A.M. Naik, a legend in Indian industry, rose from L&T engineer to Chairman. Over 58 years, he transformed L&T into a global giant, building essential infrastructure and iconic projects like the Statue of Unity, India's 1st nuclear submarine, the K-9 Vajra, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Anil Manibhai Naik described winning ET’s Lifetime Achievement award as the crowning accomplishment of his professional career. Catch his uncut interview with host Arijit Barman as he recalls defending L&T from takeover attempts by Reliance and the Aditya Birla Group. Tune in to The Morning Brief podcast!

If you like this episode from Arijit Barman, check out his other interesting episodes on Tabla, Tech and Triumph with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Mohamed Alabbar: Beyond Emaar, Burj Khalifa & Dubai, IPL STUMPVISION: Is Disney’s STAR still shining?, How fast can Apple bite into India? And more!

You can follow our host Arijit Barman on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts. 

<a href="https://www.larsentoubro.com/corporate/about-lt-group/leadership/chairman-emeritus/a-m-naik/">A.M. Naik</a>, a legend in Indian industry, rose from L&amp;T engineer to Chairman. Over 58 years, he transformed L&amp;T into a global giant, building essential infrastructure and iconic projects like the Statue of Unity, India's 1st nuclear submarine, the K-9 Vajra, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Anil Manibhai Naik described winning ET’s Lifetime Achievement award as the crowning accomplishment of his professional career. Catch his uncut interview with host <a href="https://m.economictimes.com/etreporter/author-arijit-barman-16028.cms">Arijit Barman</a> as he recalls defending L&amp;T from takeover attempts by Reliance and the Aditya Birla Group. Tune in to The Morning Brief podcast! If you like this episode from Arijit Barman, check out his other interesting episodes on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000647604098">Tabla, Tech and Triumph with Ustad Zakir Hussain</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000624822097">Mohamed Alabbar: Beyond Emaar, Burj Khalifa &amp; Dubai</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000615332091"> IPL STUMPVISION: Is Disney’s STAR still shining?</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000612533388"> How fast can Apple bite into India?</a> And<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> more</a>!
You can follow our host Arijit Barman on his social media:<a href="https://twitter.com/arijitbarman76"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arijit-barman-7233a129/"> Linkedin</a>
Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on<a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay"> ET Play</a>,<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr"> The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> Apple Podcasts</a>,<a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_"> JioSaavn</a>,<a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief"> Amazon Music</a> and<a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvNjBiMmU5MjYtZTVmOC00YjkwLWE0NjUtYWVmOTAxMTYzMDAxLzk1ZmQ3YzU5LTc5MGQtNDk2ZS1iYmRlLWFlZjkwMTE2N2ZlNC84YWU1NDc2My05OTI1LTQwY2EtOGMzZC1hZWY5MDExNjdmZmIvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2gOG4la36AhUvjtgFHcdWDU8Q9sEGegQIARAC"> Google Podcasts</a>.

To make sense of the week’s hottest stories in business, economy, politics and markets, journalists from the Economic Times chat with reporters and industry leaders in this thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) podcast.

The Morning Brief

Getting Frank & Fearless with A.M. Naik

Grasslands vs wastelands: why confuse the two?

How grasslands are geographically undercounted

 Why should  grasslands matter to urban India?

Which grasslands are wrongly tagged wastelands

One example showing the real cost of wasteland

Why grasslands are ignored as carbon sinks now

Grasslands may beat trees on climate cost gain

Turning grasslands into solar parks is mistake

Lose grasslands, milk meat wool supply crashes

Grassland neglect exposes India's policy decay

Conclusion

Credits

Half your milk comes from animals grazing on land the government calls wasteland. The mutton in your biryani? Same story. We're talking ₹1.3 lakh crore annually 5% of India's GDP built on ecosystems we've systematically mislabeled as worthless since the British needed a tax category for "land we can't monetize. Now we're converting these "wastelands" into solar farms at scale without asking the millions of pastoralists who depend on them, or calculating the carbon stored beneath them, or wondering what happens when milk and meat prices spike because we've paved over the free grazing grounds that keep them affordable. The twist? These aren't degraded lands waiting for rehabilitation. They're ancient grasslands and savannas that have existed for millennia, doing exactly what they're supposed to do. We just never bothered to look closely enough to notice. Until now, when it might be too late. Host Anirban Chowdhury asks Dr Abi Vanak, Director, Centre for Policy Design at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE-CPD), to explain.

