Congress is fond of entitlement schemes such as NREGA, which promises 100 days of paid work a year for every rural household.

ECONOMIST: The economy

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), extended to every rural district in April 2008, is supposed to offer 100 days of work a year, at the minimum wage, to every rural household that needs it.

ECONOMIST: Asia

The NREGA scheme creates low-paid make-work jobs.

ECONOMIST: Cities