Freebies Debate

In a serious departure from political precedence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's vote-on-account this year has steered clear of populism. Is the country finally debating the feasibility of electoral freebies?

Voters have "a right to know from where (the money for) freebies (will) come", the Election Commission said Monday morning as it announced dates for the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram Assembly elections.

Home Minister Amit Shah today took a swipe at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal as the Delhi Chief Minister continues his campaign to strengthen the AAP in Gujarat, where the BJP is in power. The Gujarat elections is scheduled later this year.

Poorly-directed freebies may wreak havoc with state finances and have adverse consequences on the economy, as in the case of Sri Lanka, experts say

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there must be a "debate" on the "serious" issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies and asked why cannot the centre call for an all-party meeting on it.

Court says nothing can happen until and unless there is a unanimous decision among political parties as they make promises in elections

In June, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a report raised alarm over the deteriorating fiscal condition of state governments caused by rising expenditure on what they termed 'freebies'.

Former Chief Economic advisor Arvind Subramanian today joined the debate on "freebies", saying deciding what's a freebie and what's not from the outside is a "mug's game".

Promises alone aren't the basis of parties being elected, court says, in latest hearing of petition that demands bar on seeking votes for "freebies"

Why were bank loans worth Rs 5.8 lakh crore written off and why was corporate tax worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore reduced, the Congress asked on Friday while attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks about ending the freebie culture

The debate about freebies started after Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party won a massive mandate in Punjab with the Delhi model of governance, which has given them two consecutive terms in power.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman has demanded a debate on the distribution of freebies, countering Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that the Central government only distributes largesse among its friends in the corporate world.

In a serious departure from political precedence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's vote-on-account this year has steered clear of populism. Is the country finally debating the feasibility of electoral freebies?

Voters have "a right to know from where (the money for) freebies (will) come", the Election Commission said Monday morning as it announced dates for the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram Assembly elections.

Home Minister Amit Shah today took a swipe at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal as the Delhi Chief Minister continues his campaign to strengthen the AAP in Gujarat, where the BJP is in power. The Gujarat elections is scheduled later this year.

Poorly-directed freebies may wreak havoc with state finances and have adverse consequences on the economy, as in the case of Sri Lanka, experts say

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there must be a "debate" on the "serious" issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies and asked why cannot the centre call for an all-party meeting on it.

Court says nothing can happen until and unless there is a unanimous decision among political parties as they make promises in elections

In June, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a report raised alarm over the deteriorating fiscal condition of state governments caused by rising expenditure on what they termed 'freebies'.

Former Chief Economic advisor Arvind Subramanian today joined the debate on "freebies", saying deciding what's a freebie and what's not from the outside is a "mug's game".

Promises alone aren't the basis of parties being elected, court says, in latest hearing of petition that demands bar on seeking votes for "freebies"

Why were bank loans worth Rs 5.8 lakh crore written off and why was corporate tax worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore reduced, the Congress asked on Friday while attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks about ending the freebie culture

The debate about freebies started after Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party won a massive mandate in Punjab with the Delhi model of governance, which has given them two consecutive terms in power.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman has demanded a debate on the distribution of freebies, countering Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that the Central government only distributes largesse among its friends in the corporate world.