Listen in:

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like Battle Beyond Borders, Peace Perished: Explaining the Pahalgam Terror Attack, Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Rebel Foods’ chief on Building Brands, Tech, and an IPO on the Horizon and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

Half your milk comes from animals grazing on land the government calls wasteland. The mutton in your biryani? Same story. We're talking ₹1.3 lakh crore annually 5% of India's GDP built on ecosystems we've systematically mislabeled as worthless since the British needed a tax category for "land we can't monetize. Now we're converting these "wastelands" into solar farms at scale without asking the millions of pastoralists who depend on them, or calculating the carbon stored beneath them, or wondering what happens when milk and meat prices spike because we've paved over the free grazing grounds that keep them affordable. The twist? These aren't degraded lands waiting for rehabilitation. They're ancient grasslands and savannas that have existed for millennia, doing exactly what they're supposed to do. We just never bothered to look closely enough to notice. Until now, when it might be too late. Host Anirban Chowdhury asks Dr Abi Vanak, Director, Centre for Policy Design at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE-CPD), to explain.
Listen in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnirbanET">X</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/">Linkedin</a>
Check out other interesting episodes from the host like&nbsp;<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/morning-brief-podcast/morning-brief-podcast-battle-beyond-borders/podcast/121052322.cms?from=mdr">Battle Beyond Borders</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/peace-perished-explaining-the-pahalgam-terror-attack/id1568661777?i=1000704659454">Peace Perished: Explaining the Pahalgam Terror Attack</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/corner-office-conversation-with-sridhar-vembu-ceo-of/id1568661777?i=1000731722016">Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/rebel-foods-chief-on-building-brands-tech-and-an-ipo/id1568661777?i=1000733234302">Rebel Foods&rsquo; chief on Building Brands, Tech, and an IPO on the Horizon</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>.
Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

India Calls its Grasslands “Wastelands”; it’s a ₹1.3 lakh Crore Mistake!

How Deel was born the idea behind its founding

Key challenges & defining moments at Deel path

Founder–product fit philosophy explained

Whats next for Deel growth, capital & M&A now!

Deel’s India story and expansion plans ahead

Where demand is rising India IT GCCs global

How US immigration curbs reshape global hiring

Has tougher rules raised compliance risks now

s AI widening pay gaps from junior to senior?

How Deel competes in a crowded HR tech market

How Deel runs culture as a 150-country remote

Deel targets beyond $1B ARR over five years

What does it take to build and scale a remote-first company across borders, regulations, and cultures? In this episode, host Himanshi Lohchab talks to Alex Bouaziz, co-founder and CEO of Deel, on how the company grew from a startup idea into a global HR and payroll platform operating in over 150 countries. Bouaziz reflects on early pivots, lessons from Y Combinator, and the idea of founder–product fit that continues to shape Deel’s culture and strategy. The conversation explores Deel’s expanding product suite, investments in payroll infrastructure, its approach to compliance, and how capital has been deployed through acquisitions and innovation. The episode also examines broader shifts in global hiring, cross-border talent movement, and India’s increasing role in Deel’s long-term plans offering a clear-eyed view of how companies manage scale and complexity in a rapidly changing world. 

Tune in.

You can follow Himanshi Lohchab on her social media: X and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes of ET in the Valley: ET in the Valley:  Grant Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Gamma, ET in the Valley: Databricks Co-founder Patrick Wendell, ET in the Valley: Replit Founder and CEO Amjad Masad, ET in the Valley: ElevenLabs Co-Founder Mati Staniszewski and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

What does it take to build and scale a remote-first company across borders, regulations, and cultures? In this episode, host Himanshi Lohchab talks to Alex Bouaziz, co-founder and CEO of Deel, on how the company grew from a startup idea into a global HR and payroll platform operating in over 150 countries. Bouaziz reflects on early pivots, lessons from Y Combinator, and the idea of founder&ndash;product fit that continues to shape Deel&rsquo;s culture and strategy. The conversation explores Deel&rsquo;s expanding product suite, investments in payroll infrastructure, its approach to compliance, and how capital has been deployed through acquisitions and innovation. The episode also examines broader shifts in global hiring, cross-border talent movement, and India&rsquo;s increasing role in Deel&rsquo;s long-term plans offering a clear-eyed view of how companies manage scale and complexity in a rapidly changing world. Tune in. You can follow Himanshi Lohchab on her social media: <a href="https://x.com/HimanshiET">X</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/himanshi-lohchab-751804173/">Linkedin</a>
Check out other interesting episodes of ET in the Valley: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000738448473">ET in the Valley:&nbsp; Grant Lee, Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Gamma</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000737335976">ET in the Valley: Databricks Co-founder Patrick Wendell</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000736346116">ET in the Valley: Replit Founder and CEO Amjad Masad</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000735309153">ET in the Valley: ElevenLabs Co-Founder Mati Staniszewski</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>.
Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

