India’s Era of Economic Courage Sanjeev Sanyal Explains Policy, Risk & Reform

On today’s episode of the GDP@MyGov Podcast, we are joined by Sanjeev Sanyal, noted economist, author, and Member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, for a sharp conversation on India’s economic policymaking and the growing risk-taking orientation behind key reforms shaping New India. He unpacks how policy thinking has evolved, why calculated risk is essential at India’s current stage of growth, and how reform-led decision making is influencing outcomes across the economy. The discussion places India’s current reform momentum within a broader historical context, examining how institutions, processes, and execution capacity determine whether policy intent translates into long-term impact. Sanyal offers a candid assessment of India’s growth trajectory, the trade-offs involved in reform, and the role of confidence and conviction in economic governance. He also speaks about his book Revolutionaries, which brings attention to the forgotten heroes of India’s freedom struggle and their contributions to India’s independence, offering a deeper understanding of the ideas and individuals that shaped the nation. Watch the full episode now and don't forget to like, share and subscribe for more such engaging conversations. 00:00 – Why India Must Learn to Take Risks Again 03:08 – Risk-Takers vs Spectators: A Civilisational Choice 05:29 – Ancient India: Builders, Mariners & Innovators 07:35 – India’s Forgotten Maritime History 09:02 – The Coastal Mindset in Modern Policy 10:36 – Shipbuilding, Navy & Strategic Trade Routes 12:17 – Big Policy Risks: GST, IBC & Inflation Targeting 15:29 – Failure, Bankruptcy & Creative Destruction 17:15 – Leadership Courage During COVID 18:13 – When Reforms Succeed—and When They Don’t 22:13 – Recreating a Gupta-Era Ship: History in Action 25:02 – Culture Shift: Sports, Films, Literature & Startups 28:30 – Revolutionaries & India’s Armed Freedom Struggle 31:25 – Changing the National Narrative on Risk 33:35 – India as an Emerging Global Power 36:04 – Advice for Students & Young Policymakers 41:09 – The Boldest Personal Risk Sanjeev Sanyal Took Subscribe Now: https://bit.ly/MyGovYouTube Stay Updated! 🔔 Follow us to stay updated: ► Like us on Facebook:   / mygovindia   ► Follow us on Twitter:   / mygovindia   ► Follow us on Instagram:   / mygovindia   ► Follow us on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mygovindia ► Follow us on LinkedIn:   / mygov-india