General Upendra Dwivedi is currently serving as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. He previously served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command. Before that, he was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff for Information Systems and Coordination and the General Officer Commanding of the IX Corps.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the Army Chief shares his views on several key issues. He discusses how the situation of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has changed after the abrogation of Article 370 and also talks about the Indian Army's role in implementing the theme of ‘Terrorism to Tourism” in Kashmir Valley.

He also opens up about the Pakistani Army’s mindset regarding PoK and the motive behind infiltration bids by Pakistani terrorists.

General Dwivedi also addresses how AI is transforming battlefields across the world and how the Indian Army is utilizing this technology. He emphasizes that civilian support for the army plays a major role and explains how an average citizen can be helpful to the Indian Army. He highlights the disengagement between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

General Dwivedi further reflects on the role of women in the Indian Armed Forces. He also discusses the budget allocated for the defence sector and the priorities that need to be addressed to boost the army's performance.

00:00 – Introduction

01:06 - India-China border Disengagement

04:20 - Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Army Chief

07:32 - Trump’s pitch to sell stealth fighters to India

11:43 - Security situation along LoC

14:16 - Decline in militancy in Kashmir

16:47 - Mindset of Pakistani Army

22:24 - Drones: Future of Warfare

27:46 - Is Agnipath scheme helping Army?

30:42 - ‘Gray zone’ and ‘Hybrid’ warfare

38:31 - AI and Indian Army

48:56 - Two classmates leading Indian Armed Forces

55:59 - Recruits in the Indian Army

59:22 - Budget allocation for Defence

1:06:23 - Army pay scale compared to private sector

1:12:02 - Civilian support for Army

1:16:55 - When Army Chief visited Mahakaleshwar Temple

1:19:05 - Childhood of Army Chief

1:22:30 - Emotional impact of losing friends in combat

Jaya Kishori started her spiritual journey at the age of seven. Raised in a spiritual environment, she developed a deep love for spiritualism, leading her to become a motivational and spiritual speaker. Her mission is to instill faith, positivity, and the importance of family, emphasizing that good parenting shapes successful and virtuous individuals. She ensures her teachings are simple and relatable for all ages.

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaya Kishori speaks about finding a balance between spirituality and a materialistic lifestyle, addressing the Dior bag controversy and how she deals with online criticism. She also talks about ego, the highs and lows of fame, and the importance of family support in her journey. Sharing her experience of studying the Bhagavad Gita, she talks about sacrifice, spirituality, and why she chose to change her name.

She also discusses whether visiting temples or following a Satvik lifestyle is necessary for devotion, why today's youth feel disconnected from spirituality, and why some parents use their children for money. She also talks about the rise in suicide cases, the misuse of laws, how to handle anger, and the importance of chanting in life.

00:00 - Introduction

01:46 - Dior Bag Controversy

09:45 - Online Criticism

13:36 - Ego & Adulation

16:29 - Career & Family Support

18:21 - Bhagavad Gita

20:48 - Sacrifice vs. Spirituality

23:49 - How to Deal with Failure

28:03 - Why Jaya Kishori Changed Her Name

30:29 - Devotional Journey

34:43 - Visiting Temple Importance

37:11 - Youth and Spirituality

44:11 - Satvik Life

51:12 - How to Become a Spiritual Speaker

54:46 - Kids in Spirituality & Devotion

57:41 - Parents 'Misusing' Children for Money

01:03:44 - Sacredness vs. Hypocrisy

01:05:23 - Snap Reaction Segment

01:36:36 - Misuse of AI

01:43:28 - Rise in Suicide Cases & Misuse of Laws

01:49:58 - Finding Hope in Difficult Times

01:53:00 - Jaya Kishori's Go-To Chant

01:57:01 - How to Handle Anger

Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as 'Gabbar' by his fans, has had a remarkable cricket career. He won the Golden Bat twice at the ICC Champions Trophy, and holds the record for the fastest Test century by a debutant, In August 2024, he announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket.

In this podcast with Smita Prakash, Dhawan talks about the pressure social media creates in team selection and shares his views on the controversial Yo-Yo test. He also recalls his Test debut alongside the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

He opens up about his mindset during the Champions Trophy, the challenges of sledging, friendships off the field, and why India can't play in Pakistan.

