unexpected 25% tariff to the intricate triangle of the US-India-Russia dynamic, the conversation navigates the fine line between trade penalties and geopolitical signaling. Is Washington's move a matter of policy consistency or a sign of deeper mistrust? Is the imminent India-US trade deal dead on arrival? As August 7 looms, the episode offers a nuanced look at how India can weather economic turbulence while safeguarding strategic autonomy. Tune in:: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.Credits: CNBC Television, USAToday, CNN, Business Today, WIONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s pharma sector is at a turning point transitioning from a global generics powerhouse to a serious contender in biotech and innovation. In this episode, host Vikas Dandekar is joined by Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Aman Mehta, Managing Director, Torrent Pharma, and Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences to explore what it takes to climb the innovation ladder. From regulatory roadblocks and pricing pressures to building a robust R&D ecosystem, the panel lays it all out. Patel reflects on Zydus’ early bet on research, Thapar shares Emcure’s commitment to women’s health and inclusive leadership, while Mehta highlights the shift toward patient-first thinking. Blending sharp insights, real-world data, and candid personal stories, this conversation asks the big question: Can India go from being the “pharmacy of the world” to becoming its “laboratory”?You can follow Vikas Dandekar on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin and read her Newspaper Articles.Listen to the first installment of Corner Office Conversation called Corner Office Conversation with Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACeCatch the latest episode of the new show “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerala, India’s smallest southern state by area, is often celebrated for its pioneering “Kerala Model,” where social progress laid the foundation for economic growth. Decades of focus on education and healthcare have led to high literacy, long life expectancy, and rising per capita income. But today, the state grapples with fresh challenges: outward migration of skilled talent, an ageing population, growing healthcare needs, and limited land for industrial growth. In this second installment of South Capital, host Nidhi Sharma speaks with Kerala’s Industries Minister P. Rajeev on how the state plans to attract investments while balancing growth with sustainability and social equity.You can follow our hosts Nidhi Sharma on their social media: Twitter & LinkedinListen to the first installment of South Capital called South Capital: Andhra Pradesh’s Comeback. Check out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once valued at over ₹1 lakh crore, Anil Ambani’s Reliance ADAG group is now facing one of its biggest reckonings. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a sweeping probe into alleged loan fraud and money laundering worth over ₹24,000 crore—spanning Yes Bank transactions, shell firms, and suspected quid pro quo deals with Rana Kapoor’s family offices. In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury, ET’s banking editor Sangita Mehta and its tracker of financial wrongdoings Rashmi Rajput unpack the Grand Thornton audit red flags, the delays in enforcement action, and the high-stakes legal and financial fallout. Tune in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin You can follow Sangita Mehta on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.You can follow Rashmi Rajput on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Check out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. Credits: NDTV, NDTV Profit, TIMES NOW, Republic WorldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to lay off around 12,000 employees, its biggest workforce reduction to date. While the move might seem driven by automation, the company attributes it instead to a widening skills gap. As TCS shifts to newer technologies and agile delivery models, many existing roles especially at the mid and senior levels no longer align with business needs. Bench policies are also being tightened, with extended periods of unassigned time potentially leading to termination. TCS says it will offer support to affected employees, including severance pay, healthcare coverage, and job placement assistance. In this episode, Host Anirban Chowdhury, ET’s Beena Parmar and UnearthInsight CEO Gaurav Vasu unpack how this signals a larger industry shift where digital transformation is reshaping not just what tech companies do, but how they need to do it.