India's Main Opposition Party Is Promising a Basic Income for the Poor. Can It Work?

On Monday, the man leading India's main opposition announced that his party would guarantee every poor person in India a minimum income if it wins elections scheduled for this spring.

Rahul Gandhi’s surprise promise was welcomed by supporters of Universal Basic Income (UBI), a radical policy proposal that has been gaining ground in recent years. Under UBI, a government gives a fixed amount of cash, without strings attached, to every person in society.

On Monday, the man leading India's main opposition announced that his party would guarantee every poor person in India a minimum income if it wins elections scheduled for this spring. Rahul Gandhi’s surprise promise was welcomed by supporters of Universal Basic Income (UBI), a radical policy proposal that has been gaining ground in recent years. Under UBI, a government gives a fixed amount of cash, without strings attached, to every person in society.