Episodes

Send us Fan Mail AI is making it easier than ever to build. But are we building the right things? In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Nandagopal P, entrepreneur, technologist and venture builder, about what makes a startup genuinely AI-native, why judgement and product thinking matter when anyone can build with AI, and the challenges around trust, jobs, governance and the future of work. They also discuss the environmental and resource costs of AI infrastructure, including the growing...

Send us Fan Mail India is getting older. Is the country ready for it? In the next decade, India will have over 230 million senior citizens. Yet, care for the elderly remains expensive, trained caregivers are in short supply, and access to geriatric and long-term support remains limited. In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul speaks with Vishwas Kulkarni, Founder and CEO of Grace Senior Care, about India’s ageing transition and whether the country is equipped to support its growin...

Send us Fan Mail India has brought drinking water to millions of homes. But is the water actually safe to drink? In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul speaks with Dr. Durga Das, Founder & CEO of Aeronero, about why India's next water challenge is no longer access, but quality. From contaminated groundwater and ageing pipeline networks to climate-induced water stress and decentralised water systems, this conversation explores what it will take to ensure safe drinking water fo...

Send us Fan Mail India is data-rich. But are we data-smart? What will it take for India to turn vast amounts of data into better governance and smarter decision-making? In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Syed Nazakat, Founder & CEO of DataLEADS, as they explore India's digital public infrastructure, the importance of data quality, misinformation in the age of AI, and the role of information integrity in governance. They also discuss why collecting data is only the first step, how r...

Send us Fan Mail India has proved it can scale welfare. The next challenge is ensuring that scale translates into real outcomes. In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul speaks with Arshi Aadil, Senior Manager, Government Advisory at MSC (MicroSave Consulting), about India’s welfare delivery systems and what comes next. The conversation explores the shift from scale to substance, last-mile delivery, digital public infrastructure, social protection, financial inclusion, data systems...