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Saturday, February 21, 2026
TopicFree electricity

Topic: free electricity

Free electricity to pensions, welfarism race in poll-bound Bihar as Nitish & Tejashwi vie for credit

Soon after CM announces that every household will get 125 units of power free of cost every month, RJD gives credit to Tejashwi Yadav. But, tug of war goes beyond free electricity.

News of the day: 17 July, 2025

ThePrint’s round-up of the major news events from India.

What’s the true cost of free electricity to states? Just look at Tamil Nadu

Many states dedicate a large portion of their subsidies to free electricity, but the true financial burden doesn’t show up in budget documents.

Did a Congress poll promise drive up Karnataka’s power demand? Why ‘surplus’ state has to buy power

Karnataka is facing a power, shortage, with state govt blaming poor monsoons and 'lack of capacity building'. But it comes in a year when the govt rolled out its free power scheme.

As parties across states woo voters with lure of free power, Nitish gives it a thumbs down

Bihar CM instead bats for one nation, one tariff policy for all states to purchase power. Govt is already providing subsidy to people, he asserts.

How AAP govt can rationalise free electricity, reduce subsidy burden, and keep poll promise

Over 80 per cent households benefit from the generous power subsidy in Delhi, including many middle and higher income households.

Looking to save costs, Punjab’s AAP govt deliberates on excluding big farmers from power subsidy

Having promised 300 units of free electricity to every household, the Bhagwant Mann government is learnt to be looking at ways to free up some funds.

AAP’s promises of free power & aid to women could cost debt-ridden Punjab Rs 20,600 cr/year

Punjab officials & experts say giving 300 units of electricity free & providing Rs 1,000/month to each woman a big challenge, given existing debt burden of Rs 2.82 lakh crore.

Will Arvind Kejriwal’s freebie shower work in the Modi era?

Six months before the assembly elections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced free electricity up to 200 units every month for consumers.

On Camera

Why legal provisions are necessary to curb the power of trade unions: MH Mody

The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.