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Since April 1, 1935, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been protecting India’s economy. Printing currency, managing banks, controlling inflation, and handling the Rupee — the nation’s central bank has been doing it all. But the inner workings of this carefully guarded institution has remained an enigma.

In this episode of What India Needs, Shutapa Paul is joined by Alpana Killawala, former Principal Advisor at the Reserve Bank of India, and an insider who gives us a ‘fly on the wall’ view of the RBI.

From UPI scams and fintech regulation to inflation control and autonomy debates, this conversation sheds light on what the RBI can and cannot do. Alpana shares her personal experiences from landmark events, including demonetisation, the Harshad Mehta scam, and the shift to digital banking, offering unmatched insight into an institution that shapes every Indian’s economic reality.

Watch it now on YouTube or listen to it on Spotify.

#WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast #RBI #UPI #cyberfraud #fintech #inflation #demonetisation #centralbank #indianeconomy #publicpolicy #financialregulation

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:18 - India’s economic challenges

00:04:15 - The skipped manufacturing phase

00:06:56 - Responsible innovation & regulating fintech

00:10:18 - UPI’s rise and the scam problem

00:14:20 - Idle youth and job creation

00:15:40 - View on Rupee value and exchange Rate

00:20:12 - The Tussle within RBI

00:24:56 - AI in RBI’s supervisory process

00:26:09 - The Harshad Mehta Scam

00:31:22 - Learnings from six RBI Governors

00:44:20 - What made her write the book

00:48:08 - Recalling the demonetisation days

00:56:32 - What it’s like to work at the RBI

00:59:33 - The compartmentalised RBI

01:06:17 - Stress and pressure in banking career

01:10:28 - Is RBI’s autonomy at risk?

01:12:11 - Advice for future RBI aspirants

01:13:23 - Outro

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#CyberThreats #FinancialFraud #RBIInsights #FinancialInnovation #FintechRegulation #DigitalIndia #Demonetisation

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India’s green cover is increasing… or is it a facade?

In this episode, Shutapa Paul engages with Vaibhav Raje, India’s first ISA-certified arborist, and together they explore the truth behind India’s forest cover statistics. From saplings replacing centuries-old canopies to tree protection policies that rarely work in practice, we examine the growing gap between perception and reality.

Tune in to hear Vaibhav’s sharp insights, on-ground experience, and candid perspectives on the future of sustainability in India.

Watch it now on YouTube or listen to it on Spotify.

#WhatIndiaNeeds #podcast #urbanforests #treepolicy #greencover #vaibhavraje #arboriculture #sustainabilityIndia #cityplanning #forestcover #environmentIndia #indiancities #climatecrisisIndia #WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:11 - Green Cover: Myth vs reality

00:04:00 - The 33 percent goal and policy disconnect

00:10:01 - Suggestions for policymakers

00:12:47 - Development and sustainability

00:14:29 - What is Arboriculture?

00:16:40 - Case study

00:20:05 - Role of technology in saving trees

00:23:06 - Policy gaps, governance challenges, and public awareness

00:26:02 - Concerns about pruning

00:30:37 - What to do when trees outgrow their space

00:35:55 - Urban forest and Miyawaki plantation

00:40:44 - How citizens can take responsible steps

00:44:26 - Outro

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#urbanforests #treepolicy #greencover #indiancities #environmentIndia #sustainabilityIndia #arboriculture #climatecrisisIndia #cityplanning #forestcover

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LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaibhav-raje-a383b117⁠

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Treecotech: ⁠http://www.treecotech.com/⁠

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Traditional media is being challenged, but can creators be trusted with the truth?

In this episode, Shutapa Paul speaks with Rishi Mukherjee, founder of Jist Media and co-founder of ScoopWhoop, to discuss the rise of India’s creator economy, the role of AI in spreading misinformation, and what it takes to build credibility in today’s digital age.

From virality without massive following to the threat of fake news, we explore the biggest shifts in Indian media and what the future holds. What does it mean to be a responsible content creator today? How do you balance growth, relevance, and ethics?

Tune in to hear Rishi’s sharp insights, startup journey, and honest reflections on the digital media boom.

Catch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Spotify.

#WhatIndiaNeeds #Podcast #creatorsofindia #digitalmedia #AImisinformation #mediadisruption #newmedia #trustonline #contentcreators #genZcontent #ScoopWhoop #JistMedia

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:49 - Is traditional media dying?

00:06:51 - Understanding micro-trends and timing

00:11:57 - The rise of fake news in the AI age

00:16:54 - Checks and balances in New Media

00:25:56 - Can creators really build public trust?

00:29:50 - The ScoopWhoop to Jist journey

00:52:52 - Advice to younger creators

00:58:19 - Outro

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#AIandMedia #creatorresponsibility #JistMedia #digitalIndia #mediadisruption #contentethics #ScoopWhoop #trustmedia #mediarevolution #Indianstartups #WhatIndiaNeedsPodcast

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishimukherjee/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/rishi_pratim

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chilllmonger/?hl=en

Jist News: https://jist.news/