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin You can follow Beena Parmar on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Check out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Tamil Nadu claimed the title of “India’s No. 1” in economic growth, Andhra Pradesh hit back with a sharp, self-aware message: “We are No. 2. We work harder.” Borrowing from a legendary advertising playbook, the move sparked a fresh wave of competition among southern states vying for investment and influence. In the first episode of our special limited series South Capital, we put the spotlight on Andhra Pradesh’s renewed push under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. From reviving stalled mega-projects to enticing investors across state borders, AP is pulling out all stops to reclaim its place on India’s economic map. Host Nidhi Sharma sits down with Nara Lokesh, Minister for IT, Electronics, and Communications, to unpack the real story from leadership transitions and political recalibrations to whether Andhra’s promise of “speed of doing business” can challenge the established investor ecosystems of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.You can follow our hosts Nidhi Sharma on their social media: Twitter & LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the next billion-dollar idea wasn’t about making money but about making a difference? In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury sits down with Varun Aggarwal, deeptech entrepreneur and AI researcher, and Shubham Bansal, a YCombinator alum turned social impact leader. Together, they lead Change Engine, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit accelerator aiming to build 20 nonprofit unicorns in India each impacting over a million lives. They discuss their bold vision for scaling nonprofits with startup-style speed and ambition, expose the cracks in India’s philanthropic funding model, and introduce their latest work, The Playbook for Nonprofit Unicorns, a practical guide to driving large-scale impact. From navigating government systems to using technology for grassroots change, this conversation reimagines what innovation and success can look like in today’s India. Tune in to discover how mission-driven ventures might just be the country’s most powerful engine of change. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like:The Curious Case of HUL’s CEO Shuffle, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Brandalore Rising! and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a turbulent fortnight for corporate leadership, with sudden CEO exits at companies like HUL, Coca Cola bottler HCCB, L’Oréal, Diageo, Kenvue and WPP. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Ratna Bhushan speaks to ET’s Associate Editor Arijit Barman and Vibhav Dhawan, Partner at Positive Moves Consulting to unpack what’s driving this churn: from slowing demand to soaring competition, from tariff pressures to slackening control over ad networks, from a lack of focus on growth to a push for next-gen leadership. Why is the top job turning into a revolving door? Are CEOs fall guys? Is the traditional playbook outdated? And are short tenures the new normal? Listen in.You can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India is not just watching the space race — it’s entering the arena with serious firepower. In this Corner Office Conversation, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Nirmal John sit down with Pawan Goenka, Chairperson of IN-SPACe to explore how India is opening up the final frontier for private players. From transferring ISRO’s rocket technology to industry, to creating a Rs 1,000 crore space-focused VC fund and setting up new launchpads in Tamil Nadu, Goenka outlines the roadmap for turning India into a global hub for small satellite launches. He also discusses the upcoming Space Activities Bill, the boom in aerospace startups like Skyroot, Pixxel and Digantara, and the challenge of Series B-C funding in deeptech. If you've wondered how India plans to grow its space economy from $8.5 billion to $44 billion by 2033 — this episode offers answers from the man steering the catalyst in this journey. TUNE INYou can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinYou can follow Nirmal John on his social media media: Twitter and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bengaluru is rapidly emerging as India’s new advertising epicenter, challenging the long-standing reign of Mumbai and Delhi. What’s driving this transformation? A dynamic combination of thriving startups, digitally native D2C brands, and a fresh crop of independent agencies that are reshaping the creative landscape. From fintech to fantasy sports, the city is drawing in forward-thinking advertisers eager to experiment. Its strong tech foundation positions it as a frontrunner in AI-enabled content, digital innovation, and hyperlocal campaigns. But the momentum isn’t limited to Bengaluru. Southern markets like Kerala, Chennai, and Hyderabad are also experiencing significant economic growth, rising consumer demand, and sectoral expansion. The pandemic only accelerated this shift, with remote work enabling talent to stay anchored in the South and flourish. Host Prasad Sangameshwaran is joined by Lloyd Mathias, business strategist and independent director; Kaustav Das, CEO and co-founder, Ralph&Das; and Rahul Vengalil, CEO & co-founder of TGTHR, as they unpack how Bengaluru and the broader South are rewriting the narrative of Indian advertising.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Also listen to Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: Adar Poonawalla, Sandip Patel, The Mega Listing Of Vishal Retail, Antonoaldo Neves, Rajesh Jejurikar, Srikanth Velamakanni, and more! Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s aesthetic legacy is lighting up luxury runways across Paris and Milan from Louis Vuitton’s “Voyage to India” to Prada’s controversial Kolhapuri-inspired sandals. But behind the global admiration lies a deeper story: one of borrowed beauty, blurred boundaries, and battles for credit. We explore the fine line between celebration and exploitation. Fashion scholar Phyllida Jay joins host Apoorva Mittal to unpack how India stands between being endlessly mined for design and finally demanding recognition. With GI tags, artisan invisibility, and IP inequalities at the forefront, this is a look at what happens when the world wears India without saying her name.You can follow our host Apoorva Mittal on her social media: Twitter & Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.Credits: Louis Vuitton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a global FMCG giant hits pause on its playbook and places a bold new bet on leadership? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Ratna Bhushan speaks with Sandip Ghose, HUL veteran and currently Managing Director of MP Birla Cement, and ET’s Senior Editor Sagar Malviya to unpack the high-stakes leadership transition at Hindustan Unilever Limited, where the abrupt exit of CEO Rohit Jawa has made way for marketing veteran Priya Nair. From long-standing market pressures and legacy baggage like GSK’s Horlicks to shifting consumer trends, the conversation traces the strategic recalibrations underway at HUL. With insights into the contrasting legacies of Jawa and his predecessor Sanjiv Mehta, the episode explores what Nair’s digital-first, premium-led approach could mean for the company’s growth story. Will her vision reinvigorate investor confidence and steer HUL through a slowing consumer cycle? Or is this a bigger story about transformation, expectation, and the evolving DNA of leadership in Indian corporates?Tune inYou can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when 20% of your code is written by machines? In this Corner Office Conversation, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to Ravi Kumar, CEO at Cognizant, to unpack how the tech major is reimagining IT services through AI, automation, and open innovation.With a strong push toward interdisciplinary talent, Ravi explains how Cognizant is redefining productivity and expanding access to software development beyond traditional STEM fields. From open-sourcing its NEURO platform to preparing for an AI-led future, the company is building a more agile and inclusive tech ecosystem. As India positions itself as a global AI hub, the episode explores whether frugal innovation and a strong digital backbone can help it overcome constraints in computing power and regulation and power the next chapter of global tech transformation. Tune in. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sweeping revision of Bihar’s voter list has stirred debate. The Election Commission’s first Special Intensive Revision in over 20 years demands new, unfamiliar documents from thousands within just 30 days. Critics call it rushed, exclusionary, and potentially unconstitutional. The Commission defends it as essential housekeeping ahead of elections. But why now? Why Bihar? Is this a test run for a nationwide voter roll purge? Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with ET’s Anubhuti Vishnoi, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, and political reporter Kumar Anshuman. As citizens wade through monsoon floods to prove they belong, one question looms: are we protecting democracy or locking people out of it?You can follow Anubhuti Vishnoi on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. You can follow Kumar Anshuman on his Linkedin profile and read his Newspaper Articles.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.Credits: The Indian ExpressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a significant development, SEBI has barred Jane Street, one of the world’s leading proprietary trading firms, from participating in Indian markets. The action follows concerns over aggressive options trading strategies and suspected manipulation, particularly around Bank Nifty’s weekly expiries. This move reflects the regulator’s growing focus on tightening control over algorithmic and high-frequency trading, especially by foreign players. Host Anirban Chowdhury discusses the implications with ET’s Sugata Ghosh and Reena Zachariah as well hedge fund executive Mayank Bansal, on SEBI’s toughest crackdown on a global trading firm Tune in.You can follow Sugata Ghosh on his Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. You can follow Reena Zachariah on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.Credits: Bloomberg Television, Business Today, CNBC-TV18 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women regardless of privilege or education continue to shoulder the invisible burden of caregiving and domestic work. They may appear independent and empowered but behind the scenes, most women are still doing it all, unpaid and unacknowledged. In this conversation host Apoorva Mittal talks with Sunaina Kumar, Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, about the weight of domestic labor, the need for flexible policies, trustworthy childcare, and the cultural shifts essential to making real progress. Because recognizing invisible work is the first step toward equity. You can follow our host Apoorva Mittal on her social media: Twitter & LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labubu, the “cute