Dhawan also talks about his bond with his son, how spirituality has shaped his life, and his journey from being dropped in 2022 to his thoughts on the future of Indian cricket.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:21 - The Pressure of Social Media

05:37 - Champions Trophy 2025

08:11 - Dressing room conversations

11:07 - Yo-Yo test

18:11 - Story behind selection in Indian Team

19:33 - Playing with Sachin in his debut Test

21:14 - Sachin Tendulkar's retirement

22:41 - Timing, fate, and hard work

26:34 - Breaking Gundappa Viswanath's record

29:57 - A captain’s advice for openers

33:35 - Understanding the opponent’s abilities

35:22 - Champions Trophy records & Mindset

40:51 - Bid to upskill cricket coaches in India

47:35 - Sledging in cricket

49:33 - Should Team India travel to Pakistan?

50:43 - BCCI's new rulebook for players

52:06 - IPL success story

54:16 - Dhawan as captain

58:27 - Getting dropped from Team India

01:00:43 - Having a godfather in cricket

01:04:36 - Relationship with his son

01:10:38 - Spirituality in life

01:13:27 - Retirement decision

01:16:33 - Advice to young players

01:17:56 - Importance of physical fitness

01:24:49 - Legends 90 League

01:27:01 - Rapid Fire Segment

Big Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS) is one of the youngest startups in India's defence sector, focusing on developing homegrown technology and intellectual property.

The company is working on cutting-edge defence solutions, including the Next-Generation Hybrid Personal Combat Armour, a non-lethal system to stop vessels at sea, the 360 Advanced Battle Interface (ABI), and an Anti-Drone Defense System. These innovations have already been adopted by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Ramaswamy Shivaraman, co-founder of BBBS and head of research and product development, discusses how the Indian government is supporting homegrown startups in defence and why the private sector needs more government backing in the industry.

He also speaks about the role of AI in modern warfare and its integration into defence systems. He also highlights the challenges Indian startups face in exporting defence products and underscores the importance of promoting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the sector.

*Audio Timestamps:*

00:00 - Introduction

01:14 - India’s Defence Budget Allocation

02:38 - Anti-Drone System Deal

05:50 - How Big Bang Boom Solutions Started

09:14 - Products by Big Bang Boom Solutions

10:28 - Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War

12:24 - Govt’s Approach to Defence Startups

15:45 - Private Investment in Defence

18:07 - Deals with Indian & Foreign Govts

22:59 - Challenges in Foreign Markets

25:09 - Startups vs Big Defence Companies

30:14 - AI in Defence Systems

36:14 - AI and Drone Warfare

40:22 - Non-Lethal Naval Deterrence Tech

45:01 - Advantages of Doing Business in India

54:44 - Can Foreign governments invest in BBBS?

56:11 - Meeting with PM Modi

01:00:24 - Anti-Drone System: Vajra Shield

01:03:14 - PM Promoting Desi Defence Startups Abroad

Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi, CEO and MD of IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd), is a pioneer in the fertiliser industry and has been honoured with the title “Fertiliser Man of India.”

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Awasthi talks about the major challenges Indian farmers face and what can be done to address them. He discusses whether India can become self-sufficient in fertilisers and how farmers’ incomes can be increased.

He also sheds light on IFFCO’s Nano Urea, a breakthrough in green technology that not only boosts crop yield but also protects the soil—unlike conventional urea, which harms it over time. Dr. Awasthi believes that technology is the key to transforming Indian agriculture and ensuring a sustainable future for farmers.

Additionally, he talks about why many young people are moving away from farming and what can be done to make agriculture a more attractive and viable profession.

More on the future of Indian farming and the innovations that can shape it.

00:00 - Introduction

01:21 - What Does IFFCO Do?

08:01 - Harmful Chemical Fertilisers

12:46 - 'Stop Using Urea Fertilisers'

14:32 - What Are Nano Urea Fertilisers?

