Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey is a former Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). He led a crucial operation in 2003 to capture terrorist Ghazi Baba, who was responsible for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. During the operation, Dubey was shot multiple times, and one of the bullets still remains lodged in his body. He was awarded the Kirti Chakra for his bravery.

Sanjiv Krishan Sood is a retired Additional Director General of the BSF. In his 38 years of service, he served along all of India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, including 8 years on the Line of Control and in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, both officers talk about what it takes to guard India’s borders and how difficult it is to stop infiltration along the Line of Control. They also speak about Operation Sindoor and what goes on in the mind of a soldier posted at the border.

The conversation also covers the operation against Ghazi Baba, the Attari–Wagah border ceremony, and the growing threat from drones.

*Audio Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

01:25 – BSF Foils Drone Entry Near Amritsar

08:25 – Challenges of Drone Warfare

09:56 – Challenges of Terrorist Hunt in Pahalgam

13:26 – BSF’s PK Shaw Case

21:40 – Will Pakistan Strike Back?

25:31 – India’s Anti-Drone Strategy

28:02 – Gazi Baba Encounter

38:32 – Cost of Killing Gazi Baba

40:16 – Operation Sindoor & Bahawalpur Attack

44:36 – Troop Morale After Attacks

47:01 – Troops Emotions vs Public Rage

52:53 – Role of Human Informants

01:00:40 – India-Pakistan Peace Talks Recalled

01:03:28 – Firing Decision on Border

01:10:37 – Recalling Funny Incidents on the Border

01:15:22 – Wagah Ceremony Debate

01:19:36 – Dealing with PTSD

01:23:40 – Operation Blue Star

01:27:07 – Do Soldiers Get PTSD Counselling?

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

Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) has served as the Director General (Inspection and Safety) of the Indian Air Force. He has also held the position of Commandant at both the Air Force Academy and the National Defence Academy. With over 7,800 hours of incident-free flying on various trainer, transport, and strategic aircraft, he is considered one of the stalwarts of Aerial Refuelling Operations in the Indian Air Force. He has also flown the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about India’s air defence system that stunned Pakistan. He discusses advanced systems like the S-400 and Akash missile systems, and explains how the Indian Air Force successfully intercepted Pakistani drones and missiles.

Air Marshal Kapoor praises India’s engineers, scientists, and the Air Force for developing indigenous technology capable of countering threats from Pakistan. He also comments on the continued support the United States gives to Pakistan, despite Islamabad’s well-known record of harbouring terrorists and supporting state-sponsored terrorism.

00:00 - Introduction

00:39 - Operation Sindoor

05:08 - PM's Address to the Nation

09:53 - Air defence deal with Russia

19:19 - First day of Operation Sindoor

20:55 - Integrated Air Command and Control System

25:34 - Pakistan's drone & missiles attack

29:37 - Pak attacks on religious sites in India

34:05 - Pak's Nuclear threat

37:28 - 'Goli Ka Jawab Gola'

42:53 - Global aviation view on India-Pak crisis

45:56 - India's plan amid current conflict

50:42 - Talks only if PoK is returned

52:27 - Sargodha Airfield

54:34 - Is Karachi Port destroyed?

57:45 - Russia-Ukraine Conflict

1:02:16 - Indian vs Pak Air Force

1:07:15 - Will Pakistan strike again?

1:11:09 - US F-series fighter jets

1:12:48 - India's most potent weapon

1:15:18 - Ceasefire status

Lieutenant General Satish Dua (Retd) served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and was also the Corps Commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. He played a key role in planning and executing the Uri surgical strikes in Kashmir.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he shares insights on the evolving nature of drone warfare between India and Pakistan, and how India's air defence systems have responded. He also speaks about the deep sense of patriotism among Indian youth and their unwavering commitment to the country.

General Dua further explains why Pakistan has targeted temples, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure and contrasts it with India’s focused strikes on terror sites within Pakistan.

Note: This episode was recorded on May 10 at 11 AM, before the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

00:45 – India vs Pakistan: Drone Warfare

09:53 – Pakistan Targeting Civilians

15:03 – India’s Patriotic Youth

29:00 – Pakistan’s Nuclear Threat

35:02 – Disinformation in the Media

44:38 – CCS Meeting Chaired by PM Modi

52:59 – India-Pakistan Territorial Issues

1:01:59 – U.S. Role in India-Pakistan Tensions

1:12:33 – The Idea of India

Vice Admiral Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade served in the Indian Navy for 39 years and retired in 2022. He held several key positions, including serving as the 36th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations and Training), Controller of Personnel Services at Naval Headquarters, and Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command.

Under his supervision, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned on September 2, 2022, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Vice Admiral Ghormade discusses the capabilities of the Indian Navy, compares them with the Pakistani Navy, and shares insights on who holds the edge in maritime operations. He also touches upon the external support Pakistan receives in building submarines.

He highlights that Karachi Port is a critical hub for Pakistan’s military logistics and trade, and says that if it were to be neutralised, Pakistan’s war machinery would be severely impacted. He also speaks about how the ‘Make in India’ initiative is significantly strengthening India's naval capabilities.

*Timestamps:*

00:00 – Introduction

00:43 – Indian Navy’s Role

03:07 – Pakistan Navy’s Vulnerability

06:45 – Indian Navy vs Pakistan Navy

10:52 – Karachi Port Importance for Pakistan

14:29 – Indian Submarines on High Alert

19:11 – Rules of Engagement in Armed Conflict

22:59 – Operation Trident During the 1971 War

28:25 – PM Modi Meeting with 3 Armed Forces Chiefs

30:53 – Biggest Strength of the Indian Navy

35:06 – Turkey’s Support to Pakistan

39:09 – De-escalation in India-Pakistan Clash

46:11 – Citizens’ Role in War

51:06 – Advice to Media

Tilak Devasher is an author, an expert on everything Pakistan and a member of India’s National Security Advisory Board. Yash Sinha is the former High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and also served as India’s Chief Information Commissioner.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the possible consequences Pakistan could face after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty. Yash Sinha talks about the mindset of the Pakistani people and how many of them see India as their eternal enemy. Tilak Devasher speaks about reports that the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were using Chinese phones and how long Pakistan can last in the case of a long war.

Note: This episode was recorded on May 6, 2025, a day before India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

00:00 – Introduction

01:28 – Mock Drills in India

03:50 – UNSC Meeting on Kashmir

06:29 – Foreign Relations of Pakistan

09:15 – Internal Security Threats to Pakistan

12:19 – USA’s Stand on India-Pak Tensions

15:47 – How Pakistani Diplomats Behave

24:38 – Chinese Phones Linked to Pahalgam Attack

32:44 – Indus Water Treaty

37:12 – Irrigation System of Pakistan

39:44 – Dams and Hydro Projects

43:50 – How India Creates Deterrence

46:17 – China & the Flow of the Brahmaputra River

49:04 – Blockade in the Indian Ocean

50:31 – Recalling the 1971 & 1965 Wars

54:48 – Is India Ready for War?

57:55 – Smuggling of Iranian Oil into Pakistan

59:16 – China Backing Pakistan

01:01:01 – Pakistan’s War Capabilities

01:03:56 – Denuclearisation of Pakistan

01:05:26 – Why Mock Drills Are Happening Now

01:09:21 – Pakistan’s Psyche About India

01:12:42 – Pakistanis Marrying Kashmiris

01:16:42 – Social Media Accounts of Pakistani Celebs Banned

01:19:57 – Role of the Streets in Policy Making