At the India Today Conclave, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis speaks on the rising trend of direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes across states. From Bihar’s one-time ₹10,000 payouts to women, to Maharashtra balancing welfare with fiscal health, he explains how such schemes impact both politics and the economy. Fadnavis highlights that while DBT meets people’s aspirations in a democracy, it also creates challenges for state finances and flexibility. With elections around the corner, are freebies just political tools, or do they truly boost economic rotation? Should states scale back if FDI inflows weaken?

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