Rohan Venkat
@rohanvenkat.bsky.social
Newsletter: India Inside Out || Non-Resident Visiting Scholar & Managing Editor, CASI, University of Pennsylvania || 📍Cairo, Egypt
rohanv on Twitter
rohanv on Twitter
The first piece looks at six key demographic milestones – and their enormous significance:
*Largest population
*Fertility rate below replacement
*Declining child population
*Demographic window closing
*The 'epidemiological transition'
*Rising mortality
*Largest population
*Fertility rate below replacement
*Declining child population
*Demographic window closing
*The 'epidemiological transition'
*Rising mortality
October 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The first piece looks at six key demographic milestones – and their enormous significance:
*Largest population
*Fertility rate below replacement
*Declining child population
*Demographic window closing
*The 'epidemiological transition'
*Rising mortality
*Largest population
*Fertility rate below replacement
*Declining child population
*Demographic window closing
*The 'epidemiological transition'
*Rising mortality
India may be the world's most populous country, but major shifts in its underlying demographics – and their massive implications – have gone unnoticed.
On @casipenn.bsky.social's India In Transition, we present a new series on India's Demographic Dilemmas, by Rukmini S, of @dataforindia.bsky.social
On @casipenn.bsky.social's India In Transition, we present a new series on India's Demographic Dilemmas, by Rukmini S, of @dataforindia.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
India may be the world's most populous country, but major shifts in its underlying demographics – and their massive implications – have gone unnoticed.
On @casipenn.bsky.social's India In Transition, we present a new series on India's Demographic Dilemmas, by Rukmini S, of @dataforindia.bsky.social
On @casipenn.bsky.social's India In Transition, we present a new series on India's Demographic Dilemmas, by Rukmini S, of @dataforindia.bsky.social
Keep going back to these paras from @abuaardvark.bsky.social right around the Gulf trip, when it seemed there was a spat with Bibi, w/ Trump decrying "the interventionalists... intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves." abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-does-tr...
June 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Keep going back to these paras from @abuaardvark.bsky.social right around the Gulf trip, when it seemed there was a spat with Bibi, w/ Trump decrying "the interventionalists... intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves." abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-does-tr...
On India Inside Out:
"In some ways, the fallout of the Pahalgam attack has meant that the hyphen is once again hovering over India. If Operation Sindoor does indeed establish the deterrence India has long sought, then it may well be shot down."
rohanvenkat.substack.com/p/the-hyphen...
"In some ways, the fallout of the Pahalgam attack has meant that the hyphen is once again hovering over India. If Operation Sindoor does indeed establish the deterrence India has long sought, then it may well be shot down."
rohanvenkat.substack.com/p/the-hyphen...
May 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
On India Inside Out:
"In some ways, the fallout of the Pahalgam attack has meant that the hyphen is once again hovering over India. If Operation Sindoor does indeed establish the deterrence India has long sought, then it may well be shot down."
rohanvenkat.substack.com/p/the-hyphen...
"In some ways, the fallout of the Pahalgam attack has meant that the hyphen is once again hovering over India. If Operation Sindoor does indeed establish the deterrence India has long sought, then it may well be shot down."
rohanvenkat.substack.com/p/the-hyphen...
While Western AI discourse tends to focus on the mirage of AGI, in India it is sold as a quick fix that will bring 'development' to the masses.
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, @bulletprooflama.bsky.social examines the Indian flavour of AI hype: casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/mila-t-s...
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, @bulletprooflama.bsky.social examines the Indian flavour of AI hype: casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/mila-t-s...
April 29, 2025 at 8:17 AM
While Western AI discourse tends to focus on the mirage of AGI, in India it is sold as a quick fix that will bring 'development' to the masses.
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, @bulletprooflama.bsky.social examines the Indian flavour of AI hype: casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/mila-t-s...
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, @bulletprooflama.bsky.social examines the Indian flavour of AI hype: casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/mila-t-s...