but creepy” character from The Monsters series by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, has taken over the world….and now India. Once a niche designer toy, Labubu is now a global collectible phenomenon fuelled by Pop Mart’s blind box strategy and major celebrity endorsements from Rihanna to Karan Johar. With prices ranging from ₹4,000 to over ₹1 crore, Labubu is driving a fast-growing collectibles trend in India. From social media unboxings to resale site frenzies, the demand shows no signs of waning. Host Dia rekhi talks to resellers Nikhil Jain of City Kicks India and Abbas Ali Zaveri, founder at Hype Fly India about why Indian collectors are rushing to join this global club. Tune in:You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & TwitterCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.Credits:  SmartKicks, Wu’s World, Jiny Maeng, Christi FritzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Axis Bank, MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry sits down with ET’s Saloni Shukla and banking editor Sangita Mehta for an unfiltered conversation on growth, competition, and resilience. Since taking over in 2019, Chaudhry has led Axis to become India’s third-largest private sector bank. Yet, questions remain about its relatively slower growth especially when compared to peers like ICICI and HDFC Bank. With the banking sector navigating fresh headwinds, sluggish deposit growth, stricter regulatory scrutiny on NBFC ties, tightening margins, and global uncertainty, Chaudhry offers a frank assessment of what’s next for Axis, the banking industry at large and much more. Tune in.You can follow Sangita Mehta on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. You can follow Saloni Shukla on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. If you like this episode, check out more Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: Adar Poonawalla, Sandip Patel, The Mega Listing Of Vishal Retail, Antonoaldo Neves, Rajesh Jejurikar, Srikanth Velamakanni, and more!Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As India sends Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit on the Axiom-4 mission, we pause to meet his biggest cheerleader and strongest support system. Dr Kamna Shukla—Shukla’s wife, best friend since Class 3, a dentist and mother—opens up to TOI's Chethan Kumar about the daring, dedication and decisiveness that drives Shukla, his bonding with other astronauts, his goofiness and taking inspiration from Finding Nemo, their love across light years, parenting during countdowns, the quiet courage it takes to be grounded when your partner belongs to the sky..and why she never visualises his flights. The thumbnail is an AI generated reproduction of an image from Shubhanshu Shukla’s instagram account https://www.instagram.com/p/DLTF3b2yZA5/?img_index=1&igsh=MWRydTBoeGVxaHV0cw==Tune in:You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when long-simmering tensions between two regional powers erupt into a flashpoint for global concern? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury is joined by Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre to unpack the fragile but ferocious dynamic between Iran and Israel. Framed by the October 7th Hamas attacks and the Gaza War, the conversation traces the deeper history of Iran’s relationship with Israel and the rise of the so-called Axis of Resistance. From regime stability in Tehran to nuclear ambitions, Barbara offers insight into whether this conflict marks a shift in Iran’s regional strategy or simply a recalibration.The episode also probes the role of the United States, questioning why it acts as a combatant rather than a mediator and whether its long-standing “maximum deterrence” doctrine still holds water. Is there still hope for peace? Tune in:You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Air India flight took off on June 12 and within seconds, it became one of the deadliest air crashes in recent memory. Only one of the 242 people aboard survived. The official investigation has been hamstrung by a severely damaged black box that had to be flown to the NTSB lab for decoding. Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to Aurobindo Handa, former head of India’s air accident probe agency, to understand what it takes to uncover the truth after an air crash. Drawing on his years of experience including the Calicut crash of 2020 he also sheds light on what holds back India’s air safety investigations: low budgets and short-staffed teams.You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London, Air India flight AI171 crashed, killing 241 of 242 people onboard, marking India’s worst aviation disaster in over a decade.In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with safety and flight ops expert Amit Singh, founder of Safety Matters Foundation as well as ET’s aviation experts Forum Gandhi and Arindam Majumder, to unpack the tragedy that has shaken the foundations of India’s aviation sector.With the black box recovered and investigations underway, the episode explores what is known so far, the hard questions around airline accountability, and whether lapses in safety protocols played a role.Tune in:You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and LinkedinCheck out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.