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Chakravyuh with Gaurav Sawant is India Today Group’s sharp new podcast that cuts through the fog of war and diplomacy. Join veteran war correspondent and one of India’s most trusted...
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Chakravyuh with Gaurav Sawant is India Today Group’s sharp new podcast that cuts through the fog of war and diplomacy. Join veteran war correspondent and one of India’s most trusted voices in defence journalism, Gaurav Sawant, as he dives deep into the world of national security, strategy, and geopolitics. With exclusive insights, high-stakes analysis, and frontline access, Chakravyuh brings you the untold stories behind India’s biggest defence and strategic moves. If it matters to India’s security—you’ll hear it here first.
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Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
Transcribed
28 SEP 2026 · Ten years after the Uri terror attack, Chakravyuh looks back at the events that led to India’s 2016 surgical strikes in Pakistan. Host Gaurav Sawant speaks to Lieutenant General Satish Dua (Retd.), Former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and the then Kashmir Corps Commander, about the September 18, 2016 attack, the loss of 18 Indian soldiers and the decisions that followed.
Lt Gen Satish Dua recalls receiving the first information about the attack, reaching Uri after the four terrorists had been eliminated and dealing with the scale of the casualties. He speaks about the security gaps at the garrison, the presence of two battalions during a relief process and the immediate challenge of securing the area and transporting the mortal remains.
He also recounts how the idea of a major cross-LoC operation emerged during discussions with then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D.S. Hooda. Dua explains why the 2016 operation was different in scale and depth from earlier raids, how multiple locations were targeted and why the operation was coordinated alongside diplomatic efforts.
The conversation also examines how the 2016 strikes influenced the thinking around subsequent operations, including Balakot and later military responses.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
Transcribed
25 SEP 2026 · Can the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine develop into a much wider global crisis? In this episode of Chakravyuh, host Gaurav Sawant speaks with Dr. John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist at the Gulf Research Center, for a detailed look at the wars, economic pressures and strategic risks shaping the region.
The episode examines the continuing conflict involving Iran and the US, the growing pressure around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandab, and the consequences for Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf. Sfakianakis discusses the possibility of continued escalation, the role of regional proxies and the challenges facing the US as it tries to maintain security and freedom of navigation.
The conversation also looks at whether Gulf countries can build a more integrated security system, how the crisis could affect Saudi Vision 2030, and whether a future regional security architecture could emerge from the current turmoil.
From IMEC and global trade routes to oil, fertilisers, inflation and Europe's energy security, this episode asks what prolonged wars could mean for the world — and what happens when critical choke points come under sustained pressure.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti
Transcribed
17 SEP 2026 · On this special episode of the Chakravyuh podcast, Gaurav Sawant speaks with Hanuman Ansh director Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi about the film's extraordinary theatrical journey.
From a reported ₹2 crore production budget and a modest opening day to ₹231 crore-plus in India net collections, Chaturvedi explains how promotions helped bring audiences in initially, while word of mouth eventually drove the film's growth. He also shares stories from the making of Hanuman Aansh, his spiritual experiences, his connection with Neem Karoli Baba and the role of Hanuman devotion in inspiring the project.
The discussion also looks at family audiences, storytelling without vulgarity or divisiveness, the challenges of taking spiritual stories to modern audiences and Chaturvedi's upcoming project on Tulsidas.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti
Transcribed
14 AUG 2026 · On this Independence Day special episode of Chakravyuh, host Gaurav Sawant speaks with former Chief of Air Staff RKS Bhadauria about India's quest for defence self-reliance. They examine India's dependence on foreign weapons and fighter engines, the unfinished Kaveri engine programme, and why technological sovereignty is essential for future wars. The discussion also explores whether buying foreign fifth-generation fighters such as the Su-57 could undermine the indigenous AMCA programme, and how India can build a stronger ecosystem around drones, AI, missiles and indigenous defence technology.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
Transcribed
2 JUL 2026 · In this episode of the Chakravyuh podcast, host Gaurav Sawant speaks with Congress MP and strategic affairs commentator Manish Tewari on the growing debate over resuming dialogue with Pakistan. The discussion comes in the backdrop of an open letter signed by 117 eminent personalities from India and Pakistan calling for the restoration of diplomatic engagement, trade, people-to-people contact and broader normalisation of ties between the two neighbours.
