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Artificial Intelligence has moved from research labs into every corner of our lives—shaping economies, transforming warfare, and raising profound questions about what it means to be human. For some, AI promises extraordinary leaps in productivity, creativity, and problem-solving. For others, it evokes fears of surveillance, disinformation, and geopolitical arms races. But beyond the hype, what actually counts as “intelligence” in these machines? Are today’s Large Language Models truly thinking, or are they just sophisticated mimics of human communication? Professor Robert C. Berwick of MIT joins Dr. Arghya Sengupta on the latest episode of Justify. Together, they step back from the daily headlines to ask: ➤ What is intelligence? ➤ How should we understand AI in relation to human cognition? ➤ And what futures—utopian or dystopian—might emerge as states and societies navigate this frontier in the international arena? #podcast #artificialintelligence #ai #legalpodcast

From the battlefront to the courtroom, the fight for gender equality in the Indian Army has been as much about shifting mindsets as changing policy. In 1992, women joined the Army through the Women Special Entry Scheme — short service tenures, no pathway to a Permanent Commission. Nearly three decades later, the Supreme Court in Babita Puniya marked a constitutional breakthrough, holding that physiological features and stereotypes about motherhood have no place in determining a woman’s entitlement to serve. But the battle didn’t end there... Dr. Arghya Sengupta is joined by Sr. Advocate Meenakshi Arora, who represented the petitioners in Nitisha, to explore the constitutional, institutional, and human dimensions of this struggle. Tune in 🎧 #genderequality #indianairforce #indianarmy #operationsindoor #womenempowerment #policyexplained #podcast

International law is often seen as an elite, inaccessible career path—limited to foreign policy professionals or top diplomats. But with globalization, transnational disputes, climate negotiations, and international arbitration gaining ground, the field is far more accessible than imagined. To help us demystify what it takes to build a career in this field, Dr. Arghya Sengupta is joined by Dr. Rukmini Das, an academic with a focus on international commercial and investment arbitration. Her career path is a model for young Indian lawyers navigating both academia and practice in global legal spaces. Together, we ask: What are the academic and professional pathways into international law? What skills, networks, and mindsets help? And how can we develop stronger pipelines from Indian law schools to international legal institutions? #legalcareer #lawstudents #internationallaw #careersuccess #academia

While the Nuremberg trials echo widely in our collective pasts, much fewer remember its lesser-known twin, the Tokyo Trials. Even fewer still recall the lone voice of dissent that emerged from them: Justice Radhabinod Pal. His judgment at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was radical, scathing, and - depending on who you ask - either deeply principled or dangerously flawed. In post-war Japan, he’s a hero. In the West, his legal reasoning has been picked apart for decades. And yet, Pal’s dissent continues to echo—raising urgent questions about how we write the history of justice, who gets to decide what counts as a war crime, and whether international law has ever really escaped its colonial roots. Joining us this episode is Partha Chatterjee - acclaimed anthropologist, historian of the empire, and author of ‘I Am the People’ - to explore what Pal’s dissent tells us about the global South’s search for sovereignty in a world shaped by imperial legality. #Justify #Podcast #LegalPodcast #Imperialism #Law #LawStudents #colonialresistance

The battlefield is no longer shaped by the contours of its geography, but by data, algorithms and drones. But as India races to modernise its defence ecosystem, how prepared is it to navigate the strategic, ethical, and diplomatic challenges that AI brings? In the seventh episode of Justify season five, Dr. Arghya Sengupta is joined by Dr. Arun Sukumar, a leading voice on international cyber governance and the politics of emerging technologies. This episode explores the tension between India’s ethical caution and technological ambition. What does sovereignty mean in the age of algorithmic warfare? Is precision deterrence a smarter way to fight, or just a cleaner way to escalate? Tune in to find out. #AI #operationsindoor #tech #aiinnovation #policy #techpolicy