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, I spoke to @paliwalavi.bsky.social about India's Near East, why he chose to the 'near east' framing – mixing domestic and international – and how history is 'rhyming' in Bangladesh:
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
April 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
For @casipenn.bsky.social's India in Transition, I spoke to @paliwalavi.bsky.social about India's Near East, why he chose to the 'near east' framing – mixing domestic and international – and how history is 'rhyming' in Bangladesh:
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
"The 30-day rolling average of options contracts traded by individual investors on the National Stock Exchange has declined 77% since the first set of curbs by the Securities and Exchange Board of India took effect in November."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
March 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
"The 30-day rolling average of options contracts traded by individual investors on the National Stock Exchange has declined 77% since the first set of curbs by the Securities and Exchange Board of India took effect in November."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
"Foreign investors are selling India because they need to allocate more funds to China... Investors have been gradually reducing their exposure to India over the past few months and increasing their positions in China." www.livemint.com/market/stock...
March 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
"Foreign investors are selling India because they need to allocate more funds to China... Investors have been gradually reducing their exposure to India over the past few months and increasing their positions in China." www.livemint.com/market/stock...
How the stock market has gone well beyond the rich in India:
"In terms of the extent of geography covered now, one in every five rupee invested in Mutual Funds comes from cities beyond the top 110 cities contributing to MF assets."
Beyond the *top 110 cities.*
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
"In terms of the extent of geography covered now, one in every five rupee invested in Mutual Funds comes from cities beyond the top 110 cities contributing to MF assets."
Beyond the *top 110 cities.*
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
March 4, 2025 at 8:58 AM
How the stock market has gone well beyond the rich in India:
"In terms of the extent of geography covered now, one in every five rupee invested in Mutual Funds comes from cities beyond the top 110 cities contributing to MF assets."
Beyond the *top 110 cities.*
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
"In terms of the extent of geography covered now, one in every five rupee invested in Mutual Funds comes from cities beyond the top 110 cities contributing to MF assets."
Beyond the *top 110 cities.*
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
Had no idea that makhana ('fox nut'), touted as the next super-food, has to be harvested by manually picking seeds that settle down on waterbeds.
indianexpress.com/article/long...
indianexpress.com/article/long...
March 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Had no idea that makhana ('fox nut'), touted as the next super-food, has to be harvested by manually picking seeds that settle down on waterbeds.
indianexpress.com/article/long...
indianexpress.com/article/long...
Love this addition to the Arabian vs Persian Gulf debate pointing out that the original Arabian Gulf was... the Red Sea.
February 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Love this addition to the Arabian vs Persian Gulf debate pointing out that the original Arabian Gulf was... the Red Sea.
A series on Urban Informality in EPW edited by Anant Maringanti & Partha Mukhopadhyay:
"We begin with the premise that, contrary to the dominant discourse, informality is not an anomaly but a defining feature of urban life in the global South."
www.epw.in/journal/revi...
"We begin with the premise that, contrary to the dominant discourse, informality is not an anomaly but a defining feature of urban life in the global South."
www.epw.in/journal/revi...
February 25, 2025 at 8:49 AM
A series on Urban Informality in EPW edited by Anant Maringanti & Partha Mukhopadhyay:
"We begin with the premise that, contrary to the dominant discourse, informality is not an anomaly but a defining feature of urban life in the global South."
www.epw.in/journal/revi...
"We begin with the premise that, contrary to the dominant discourse, informality is not an anomaly but a defining feature of urban life in the global South."
www.epw.in/journal/revi...
EPW: "Surprisingly, it is the southern states that have registered the largest fall in the fiscal health rankings."
www.epw.in/journal/2025...
www.epw.in/journal/2025...
February 25, 2025 at 8:42 AM
EPW: "Surprisingly, it is the southern states that have registered the largest fall in the fiscal health rankings."
www.epw.in/journal/2025...
www.epw.in/journal/2025...
Indus Valley Report offers a nice primer/reminder for those not paying close attention on what India's consumer base actually looks like, particularly how 'India1' – most affluent, ~140 million people, eqv to 'Mexico' – is not widening, but deepening.
blume.vc/reports/indu...
blume.vc/reports/indu...
February 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Indus Valley Report offers a nice primer/reminder for those not paying close attention on what India's consumer base actually looks like, particularly how 'India1' – most affluent, ~140 million people, eqv to 'Mexico' – is not widening, but deepening.
blume.vc/reports/indu...
blume.vc/reports/indu...
