The paper, published by Center for the Advanced Study of India of the University of Pennsylvania, outlines India’s social welfare policy evolution from food security (Public Distribution System, Integrated Child Development Scheme) to diversified approaches like cash transfers (PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi) and health insurance (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, PM-Jan Arogya Yojana). Noting the widening inequality and economic deprivation in the country, Rahman’s paper, titled ‘ The Evolution of India’s Social Welfare Regime and Future Challenges ’, calls isolated welfare schemes in India a “band-aid” solution to the country’s multidimensional developmental challenges. He argues that social welfare programmes should be viewed...