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Friday, March 27, 2026
TopicFreebies

Topic: Freebies

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.

BJP govt in Delhi will have to deal with an impending revenue deficit. The promised freebies won’t help

Delhi has historically been in revenue surplus, but last 2 years have seen a deceleration. Subsidies & cash transfers may escalate the deficit, unless accompanied by a hike in revenues.

SubscriberWrites: India’s electoral democracy caught in cobweb of freebies & cash transfer

The focus on freebies and cash transfers has led to policy paralysis, as parties prioritize short-term electoral gains over long-term policy planning.

SubscriberWrites: Slogans, Promises and Freebies

The balance between aspirations and reality in modern India.

On Camera

Mo Salah changed Liverpool beyond football. Hate crimes dropped by 19% after he joined

In a city like Liverpool, Salah became something more than a footballer. 'Salah became so popular that most of the babies born in Merseyside were named after him.'

Centre cuts excise duty by Rs 10/litre to absorb global oil shock, levies export tax to steady supply

Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman & Hardeep Puri say govt effort meant to shield consumers from oil shock. Nayara Energy had raised pump prices Thursday

India’s fourth S-400 system ready in Russia, undergoing final testing before delivery

The system was to delivered in March but will now reach the Indian shores by May, or June. The fifth S-400 will be delivered in the last quarter of this year.

The Vishwaguru delusion, mine vs yours, is ruining our view of the world

One side thinks India is punching way above its weight. The other thinks Modi has undermined India and it punches below its strength. Both are wrong.