ET in the Valley: Alex Bouaziz, Co-Founder & CEO at Deel

India chose nuclear deterrence, built in-house

India pushed ahead nuclear test followed 1974

 A decade later came the turning point, 

Legitimacy gained new challenges surfaced

Shanti Bill shifts nuclear focus from arms

Global norms place liability on operators only

Nuclear growth crawled just 2 GW in 15 years

Bill opens nuclear sector beyond liability cap

State keeps fuel control regulator questioned.

Shanti Bill aligns with US nuclear trade pushs

How did this bill actually come together?

Supplier liability debated then resolved

Compensation cap aligns with global norms now!

 What changes operationally? 

Global reactor majors return as rules change

 What steps ahead for Shanti bill? 

Conclusion 

India’s nuclear energy framework is set for its most consequential reset in decades with the passage of the Shanti Bill. In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to ET’s executive editor, politics Pranab Dhal Samanta and Anubhuti Vishnoi to unpack what the new law changes and why it matters now. The discussion traces India’s long nuclear journey: from staying outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty and building indigenous capabilities, to gaining global legitimacy after the Indo-US nuclear deal. Yet, despite access to international fuel and technology, expansion remained sluggish, constrained by strict liability norms and a tightly controlled, state-led model. The Shanti Bill seeks to change that. It consolidates existing laws into a single framework, removes supplier liability, aligns compensation rules with global conventions, and introduces graded liability caps. Crucially, it opens the door to private participation, separates regulatory and operational roles, and clarifies responsibilities across the nuclear fuel cycle while keeping strategic control with the state. As nuclear power is expected to play a larger role in India’s long-term energy mix, this episode explains how the new framework could reshape the future of civilian nuclear power in the country. 

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like
Battle Beyond Borders, Peace Perished: Explaining the Pahalgam Terror Attack, Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Rebel Foods’ chief on Building Brands, Tech, and an IPO on the Horizon and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

Credits: FilmsDivision, Indian National Congress, DNAIndiaNews, APArchive, Mint

India&rsquo;s nuclear energy framework is set for its most consequential reset in decades with the passage of the Shanti Bill. In this episode, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to ET&rsquo;s executive editor, politics Pranab Dhal Samanta and Anubhuti Vishnoi to unpack what the new law changes and why it matters now. The discussion traces India&rsquo;s long nuclear journey: from staying outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty and building indigenous capabilities, to gaining global legitimacy after the Indo-US nuclear deal. Yet, despite access to international fuel and technology, expansion remained sluggish, constrained by strict liability norms and a tightly controlled, state-led model. The Shanti Bill seeks to change that. It consolidates existing laws into a single framework, removes supplier liability, aligns compensation rules with global conventions, and introduces graded liability caps. Crucially, it opens the door to private participation, separates regulatory and operational roles, and clarifies responsibilities across the nuclear fuel cycle while keeping strategic control with the state. As nuclear power is expected to play a larger role in India&rsquo;s long-term energy mix, this episode explains how the new framework could reshape the future of civilian nuclear power in the country. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnirbanET">X</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/">Linkedin </a>Check out other interesting episodes from the host like <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/morning-brief-podcast/morning-brief-podcast-battle-beyond-borders/podcast/121052322.cms?from=mdr">Battle Beyond Borders</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/peace-perished-explaining-the-pahalgam-terror-attack/id1568661777?i=1000704659454">Peace Perished: Explaining the Pahalgam Terror Attack</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/corner-office-conversation-with-sridhar-vembu-ceo-of/id1568661777?i=1000731722016">Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/rebel-foods-chief-on-building-brands-tech-and-an-ipo/id1568661777?i=1000733234302">Rebel Foods&rsquo; chief on Building Brands, Tech, and an IPO on the Horizon</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>. Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>. Credits: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9KLkY4K62M">Films</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9KLkY4K62M">Division</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7MagRTpdZY">Indian National Congress</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7MagRTpdZY">DNAIndiaNews</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/Ntniba1xgWg?si=1iWdmHoPdYgMpuO1">AP</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFGkVvMYzk">Archive</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi24xAEdi1M">Mint </a>

India Rewrites its Nuclear Energy Rulebook

Getting Frank & Fearless with A.M. Naik

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