The Morning Brief

The roar of Rafale jets may make up for the absence of a chief guest and fewer spectators at India's 72nd Republic Day parade in New Delhi. ET’s Vikram Doctor and Manu Pubby discuss the history of this annual procession, its appeal among today’s social media-obsessed youth and whether it is truly representative of modern India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the 46th US President, Joe Biden has a host of challenges awaiting him, senior journalist and ET Columnist, Seema Sirohi and Deputy Executive Editor, Pranab Dhal Samanta discuss how it will affect India on matters such as immigration, trade, climate change and international security.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As India rolled out its massive immunisation drive against Covid-19, we look at the action behind the scenes. Kunal Agarwal, Cofounder of Kool-Ex, tells us about the cold-chain logistics involved, Dr. Swadhina Mohanty gives us her account of getting the jab on the first day, and ET’s Nidhi Sharma explains how the government plans to deal with vaccine hesitancy.Host - Devina SenguptaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The growing number of unregulated loan apps, many with Chinese links, and the harassment of borrowers has caught the regulator's eye. Srikanth L of advocacy group Cashless Consumer and ET’s Shailesh Menon and Venkat Ananth discuss the modus operandi of these apps, how they proliferated with ease and the red flags to watch out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's it like to see Ratan Tata up close and personal? Shantanu Naidu, the 28-year-old personal assistant to one of India's most reclusive tycoons, recently wrote a book about the man behind the mystique. Naidu tells us how he unexpectedly - and delightfully - found a friend, mentor and comrade for life in Tata.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 months of protests, 8 rounds of talks, and one Supreme Court stay order later, the impasse continues. Where do the protesters and government go from here? Jai Kisan Andolan Coordination Committee's Avik Saha and ET's Aman Sharma discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WhatsApp's new policy guidelines have raised questions about data privacy and stirred a storm among users. techARC Founder Faisal Kawoosa and ET Prime’s Tech Policy Editor Sandhya Sharma tell us how safe our data is with WhatsApp and help us make sense of what data privacy is and how to protect it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cinema stardom and politics seem to go hand in hand in many Indian states. Following actor Rajinikanth’s decision to not enter politics, political observers Vaasanthi and Telakapalli Ravi, and ET’s KR Balasubramanyam dissect the reasons behind this move, its ramifications and the relevance of film stars in today’s political landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a year of many lows, cryptocurrency Bitcoin’s value rose 300% in 2020. As investors grapple with the fear of missing out, CEO of Bitbns Gaurav Dahake and ET Prime’s Sidhartha Shukla decode the recent boom in the cryptocurrency market and tell us why Bitcoin is the new digital gold for several investors today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swift approval for Bharat Biotech's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine and Serum Institute of India's version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has raised more doubts than enthusiasm. We talk to Dr. Amar Jesani, Editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, and ET’s Divya Rajagopal to understand the concernsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indians opened their wallets and hearts to help others in the pandemic, but that left non-Covid programs cash-strapped. Pushpa Aman Singh, CEO Guidestar India, Amit Chandra, MD Bain Capital, and Ashok Kumar ER, President Give India talk about the social service sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pandemic, incursions by an aggressive China and a rollercoaster market - 2020 saw all this and more. As we get ready to step into the new year, ET editors Bodhisatva Ganguli, Pranab Dhal Samanta and Sriram Ramakrishnan break down the biggest news developments of 2020 and what 2021 might hold for the economy, the political landscape and the markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pandemic-led social distancing saw people consume unprecedented levels of content on social media in 2020 to stay connected, updated and entertained ShareChat’s Content Strategy Director, Shashank Shekhar, Co-Founder of Trell App Pulkit Agrawal, Content Creator Niharicka Singh and ET’s Megha Mandavia take us through the social media journey in 2020 and some trends for 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First came electronics, then groceries, and now, even your medicines can be ordered online. What's its impact on the neighbourhood chemists, investors, and regulators? Navroz Mahudawala, founder and MD of investment advisory firm Candle Partners and ET's Alnoor Peermohamed discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The use of virtual therapy more than doubled in 2020 as Covid-19 took a toll on people’s mental health. Ramakant Vempati, founder of therapy app Wysa, Ishita Pateria, a counselling psychologist, and ET’s Shephali Bhatt discuss the advantages and challenges that e-therapy has over the therapists’ couch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India's benchmark stock indices surged during the pandemic even as Covid-19 dented economic growth. Manish Bhandari, Co-founder of Vallum Capital, and ET’s Nishanth Vasudevan bring us an overview of what's driving the rally, common mistakes that retail investors should avoid, and what to expect in 