The Central government took everyone by surprise by announcing a caste census, a move that has long been the poll plank of the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. What prompted this sudden decision? Will it truly pave the way for social justice? And how will it impact the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal?

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we delve into these critical questions with three journalists.

Joining us are Pallavi Ghosh, Senior Editor at CNN-News18, known for her in-depth reporting and years of ground-level political coverage; Gautam Lahiri, senior journalist and President of the Press Club of India; and Shekhar Iyer, senior journalist, former Senior Associate Editor at Hindustan Times, and a familiar face on prime-time television debates.

Watch this conversation on the politics, implications, and future of the caste census.

00:00 – Introduction

01:03 – Caste Census

06:58 – Timeline of National Census

12:09 – Caste Census in West Bengal

15:53 – Impact of Waqf Amendment Act in Bengal

22:14 – Factions in TMC

24:37 – Mamata vs INDIA Bloc

27:09 – Minority Votes in Bengal

33:41 – Rahul's Bihar Fight

39:44 – NDA’s Game in Bihar

43:21 – Caste Survey in Karnataka

48:55 – DKS vs Siddaramaiah

51:23 – What’s BJP’s Plan for Tamil Nadu?

Lieutenant General D’Cunha is the Director General of Army Air Defence (AAD). He assumed command as the Chief of Army Air Defence in 2023. An alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence in December 1988.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how India’s air defence system foiled a bid by Pakistan to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

He discusses how India’s indigenous 'Aksahteer', intercepted and neutralised projectiles from Pakistan and showcased India’s dominance in real-time, automated air defence warfare.

Air Marshal Kapoor praises the efficiency of guns as an aerial shield against Pakistani drone attacks, highlighting their role as an undisputed form of air defence and their success in destroying Pakistan’s drones.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

00:47 – Pakistan's Attempt to Target Golden Temple

05:37 – India’s Air Defence System

13:02 – India's Akashteer System

20:26 – Drone Strikes by Pakistan on India

28:15 – Role of Guns in Air Defence

32:48 – Evolution of Drone Warfare

37:35 – Rahul-Jaishankar Row

43:53 – Pakistan Using Civil Air Traffic as a Shield

49:15 – Red Team Concept

52:16 – Warning to Pakistan’s Military Leadership

56:27 – Strategy of the Indian Army

Byju Raveendran is a teacher and engineer, and the founder of BYJU’S, once India’s most valuable edtech startup, valued at 22 billion dollars. Divya Gokulnath, his wife and co-founder, played a key role in shaping BYJU’S content and brand.

BYJU’S saw a rapid rise followed by a sharp fall due to financial losses, governance issues, and legal troubles. Its fast expansion and multiple acquisitions put pressure on its operations and finances. Regulatory investigations and investor backlash made things worse, leading to layoffs, insolvency concerns, and a damaged reputation.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Byju and Divya break their silence on the controversies surrounding them, from the $1.2 billion term loan case in the U.S. to legal battles and company acquisitions. Byju also opens up about the mistakes that led to the downfall of India’s edtech giant.

Will there be a BYJU’S 3.0? What is the couple up to now? Why are they in Dubai? The founders reveal it all in this tell-all podcast.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Coming Up

00:00 – Introduction

01:02 – 'Fugitive' Tag

03:32 – Lookout Notice by ED

06:45 – $1.2 Billion Term Loan Case in the U.S.

10:53 – Fight with U.S. Lenders

17:46 – BYJU’S Legal Crisis

19:44 – BYJU’S: Rise and Fall

24:04 – Aakash Institute Acquisition

26:09 – WhiteHat Jr. Acquisition

29:35 – Work Culture at BYJU’S

31:13 – Sales Model of BYJU’S

34:19 – USP of BYJU’S

37:22 – Media Narratives on BYJU’S

42:24 – BYJU’S–BCCI Dispute

45:12 – BYJU’S Ad Deal with Messi & SRK

50:11 – India’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

54:20 – Parents’ Refund Complaints

59:28 – BYJU’S: Highs and Lows

1:02:41 – BYJU’S 3.0

1:08:06 – Impact of AI on Entrepreneurship

1:13:05 – Introduction to Co-Founder Divya Gokulnath

1:15:00 – Divya Gokulnath’s Family Background

1:21:37 – Divya & Byju’s Marriage

1:25:12 – BYJU’S ‘Education for All’ Initiative

1:30:00 – Byju's Family Under 'Threat'

1:37:56 – BYJU’S Insolvency

1:42:51 – ‘International Fugitive’ Tag

1:52:08 – BYJU’S 3.0

1:59:57 – The India Story