Question Q3GS2GS2

Subsidies have morphed into a populist tool to achieve electoral objectives rather than developmental goals. Examine.

Open scan (p.5)

Answer

Main Body

Recently, Supreme Court has asked Centre to express its views on the use of freebies as an election-winning tool.

The use of subsidies offer before elections is getting rampant

offer of free bus-survice for a gender

free water, electricity bundle certain usage

free laptops for students etc.

This populist tool distracts from developmental goals, as

Inefficient use of limited State funds .

Distraction of electorate from the past purveyance of the government .

"A race for subsidies" - Where each party puts up a bigger subsidy than the other .

Criminalization of politics - As subsidies

provide access to money laundering, etc, entry of criminals in politics .

Parties get a free pass to lower their development targets in their manifesto by using freebies .

However, subsidies have a certain importance-

Huge inequality in India - Thus, the subsidies are necessary .

DPSPs ask the State to act as a welfare state .

lower out of pocket expenditure allows electorate to invest more on health and education, leading to more GDP of State .

Subsidies should not be used as a golden-ticket for winning elections. Gates: Rational categorizing of its beneficiaries, while also focusing on State development, should be the way forward.

214 words13 paragraphs

Conclusion

Subsidies should not be used as a golden-ticket for winning elections. Gates: Rational categorizing of its beneficiaries, while also focusing on State development, should be the way forward.

28 words

Examiner score

1.45/10

Open original scan

Page 5

Topper

GAURAV OJHA

AIR 2042025

Subject & Paper

GS2GS2

Topic

Salient Features of the Representation of People's Act

Corrupt Practices

Use of subsidies as electoral tool

Writing Stats

242

Total words

Paragraphs

critical and analytical

Tone