21:01 - Imports of Fertilisers

26:16 - 'Fertiliser Man of India' Title

27:42 - Adoption of New Technologies in Agriculture

31:59 - Key Challenges Faced by Farmers

35:24 - Why Do Farmers Resist New Technologies?

37:56 - Why Are Most Farmers Poor?

41:31 - Farming in Hilly Areas

46:03 - Uses of Worm Compost in Farming

47:51 - Will Nano Urea Replace Traditional Urea?

49:16 - Revolutionary Initiatives in Indian Agriculture

Sanjay Kumar Jha is a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the National Working President of Janata Dal-United. He is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha discusses the challenges Bihar is facing, such as unemployment, poverty, literacy rates, migration, and GDP growth. He also reflects on what Nitish Kumar has accomplished for the state over the last 20 years.

Jha speaks about Nitish Kumar's health and whether he will be fit for the upcoming state elections. He also clarifies whether Nitish Kumar will be the CM candidate for the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar.

Jha explains the relationship between Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar and criticizes Tejashwi Yadav for his ‘ineffective’ 17-month term as Deputy CM. He also addresses the recent BPSC protests and the possible influence of Prashant Kishor on Bihar politics.

More on the Caste Census, India Bloc, Delhi Assembly elections, and the liquor ban in Bihar.

00:00 – Introduction

00:45 – Bihar: Poverty, Growth & Inequality

06:48 – Literacy in Bihar

11:44 – Liquor Ban in Bihar

16:25 – Crime Rate in Bihar

20:49 – Nitish's Chemistry with Lalu Yadav

23:33 – Why Nitish Left the INDIA Bloc

30:27 – Who Convinced Nitish to Rejoin the NDA

35:18 – Seat-sharing for the Upcoming Bihar Polls

38:23 – Prashant Kishor and BPSC Protests

40:24 – Nitish Kumar’s Health

43:04 – Caste Census

47:35 – Will Nitish Switch Sides Again?

52:54 – 2024 Lok Sabha Poll Mandate

57:35 – Purvanchali Factor in Delhi Polls

1:03:19 – Tejashwi vs. Chirag

Jaideep Ahlawat is a talented Indian actor known for his powerful performances. Born and raised in Rohtak, Haryana, he studied acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He gained early recognition with films like Aakrosh (2010) and Khatta Meetha (2010), but it was Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) that helped him establish a foothold in the Hindi film industry.

His big breakthrough came with Paatal Lok (2020), where he played Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary. The role won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series and earned him widespread praise.

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaideep Ahlawat talks about the success of Paatal Lok 2, how his character has evolved, and the transformation he went through for the role. He also opens up about his relationship with his father and how it shaped his life and career.

He shares his experiences working with top directors like Anurag Kashyap and actors such as Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor. He also discusses Bollywood’s reality, including nepotism and the media’s obsession with celebrities’ personal lives.

Jaideep reflects on his career, his favorite directors, and what it was like working with Shah Rukh Khan. He also talks about his interest in South Indian films and the much-awaited The Family Man 3 with Manoj Bajpayee.

00:00 - Introduction

01:41 - Paatal Lok 2 Success

08:13 - Hathi Ram Chaudhary’s Character Explained

11:34 - Jaideep Ahlawat vs. Hathi Ram Chaudhary

12:11 - Relationship with His Father

18:40 - Transformation for Paatal Lok 2

24:07 - Hathi Ram’s Famous Dialogues

28:35 - Real vs. Reel Life

32:40 - Hathi Ram’s Journey Over the Years

34:28 - Viral Photo from FTII Days

38:20 - Anurag Kashyap as a Director

40:44 - Sharing Screen with Kareena, Alia & Ranbir

42:07 - Reality of Bollywood

45:20 - Nepotism

46:57 - Media Focus on Celebrities' Personal Lives

51:42 - Career Path

54:03 - Favorite Directors

55:04 - Working with Shah Rukh Khan

57:43 - Handling Fans

01:04:05 - Unforgettable Experience in Life

01:05:05 - South Indian Movies

01:13:10 - Need for Family Support

01:17:20 - Favorite Actors

01:21:20 - The Family Man 3 with Manoj Bajpayee

01:24:50 - Upcoming Projects