What's a freebie? Experts dissect basic definition amid SC hearings

'Strain on exchequer arising from sops to industry, bad loan waivers, etc., must be discussed'

The current debate over ‘freebies’, sparked by the hearings in the Supreme Court, has taken a pedantic turn, with public finance experts and economists raising doubts over whether an accurate definition can be arrived at.

Experts and serving government officials who spoke to Business Standard (the latter on condition of anonymity) say while announcing and implementing schemes before elections or at any other time is the prerogative of the political executive, there is a need to further improve public finances in Centre and states by weeding out inefficiencies, bogus beneficiaries and cutting down programmes that don’t serve their stated purpose.