India’s electoral politics has entered a phase where welfare and populism have fused so tightly that it is increasingly difficult to distinguish social protection from strategic inducement. The just-concluded Bihar elections offer the clearest evidence yet. The ruling alliance’s Rs 10,000 cash transfer to women ~ credited directly into over one crore bank accounts ~ effectively reshaped the political landscape. The scheme’s estimated cost, reportedly exceeding Rs 12,000 crore, was justified as empowerment.

But the timing, scale, and electoral impact left little doubt that it was also designed as a decisive political instrument. On top of this, Bihar’s broader package of pre-poll promises ~ including free electricity, enhanced pensions, and youth support schemes ~ pushed the total estimated outlay to roughly Rs 33,000 crore. For India’s poorest state, already grappling with a high debt load and a widening fiscal deficit, this was a........

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