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Friday, April 17, 2026
TopicFreebies

Topic: Freebies

UCC in 6 months, free bus rides & Rs 3,000 aid for women. Amit Shah unveils BJP Bengal manifesto

Ahead of the West Bengal elections on 23 April and 29 April, the BJP announced financial aid for different sections, such as women, unemployed youth & fishermen.

Competing schemes, stressed budget: Tamil Nadu parties go all out to woo voters, critics slam ‘freebies’

Chennai: The Dravidian leaders prefer to call them as ‘social investments’, or ‘personalised gifts’. But a familiar sight is back in poll: Dravida Munnetra...

Rahul Gandhi wants to jail Himanta Sarma but Congress has a Bihar-sized problem in Assam

The Congress has promised Rs 50,000 assistance to each woman but as we've seen in many recent elections, voters seem to be conscious of the proverb: 'A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.'

Iran Embassy thanking only Kashmiris for donating money is deliberately mischievous

ThePrint view on the most important issues.

AAP adds tadka to Akali atta-dal populist recipe with rebrand, new ingredients. ‘But where’s the money’

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is hoping Meri Rasoi food scheme will help AAP retain power next year. But economists warn that it may strain Punjab’s already stretched finances.

What is the structural problem behind India’s high interest rates

The Union government’s fiscal discipline has not been matched by state fiscal discipline, thanks to the tendency to promise unconditional freebies to the electorate.

This is how cash transfers are being discussed by global scholars

Dismissing unconditional cash transfers through the parochial logic of ‘unearned assistance is undeserving’ narrows the space for policy innovation and restricts possibilities for social mobility.

Polls, populism & the pinch: Tightrope walk for NDA as debts weigh down Bihar economy

In 2025-26, Bihar is estimated to spend Rs 1,08,094 cr on committed expenditure, which is 42% of its estimated revenue receipts. This offers little scope for spending on development.

Welfare or vote-bait? Unpacking the economics of India’s freebie culture

Freebie has become an integral part of our culture; it is like adulterating milk – just improving the quantity with quality remaining sluggish.

On Camera

The Delimitation Dilemma—What Southern politicians should be bargaining for

Instead of fighting the inevitable population shift, southern leaders should seek to integrate migrants and preserve their local influence.

Indian LNG importers accelerate spot market purchases as prices dip

The purchases mark a turnaround after Indian buyers had earlier limited spot buying and canceled tenders because offers were too expensive.

Why Siliguri Corridor is strategically important for India & how it is being secured | Cut The Clutter

This special edition of Cut The Clutter, straight from the Siliguri corridor, details the strategic importance of the narrow strip of land in West Bengal, and how it’s a vital link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India.

The world’s in a flux. India must reform, consolidate & build a strong economy

We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pakistan sees as its moment in the sun.