Mahendra Kumar Singh, Akshat Bhaskar and Amaira Akbar on Indian Politics, Geopolitics, Aadhaar, and Propaganda

In this episode of Decoded, Akshat Bhaskar and Amaira Akbar sit down with Dr. Mahendra Kumar Singh, Professor of Political Science at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University and former journalist at The Times of India, where he spent over 13 years covering Parliament, national political parties, government policy, and the institutions shaping Indian public life.

Mahendra reflects on his transition from journalism to academia and how the two professions offer different ways of understanding politics. He explains why democratic political parties can still be controlled by a small group of decision-makers, drawing on the iron law of oligarchy and his experience reporting on both the BJP and the Indian National Congress.

The conversation then moves to India's place in an increasingly divided world. Mahendra discusses how India maintains relationships with Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and other competing powers, why BRICS is pushing for a more equitable international economic order, and how India's economic dependence on China complicates its strategic rivalry. We also explore India's relationship with Nepal, the consequences of the 2015 economic blockade, and why historical and cultural connections alone cannot guarantee diplomatic influence.

We then turn to Aadhaar and the transformation of India's welfare system. Having reported on the project since its early development, Mahendra shares his experiences interviewing Nandan Nilekani and following the decisions that shaped India's digital identity infrastructure. He discusses how Aadhaar changed welfare delivery, the strategy behind its gradual introduction, and the questions it raises about privacy, government power, and accountability.

The conversation ends with a question that feels increasingly difficult to answer: how do we distinguish genuine political analysis from propaganda? Mahendra reflects on the influence of ideology, the explosion of information on social media, and why understanding political history, reading beyond headlines, and listening to voices on the ground remain essential.

From the corridors of Indian Parliament to the changing dynamics of global politics, this episode explores how political institutions work, why governments make the decisions they do, and what it takes to understand the world beyond competing narratives.

Thank you to Deepanshu, Agrima, Anubhav, Aly Muhhamad, and Aarav for their help with research, outreach, and questions for this episode, and Nischay for help with Audio Production.

clarity before consensus.