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent protests against big companies like Wistron and Toyota in Karnataka depict a trend of increasing trade unionism and labour dissatisfaction. As India Inc ramps up production, labour issues might intensify unless dealt with empathy, feel Dr Narendar Pani, Prof. at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Captain Gopinath founder of Air Deccan and ET's Archana Rai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four entities are interested in buying Air India, attracted by the assets of the national carrier. However, high debt and legacy issues mean that reviving the airline is no easy task. Sanjiv Kapoor, Former Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer at Vistara, and ET’s Mihir Mishra discuss what’s next for the MaharajaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Centre's move to allow Ayurveda students to perform surgeries has sparked protests by allopathic doctors. Dr. Rajan Sharma, National President of the Indian Medical Association, and ET's Teena Thacker explain what this could mean for patients.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some states have pulled the plug on the fast-growing online gaming industry and more are likely to join the banned-wagon. Nikhil Narendran, Partner at Trilegal, Salone Sehgal, Co-Founder of Lumikai, and ET’s Megha Mandavia discuss the pros and cons of these restrictions and how they might affect investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petrol and diesel prices are inching towards all-time highs in India where consumers pay some of the highest fuel taxes in the world. K Ravichandran, Executive VP at ICRA, Debasish Mishra, leader for energy resources at Deloitte, and ET’s Deepshikha Sikarwar discuss what triggered the price hike and whether consumers can expect any relief soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of India’s leading honey makers are facing charges of adulteration, denting their image. Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and Environment and ET's Ratna Bhushan discuss the concerning report, and what's next for the Rs. 1,800 crore sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Declining property prices, record-low home loan rates, government incentives and offers galore from builders – is now the right time to buy your dream home? That's what we asked author and personal finance coach PV Subramanyam and ET’s Kailash Babar, who closely tracks the real estate market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines propose that states cap surge pricing and increase the commission for drivers to 80%. Rameesh Kailasam, CEO of IndiaTech.Org, and ET’s special correspondent Alnoor Peermohamed tell us the impact of these norms on cab-aggregator startups, drivers and customers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Friday, farmers unhappy with three recently passed farm bills, have laid siege to the capital. We ask Ajay Jakhar, a farmer and chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, as well as Himangshu Watts, editor at ET, if the changes will improve efficiencies, farm incomes and boost investments in an otherwise anti-competitive sector or if bigger monopolies will create new cartels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As another wave of the coronavirus scares vacationers, hoteliers are arming themselves with safety measures and special offers to attract guests. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director of Sarovar Hotels, and ET’s Anumeha Chaturvedi tell us how hotel owners are also finding opportunities in the midst of the crisis such as hosting film crews and catering to wedding parties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyberattacks in India are getting more sophisticated. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) says that healthcare has become an attractive target for hackers. Supreme Court lawyer NS Nappinai and ET’s senior correspondent Anandi Chandrashekhar tell us what, apart from a strong cybersecurity law, is needed to deter hacking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bharat Biotech failed to halt clinical trials after one person developed serious side-effects during the testing of Covaxin, its indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine candidate. Dr. Srinath Reddy, President of Public Health Foundation of India, and ET’s Teena Thacker take us through the protocols and challenges of developing a vaccine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time, the Reserve Bank of India roped in a foreign bank – DBS of Singapore – to take over the assets of an Indian lender, 94-year-old Lakshmi Vilas Bank. ET’s journalists Sugata Ghosh and Atmadip Ray tell us how and why this happened and what it means for banking in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s restaurants are trying everything to get customers back. Despite all the safety norms in place, consumers are still being careful about dining out. Sameer Seth, Founder of Hunger Inc., Zorawar Kalra, MD of Massive Restaurants, and ET’s Senior Editor Ratna Bhushan explain how the Rs 4.25 lakh crore industry is adapting to the new normal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India’s latest stimulus package to revive the economy includes reforms and incentives for local manufacturing and job creation, but experts are unsure if enough has been done to revive demand. ET’s Resident Editor, North, Vinay Pandey and Consulting Editor TK Arun dissect the Rs 2.65 lakh crore Aatmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's move to bring over-the-top (OTT) services such as streaming platforms and digital news channels under the I&B ministry is seen by some as a precursor to content censorship. MediaNama's founder Nikhil Pahwa and ET's