Questioning the timing of such appeals, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Tewari argues that every attempt at engagement with Islamabad has been met with another act of terror against India. He contends that there can be no meaningful dialogue until Pakistan dismantles its terror infrastructure in a verifiable manner and explains why he believes India must first decide what it truly seeks from Pakistan.
Is it time to reopen channels with Islamabad or has history shown that terror and talks cannot go together?
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
Transcribed
11 JUN 2026 · In this episode of the Chakravyuh podcast, host Gaurav Sawant speaks with Admiral DK Joshi, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency and former Chief of Naval Staff, about the Great Nicobar Island Project.
Joshi explains why the project is strategically vital for India, highlighting its location near key maritime choke points and its potential to strengthen India's position in the Indo-Pacific. He addresses criticism surrounding environmental concerns, tribal displacement and forest diversion, arguing that safeguards are in place and no indigenous communities will be displaced.
The discussion also explores transshipment opportunities, tourism, scuba diving, maritime trade and India's long-term strategic vision for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Aman Pal
Transcribed
14 MAY 2026 · In this episode of Chakravyuh, host Gaurav Sawant speaks with former Indian Air Force chief R. K. S. Bhadauria on how Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire within 88 hours. The discussion breaks down India’s unprecedented strikes on terror hubs like Bahawalpur and Muridke, the role of Rafales, S-400 systems, drones, and precision weapons, and how India punched through Pakistan’s air defence network under a nuclear overhang. From Balakot to Operation Sindoor, the conversation explores India’s evolving military doctrine, escalation control, indigenous defence capability, and the future of warfare against Pakistan-China collusion.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Aman Pal
Transcribed
7 MAY 2026 · In this episode of the Chakravyuh podcast, Gaurav Sawant speaks with the Deputy Commander of the Netherlands Navy, Major General Rob De Vitt on rising global maritime tensions as the Strait of Hormuz remains choked amid the Iran conflict.
The discussion explores how navies from over 40 nations, including India and the Netherlands, are preparing to secure vital sea lanes of communication once a ceasefire is in place.
From mine-clearance operations and drone threats to Indo-Pacific deployments and India-Netherlands strategic cooperation, the conversation examines the future of naval warfare, freedom of navigation, unmanned systems, and the growing importance of maritime partnerships in an increasingly unstable world.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti
Transcribed
9 APR 2026 · In this episode of Chakravyuh, Gaurav Sawant speaks with Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar on the fragile ceasefire in West Asia after weeks of conflict. While tensions with Iran ease temporarily, Azar makes it clear that the front remains active, stating that “operations against Hezbollah will continue” in Lebanon. He outlines plans to neutralise threats and maintain a buffer along the northern border, signalling no pause in military action there. They also explore shifting regional dynamics, ceasefire uncertainties, and whether diplomacy can hold amid continued strikes and rising tensions.
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Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
Transcribed
2 APR 2026 · In this episode of Chakravyuh, Gaurav Sawant speaks with Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy on the escalating West Asia conflict and its impact on maritime security. Swaminathan explains how disruptions in key choke points like the Strait of Hormuz are threatening global trade and India’s energy lifelines. He says India’s heavy dependence on sea-borne imports makes maritime security critical, with the Navy actively escorting tankers and maintaining surveillance. He also highlights lessons from the conflict, stressing the need for stronger naval capabilities and long-term strategic preparedness.
Tune In!
Produced by Areeb Raza
Sound mixed by Aman Pal
Chakravyuh with Gaurav Sawant is India Today Group’s sharp new podcast that cuts through the fog of war and diplomacy. Join veteran war correspondent and one of India’s most trusted...
show more
Chakravyuh with Gaurav Sawant is India Today Group’s sharp new podcast that cuts through the fog of war and diplomacy. Join veteran war correspondent and one of India’s most trusted voices in defence journalism, Gaurav Sawant, as he dives deep into the world of national security, strategy, and geopolitics. With exclusive insights, high-stakes analysis, and frontline access, Chakravyuh brings you the untold stories behind India’s biggest defence and strategic moves. If it matters to India’s security—you’ll hear it here first.
show less
Information
| Author | India Today Podcast |
| Organization | Aaj Tak (India) |
| Categories | Daily News |
| Website | podcasts.indiatoday.in |
| sunil.kumar2@aajtak.com |
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