From the Blume Ventures' Indus Valley Report:
India is the largest derivatives market in the world – mostly retail investors speculating, and 90% of them lose money. a
India is the largest derivatives market in the world – mostly retail investors speculating, and 90% of them lose money. a
February 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
From the Blume Ventures' Indus Valley Report:
India is the largest derivatives market in the world – mostly retail investors speculating, and 90% of them lose money. a
India is the largest derivatives market in the world – mostly retail investors speculating, and 90% of them lose money. a
The analysis probably has some truth to it, but still that quote is just asking to be memefied...
February 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The analysis probably has some truth to it, but still that quote is just asking to be memefied...
Some may know Irawati Karve for Yuganta, her remarkable essays on the Mahabharata. Others, for her pioneering work in anthropology.
In 'Iru', Urmilla Deshpande and @thiago-barbosa.bsky.social
sketch out a compelling portrait of Karve's achievements and complex legacy.
In 'Iru', Urmilla Deshpande and @thiago-barbosa.bsky.social
sketch out a compelling portrait of Karve's achievements and complex legacy.
February 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Some may know Irawati Karve for Yuganta, her remarkable essays on the Mahabharata. Others, for her pioneering work in anthropology.
In 'Iru', Urmilla Deshpande and @thiago-barbosa.bsky.social
sketch out a compelling portrait of Karve's achievements and complex legacy.
In 'Iru', Urmilla Deshpande and @thiago-barbosa.bsky.social
sketch out a compelling portrait of Karve's achievements and complex legacy.
Sitharaman: "*This* category of taxpayers is the one which is helping run the country..."
www.hindustantimes.com/business/nir...
www.hindustantimes.com/business/nir...
February 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Sitharaman: "*This* category of taxpayers is the one which is helping run the country..."
www.hindustantimes.com/business/nir...
www.hindustantimes.com/business/nir...
Absolutely fascinating to see this turn up as some sort of novel problem that government *just* realised might affect India's demand/consumption story...
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
December 12, 2024 at 7:37 AM
Absolutely fascinating to see this turn up as some sort of novel problem that government *just* realised might affect India's demand/consumption story...
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
indianexpress.com/article/busi...
December 11, 2024 at 7:44 AM
When we talk of 'cash handout' schemes in Indian politics, mustn't miss the actual cash handouts at election time.
From 'The Oligarchisation of India’s Democracy' by @wardb.bsky.social, Sarthak Bagchi and Vignesh Karthik KR in EPW.
www.epw.in/journal/2024...
From 'The Oligarchisation of India’s Democracy' by @wardb.bsky.social, Sarthak Bagchi and Vignesh Karthik KR in EPW.
www.epw.in/journal/2024...
December 8, 2024 at 3:02 PM
When we talk of 'cash handout' schemes in Indian politics, mustn't miss the actual cash handouts at election time.
From 'The Oligarchisation of India’s Democracy' by @wardb.bsky.social, Sarthak Bagchi and Vignesh Karthik KR in EPW.
www.epw.in/journal/2024...
From 'The Oligarchisation of India’s Democracy' by @wardb.bsky.social, Sarthak Bagchi and Vignesh Karthik KR in EPW.
www.epw.in/journal/2024...
"India is uniquely exposed to CBAM, both due to the volume of its exports to Europe, their carbon intensity and the fact that it does not yet apply a carbon price domestically."
@elisabettaco.bsky.social @aslak.bsky.social
mailings.cer.eu/publications...
@elisabettaco.bsky.social @aslak.bsky.social
mailings.cer.eu/publications...
December 4, 2024 at 12:28 PM
"India is uniquely exposed to CBAM, both due to the volume of its exports to Europe, their carbon intensity and the fact that it does not yet apply a carbon price domestically."
@elisabettaco.bsky.social @aslak.bsky.social
mailings.cer.eu/publications...
@elisabettaco.bsky.social @aslak.bsky.social
mailings.cer.eu/publications...
On a @casipenn.bsky.social Deep Dive, we speak to @joshuaehrlich.bsky.social about his fascinating book that examines how the East India Company thought about knowledge – and why he sees echoes with the discourse around Big Tech firms today.
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
November 26, 2024 at 8:24 AM
On a @casipenn.bsky.social Deep Dive, we speak to @joshuaehrlich.bsky.social about his fascinating book that examines how the East India Company thought about knowledge – and why he sees echoes with the discourse around Big Tech firms today.
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...
casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/rohan-ve...