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Saturday, January 3, 2026
TopicFreebies

Topic: Freebies

Dashing through the snow, in a freebie-laden sleigh & packaged food for thought

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

SubscriberWrites: Electoral optics and economy

Political parties must learn to differentiate between welfare schemes and freebies; while welfare schemes positively impact lives, non-merit freebies are not a fair practice.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand results show freebie strategy works. How this may impact states’ finances

While economists warn politicians against making excessive promises, they acknowledge the value of welfare schemes—provided states remain within their financial limits.

More aid for women, houses for ‘sons of soil’. Mahayuti, MVA neck and neck in battle of the freebies

While MVA released joint card of poll guarantees Wednesday, ruling alliance unveiled its 10-point guarantee list a day earlier. Women, youths, farmers, all find place in manifestos.

Modi slams Congress for ‘unreal promises’ after Kharge’s rebuke to Karnataka leaders over guarantees

Development trajectory and fiscal health of states like Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana was deteriorating on account of its guarantee brand of politics, adds PM.

Indian politics is going back to the pre-2014 era. What this means to Brand Modi and BJP

BJP may even end up winning Maharashtra and Jharkhand but going back to pre-2014 politics will hurt Brand Modi.

Modi’s ‘Billionaire Raj’ is making India more unequal. So, freebies are a necessity

The appetite for government benefits has surged in recent years. The genius of Modi’s con job lies in driving the bottom of the pyramid further into distress.

Bad economics of freebies is triggering financial crises for some states. Fiscal discipline is key

Freebies promised during polls, subsidies, swelling wage & pension bills are adding to the debt pile of states like Himachal Pradesh & Punjab. Revenue expenditure rationalisation can help.

‘Welfarism not a substitute for job creation’ — TeamLease vice-chairman on India’s fiscal planning

TeamLease’s Manish Sabharwal spoke to ThePrint about how political leaders, for the sake of winning elections, make big welfare-related promises without a proper plan to fund them.

Punjab to Andhra to Telangana—state govts’ spending on freebies harming India’s growth story

It’s unfortunate that the increase in the overall debt due to irresponsible freebies is causing the downgrade in ratings by international agencies.

On Camera

Savitribai Phule made space for radical women misfits. She pioneered Satyashodhak modernity

The distinctiveness of her writing is evident in her compositions—women, shudras, and atishudras are at the center. Her poetry challenges the aesthetics of 'modern' Marathi literature.

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.