senior assistant editor Vasudha Venugopal explain the government's rationale, the impact on the industry and what it could mean for consumers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NDA is back in power in Bihar, but this win didn’t come easily. Nitish Kumar will be the chief minister, leading his party as a junior partner of the BJP. Neerja Chowdhury, columnist and political commentator, and ET’s senior assistant editor Kumar Anshuman analyse India’s first election since the Covid-19 outbreak and assess what’s next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WhatsApp Pay finally got the nod to launch last week but with riders. Simultaneously, an unprecedented cap of 30% of monthly UPI transaction volume was announced for all players. We look at the ramifications of these two big developments on a rapidly growing digital payments network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next US president’s key task will be to return America to global leadership in a world wracked by Covid-19, China’s ambitions and climate change. India will seek more investments and easier visa norms from the US. While Biden has always been supportive of India, Trump has clicked with Modi and a second term could mean business as usual.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flipkart has recently made a number of cherry-picked deals and partnerships. It's also seen bumper sales during its flagship festive sale. We delve into the company’s strategic focus on wholesale, fashion and grocery and what this means for its plans for an IPO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting off as a payment unit of Alibaba, Ant is today a fintech giant straddling payments, lending, investments, and insurance and is likely to raise over $34 billion in its upcoming listing, making it the world's biggest IPO. How did it get there, and can India have an Ant equivalent?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winter brings with it the familiar troubles of increased air pollution - this time, the government has proposed a new law to address the crisis in the capital. We discuss how effective that's likely to be, what the other solutions are and the situation that awaits India's most polluted cities this smog season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The saga of a scam and a flamboyant stockbroker who turned Public Enemy No. 1 in 1992 has hit a chord among viewers. But why is Harshad Mehta still relevant after all these years and why does a man long dead and gone continue to fascinate many, not just the old-timers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politicians are promising voters free Covid-19 vaccines. But a vaccine is far from ready. We assess why India may have to wait longer than other countries for the vaccine and what it will take in terms of logistics and costs to protect its over 1.3 billion people from the novel coronavirus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 led to the worst job crisis in India in decades. As the economy recovers, what will the job market look like in the next few quarters, and which skills will be most in-demand?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of Covid-19-induced curbs, festive season sales were back with a bang. Customers lapped up mobiles and appliances and even car sales got a bump-up. What made Indian shoppers open their purse strings despite widespread job losses and a battered economy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The committee of creditors of Jet Airways has approved a bid by a consortium of investors to acquire the defunct airline. What does this mean for the airline, its employees, and creditors, and will we witness it taking to the skies again?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After failing to delist Vedanta, share prices of billionaire Anil Agarwal’s flagship Indian company tanked. Why didn’t India’s biggest delisting exercise whet the appetite of investors and what lies next?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India and China have been locked in a bitter border conflict in the Ladakh region since April, despite several rounds of diplomatic talks between the nations. How did it all start, what are the latest developments and how is it likely to play out for the two countries?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“There’s no quota on Everest,” says RS Praveen Kumar IPS, the architect behind the extraordinary turnaround of a network of schools for the marginalised in Telangana. In this podcast, he details his methods and philosophy, which has yielded incredible results, including the youngest girl to summit Mount Everest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon has asked for the Reliance-Future Group merger to be put on hold, in a submission with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, alleging a breach of contract.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 13th edition of IPL is generating a lot of on-field excitement even as it is held under tremendous logistical constraints in a pandemic and away from home, in the UAE. ET’s Gaurav Laghate brings you all the behind-the-scenes action on how the IPL economy is performing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google’s plan to enforce its 30% Play Store commission on in-app purchases has created a storm among Indian startups, who are up in arms against it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul John Mithuna, a Goa-made whisky, was recently named the third-best in the world by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. What's the story behind the spirit, what does this mean for the Indian alcohol business and why is Goa becoming the home for trendy new alcohol makers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.