Episodes
In the tech hub of India, Bengaluru, the reality for many is a daily scramble – not for coding glory, but for a sip of water. Mumbai is feeling the pinch too, with taps running dry 15% of the time. But with a growing population and thirsty industries, isn't there a way out of this water crisis? Climate change is just adding fuel to the fire. Can technology be our knight in shining armor, or can a simple shift in habits turn the tide? Kalpana Pathak sits down with Nitin Bassi, Senior Program...
Published 03/22/24
Fly91 – India’s newest airline – has taken flight. The regional airline flies into a dynamic, fast growing, cut throat, semi-oligopolistic market which has been the burial ground for more companies than it has nurtured. Almost no regional airline has survived here. But Manoj Chacko’s airline is backed by his crystal clear vision, a simple expansion plan, a brilliant main team and a solid initial financial thrust. Can Fly91 break the mould of regional carriers in India? Host Anirban Chowdhury...
Published 03/21/24
From production tools to actual music creation, AI is tearing into every segment of the music industry. The latest fad is the scarily accurate regeneration of artists’ voices: from Drake to Kanye West, Michael Jackson to SP Balasubrahmanyam. But the trend has raised excitement and alarm in equal measure. So while AR Rahman has done it the right way in a recent Rajinikanth film: with permissions and proceeds; the music directors recreating SPB’s voice have earned themselves a lawsuit. Who...
Published 03/20/24
A.M. Naik, a legend in Indian industry, rose from L&T engineer to Chairman. Over 58 years, he transformed L&T into a global giant, building essential infrastructure and iconic projects like the Statue of Unity, India's 1st nuclear submarine, the K-9 Vajra, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Anil Manibhai Naik described winning ET’s Lifetime Achievement award as the crowning accomplishment of his professional career. Catch his uncut interview with host Arijit Barman as he recalls defending L&T...
Published 03/19/24
Ranjan Pai, the head of the Manipal Education and Medical Group, has been quietly but aggressively backing tech unicorns in recent months. Firstcry, Bluestone, Purplle - the list goes on! He has also made a reappearance at troubled companies Pharmeasy and in a way in Byju’s through the latter’s acquired company Aakash Institute. So, what makes him such a sought-after investor? And how does someone who keeps such a low profile, beat aggressive investors to land the hottest deals? Know more...
Published 03/15/24
Thejna John is a happy woman. Last year, the relapse of an acute form of blood cancer despite a bone marrow transplant, had made her doctors give up all hope. In October, came a breakthrough. India approved the CAR T-Cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment for some forms of cancer. Thejna was one of the first cancer patients to undergo treatment in India. She is now cancer-free.   The potential of CAR T-cell therapy is significant. And Pharma majors from Dr Reddy’s to Biocon are pouring in...
Published 03/14/24
The RBI's recent actions on certain fintech businesses have sparked debate. Is it a necessary clean-up or an excessive crackdown? Host Anurpiya Nair explores this hot topic as she delves into the recent strict orders and what it means for the future of fintech in India. Is this a positive step towards a healthier financial ecosystem, or an unnecessary hurdle for innovation? Listen to R Gandhi, Former, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Abizer Diwanji, Head, Financial Services at EY,...
Published 03/13/24
Celebrating 40 years, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories stands out in the Indian pharma industry for its focus on governance and innovation. Founded in 1984 by scientist Dr Anji Reddy, the company has had a history of bold moves like early public listing, investing in drug discovery or hiring an expat CEO. Little wonder that the company has ended up being a CEO factory for the Indian pharma industry. The company has also been open about its mistakes and challenges like a large acquisition that fell...
Published 03/12/24
Social media fuels global aspirations for Gen Z, but wages stay flat. The result? "Doom spending" - stress shopping with credit or BNPL. Can "loud budgeting" - publicly declaring financial goals - be the answer? Will Gen Z find financial freedom through social media... or get trapped in debt? Is loud budgeting the key? Host Shabori Das dives deep into these opposing trends on The Morning Brief with Manish Maryada - Founder & CEO at Fello, Krishan Mishra, - Chief Executive Officer at...
Published 03/08/24
Over 150 Indian apps vanished from Google Play Store after they refused to pay the big tech giant higher fees. The apps were re-instated after govt intervention but the battle rages on. Developers say Google's new billing system is an imposition. The charges are too high. Google says over 200,000 app developers are paying up. Why do only ten have a problem? With Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman, who’s leading the fight, and competition law expert Rahul Rai, host Dia Rekhi...
Published 03/07/24
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's CEO, is steering the company towards profitability, a feat many doubted possible. In an exclusive interview with ET, he dives deep into Uber's India strategy. He stated that one of the complications in India is that regulations often change locally from one locality to the other and how unlike competition, Uber continues its sharp focus on its ride hailing business. What will it take for Uber to crack the India market? What are the strategies and policy framework? We...
Published 03/06/24
The Reliance-Disney creates a $8.5 billion media behemoth that will have the lion’s share of every business segment: broadcasting, streaming, content, sports and advertisements. How will the entity reshape India’s media landscape? And isn’t the competition watchdog concerned? Host Anirban Chowdhury analyses with:1) Daoud Jackson, Senior Analyst - Omdia2) Shreevardhan Sinha, Senior Partner - Desai & Diwanji3) ET’s Arijit Barman. Tune in to the latest episode of The Morning Brief...
Published 03/05/24
Join us in a rivetting conversation with rhythm legend Ustad Zakir Hussain, fresh from his historic triple Grammy win. From his days as a young, wildly innovative table player in the US to his enduring musical relationships with maestros and rockstars across the world;  from the spiritual genesis of Shakti to their latest album; from the rich legacy of Hindustani classical music to AI in music; from social media to social fabric, he talks about it all. Don't miss this special episode hosted...
