India Edition

India’s Multi-Billion Dollar Election Freebies Are a Buffer and Burden

Half of India’s states now provide cash transfers
Women voters stand in line at a polling station for national elections in Delhi in May 2024.Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg

Welcome to India Edition, Bloomberg’s daily dive into what’s moving the worlds of business, markets and politics in this dynamic, fast-paced economy. I’m Menaka Doshi. If you didn’t receive this directly in your inbox, you can subscribe here, and share feedback with us here.

Today, I look at a new buffer for India’s household consumption and my colleague Sudhi Ranjan Sen gives you a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s very busy diplomatic schedule this month.