It has become common in India for political candidates to promise regular cash handouts to women who fall under a certain income threshold. Of course, they have to win their elections first.

The cash handouts schemes have been the subject of increasing debate. Many are asking whether this is bribery, whether it is enough to live on, whether the government can afford it and whether it actually does anything to raise the political voice of women.

Rohan Venkat and Emily Tamkin discuss with Raksha Kumar, reporting fellow at Global Press Journal.

Raksha's Substack.

Raksha's website.

Raksha's Global Press Journal series.

Here are the Cycle Recommendations from this episode:

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/04/indian-students-shock-trump-international-study-visa
• You're a bunch of cowards! – Hamilton Nolan
• https://adamtooze.substack.com/p/chartbook-390-beyond-la-logics-of
• From the Reuters Institute on misinformation

Subscribe below to our contributors' Substacks:

• ET Write Home by Emily Tamkin
• India Inside Out by Rohan Venkat

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It's presented by Emily Tamkin and Rohan Venkat.

Executive Producer: Nick Hilton.

Producer: Ewan Cameron

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