Published 03/01/24
AI-generated misinformation is a major threat to elections, warns the World Economic Forum. Deepfakes can manipulate our perception of reality, cause unrest and erode trust in institutions. As 40+ countries hold elections this year, are platforms and governments equipped to handle this potential "tsunami" of fake content? Tech giants like Google and Meta signed a voluntary accord to develop detection tools, but is this enough? What are the short-term and long-term solutions? Join Apoorva...
Published 02/29/24
India and Qatar signed a $78 billion deal to extend their LNG supply agreement for 25 years. Shortly after, Qatar released eight former Indian Navy personnel who were previously sentenced to death for alleged espionage charges. This was followed by Prime Minister Modi's visit to Qatar. Is there a possible link between these events? Host Arijit Barman and Kalpana Pathak get you all the answers from Indrani Bagchi - CEO - Ananta Aspen Centre, and Vandana Hari - Founder & CEO - Vanda...
Published 02/28/24
Byju's, once the poster boy of Indian ed tech, stands on the precipice of collapse. Byju Raveendran, the educator turned entrepreneur pushed it to wild limits of growth, with 28 rounds of fundraising that ultimately valued it at $22 billion and a debt-fuelled spree of acquisitions. Now many of the moves have backfired. The company’s cash reserves are razed; it faces legal wrangles; has antagonised investors and is struggling to raise money. With angry investors calling for Raveendran’s...
Published 02/27/24
Roadblocks, barricades, and resolute farmers have transformed Khannauri on the Punjab-Haryana border into a mini village. Around 3 lakh Farmers, mobilized by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, were expected to reach Delhi but were halted at the border. Now, camped at Shambhu and Khanauri, they demand an MSP guarantee legislation and await a new formula from the government. Team TMB reached their camps to understand how the protest is different from the 2020 sit-in at the Singhu border. Listen to Host...
Published 02/23/24
India's young adults are breaking taboos by seeking help for depression, anxiety, and stress.  This is a positive step, but the surge in antidepressant use and "cool" mental health merch raises questions. Are we normalizing panic attacks? What's driving this surge in mental health issues? Academic pressure, social media, or deeper societal issues? Even students as young as 7 are battling depression and anxiety. What are schools doing about this? Host Ratna Bhushan talks to Geetika Kapoor,...
Published 02/22/24
Democracy in Pakistan hangs by a thread: with rigged elections, a hung parliament, the opposition fighting from a virtual exile, widespread political unrest on the streets, an economic slowdown, international relations in need of urgent repair and a puppeteer military pulling all the strings. Join Anirban Chowdhury as he dissects the messy aftermath of Pakistan's elections. How will India talk to its crumbling neighbour? Catch Tilak Devasher, Member, National Security Advisory Board, Joan...
Published 02/20/24
Tune in to the latest episode of "The Morning Brief" as host Anupriya Nair, alongside Anubhuti Vishnoi, and Raghav Ohri, delves into the aftermath of the Supreme Court's verdict on the Electoral Bond Scheme in India. With election expenditures skyrocketing to alarming figures, reaching ₹60,000 crores in 2019 as per reports and projected to hit ₹1 lakh cr in 2024, the conversation navigates the complex intersection of money and politics in India. Can the funding flaws in electoral finance be...
Published 02/19/24
"Mission Admissions" - a rollercoaster of google searches, frantic form-filling, and the entire fam chasing deadlines. But it is not easy for Gen Z. Hiring slowdowns are adding spice to this already fiery mix. Top colleges, even the IITs and IIMs, are struggling to secure those juicy job offers for their grads. So, what are the options? Fly abroad for a foreign degree? Stay desi and explore private colleges or government colleges?    Host Prachi Verma gets you the answer sheet from  Dr...
Published 02/16/24
Companies are jumping on the AI (Artificial Intelligence) bandwagon to appear cutting-edge. Some are even scrambling to add ".ai'' to their names, including a tile company. Yes, you read that right. But gone are the days when the suffix ‘AI’ sufficed to impress investors and consumers. And amidst the hype, some crucial questions arise – who's actually doing real AI? And who is merely just jumping at the trend? How are investors evaluating AI companies? And where is India in the AI cycle? Host...
Published 02/15/24
As Uttarakhand clears it's uniform civil code, it raises questions about whether India needs a Uniform civil code and if so why now and in which form? Is uniformity a camouflage for oppression of religious rights or is the political debate drowning the need for a more modern and progressive civil society in India? Host Kiran Somvanshi gets answers from Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, legal experts Arghya Sengupta, and Mihira Sood, along with ET’s Anubhuti Vishnoi in the latest episode of The...
Published 02/13/24
Apple's walled garden crumbles! Apple has announced changes to its App Store and iOS ecosystem in compliance with the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act which now allows users to download apps on rival app stores and pay outside their system. This could have been huge for users, developers, and the future of tech but developers didn't seem to think so. Why were developers up in arms? Will the curated App Store experience disappear? Will other regulators follow the EU's lead? Host Dia...
Published 02/09/24
Paytm's regulatory snag feels like a never-ending nightmare. Other payment companies under the scanner should definitely be sweating! Even as Paytm is scrambling to fix compliance issues, will it be enough to appease the RBI gods? The clock is ticking on new user growth, and rivals are circling like sharks. So, what's next? Anirban Chowdhury gets into the details of this hot potato with ET’s fintech expert Pratik Bhakta and ET’s banking editor MC Govardhana Rangan and Srinath Sridharan,...
Published 02/08/24