In the 20th century, borders were built with barbed wire and brick walls. In the 21st, they’re drawn in code. In the sixth episode of #justify season five, Dr. Arghya Sengupta is joined by Dr. Neha Mishra to explore how states are reasserting greater control over digital infrastructure and data flows. ➤ Can traditional legal frameworks keep up with the realities of digital trade, surveillance, and data governance? ➤ When does data protection become censorship? ➤ Is “digital colonialism” a myth or a mounting geopolitical reality? 🎧 Tune in as we unpack the legal architecture, and contradictions, of the international digital landscape. #DigitalSovereignty #DataGovernance #InternationalLaw #Cyberlaw #JustifyPodcast #DataColonialism

The global trading system is in flux, institutions like the World Trade Organisation (WTO), once the cornerstone of a rules based trade law regime, are now in a state of paralysis. Can India leverage its expertise to lead in reforming global trade governance, or will it continue to remain a follower? And what of the future of the global trade regime? Join Dr. Arghya Sengupta, in conversation with Mr. James Nedumpura, Head of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce, to answer these pertinent questions.

Since its first nuclear test in 1974, India has walked a fine line — committed to disarmament, yet outside the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In this episode, Dr. Arghya Sengupta and Ambassador Rakesh Sood unpack India’s nuclear doctrine, its “no first use” policy, and the complex geopolitics of deterrence, disarmament, and legitimacy. Can a country outside the global non-proliferation regime shape its rules? #NuclearPolicy #IndiaForeignPolicy #Disarmament #Geopolitics #Podcast

India as a Norm Maker in International Law - Justify Season 5 Episode 3 by

Is Water Still a Bridge—or Becoming a Weapon? The Indus Waters Treaty has survived wars and decades of mistrust. But with climate shocks, development pressures, and India's recent decision to keep the treaty in abeyance, the future of this historic agreement is at a crossroads. Join Arghya Sengupta in conversation with Dr. Daniel Haines, author of Rivers Divided and Associate Professor at UCL, as they unpack: - The origins and evolution of the IWT - Water as a strategic tool in India–Pakistan relations - What a reimagined water treaty could look like in an age of climate risk and regional realignment

On May 7th, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the brutal attack in Pahalgam. But beyond the battlefield, another fight began — in global capitals, diplomatic meetings, and legal forums. Yet, despite the headlines, no one’s asking: Where does India stand in the realm of international law?

The fourth episode of Vidhi Maharashtra's "Up the Ante, Mumbai" series focused on open spaces in Mumbai. We discussed the current state of open spaces in the city along with the laws and policies that impact open spaces with Ms. Nayana Kathpalia. We also dove into the BMC’s open space policies till date and the role of public participation in protecting open spaces.

A Great Cases discussion on Common Cause v Union of India, in which the Supreme Court of India recognised the right to die with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution and gave legal recognition to advance medical directives. In 2024, the Supreme Court also released orders to simplify the process for executing the advance medical directives. This panel discussion was hosted as a part of the Great Cases series under Vidhi's collaboration with the India International Centre on The Working of the Indian Constitution. The discussion focused on the legal journey that brought us to this landmark inflection point, how the medical and legal communities can better understand one another, and the broader legal, ethical, medical and societal issues surrounding end-of-life care. The event featured a panel discussion with Dr. R.K. Mani (Chairman, Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital), Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar (Professor & Head Department of Onco-Ansesthesia,Pain and Palliative care, AIIMS, New Delhi), and Parth Sharma (Community physician and Public health researcher). Dr. Dhvani Mehta, Co-Founder and Lead, Health, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy moderated the discussion.

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy in collaboration with India International Centre hosted ‘The Great Cases of CJI DY Chandrachud: An Appraisal of His Judicial Legacy’ as Justice Chandrachud concludes his tenure as the Chief Justice of the country. The session focused on the seminal judgements that Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud has been a part of in his role as the Chief Justice of India to look at his judicial legacy and the impact his work has had on the working of the Indian Constitution. The event featured Justice (retd.) R.C. Chavan, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran, and Maja Daruwala, Chief Editor of the India Justice Report, in conversation with Dr. Arghya Sengupta, Founder & Research Director, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

Vidhi, in collaboration with the India International Centre, is hosting ‘The Working of the Indian Constitution: Stories and Scholarship’. The 5th episode focuses on Bail in High Profile cases, with the recent Arvind Kejriwal case as the kickstarter. The discussion was held between Sidharth Luthra, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Arghya Sengupta, Founder and Research Director, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.