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Saturday, January 3, 2026
TopicFreebies

Topic: Freebies

‘Old Pension Scheme, freebies alone can’t win polls,’ says senior Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty

The Congress has made the return of OPS a poll plank in six assembly elections. But Chakravarty says the party ‘can’t engage in competitive promises & hope that's enough to win’.

Files piling up, staff overstretched — Karnataka govt depts at half capacity as posts lie vacant

There are over 2.55 lakh vacancies in Group A-D & other categories in state & districts, as per govt estimates. Shortage is not limited to Grade A-D & can also be seen at IAS level.

As Sukhu govt turns 1, heat from BJP & Congress for not delivering on poll promise to Himachal women

There are more than 22 lakh women in Himachal as per the 2011 Census. Task becomes all the more daunting as hill state suffered loss of Rs 9,000 crore due to rains in July-August.

Modi government extends free food grain scheme for another five years

PM Garib Kalyan Yojana was launched during Covid pandemic & entitles ration card holders to receive additional five kg of wheat or rice.

Electricity, scooters, laptops — Rajasthan voters debate ‘freebies’ as they head to polling booths

Both incumbent Congress & its main rival BJP are offering host of freebies. Some voters have welcomed the move, others say it is only aimed at elections.

Call it revadi or welfare scheme, pre-poll promises are draining state exchequer

While the courts and media come down heavily on this culture, political parties continue to announce freebies. They do this under the pretext of promising a ‘welfare state’.

BJP’s Rajasthan manifesto: Anti-Romeo squads, ‘freebies’ & wheat procurement at ‘bonus’ prices

In its ‘Sankalp Patra’ for Rajasthan, BJP commits to develop Jaipur as ‘Smart City’, increase pensions for elderly & specially-abled and ensure MSP for millets.

Free power to cheaper LPG, it’s ‘freebie’ season in MP. But Congress hits brakes, flags deficit

Madhya Pradesh BJP has put its eggs in Ladli Behana Yojana basket, while Congress is waiting for Model Code of Conduct to 'handcuff' Shivraj govt before it opens its 'chest' of promises.

Indian freebies are working. But it’s not reducing poverty, only making people spend less

Subsidies are here to stay. Worryingly, subsidy expenditure will likely increase as Indian politicians try to meet a wider set of aspirations through more diverse freebies.

Freebie culture may garner electoral triumphs, but India can hardly sustain resulting public debt

Next round of state elections will see more welfare promises. However, these freebies may be offered at the cost of investment in infrastructure required for a modernising economy.

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.