India's politicians are dishing out election freebies - but are they affordable?

Indian politicians are offering election freebies to voters, with cash transfers becoming popular, especially targeted at women. These handouts range from television sets to gold ornaments, blurring lines between welfare economics and pre-poll populism. However, such strategies are raising concerns about affordability, with states like Bihar facing considerable fiscal pressure due to excessive spending on pre-election schemes. The rise in subsidies is straining state finances, with the need for targeted subsidies to combat unsustainable election-driven expenditure becoming increasingly apparent.