#ConclaveMumbai24: Unmissable P Chidambaram Interview On NPS, Reservations, Freebies

At the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2024, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram addressed key issues such as the New Pension Scheme (NPS), the reservation system, the 10% Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota, and the debate around freebies. Chidambaram defended the NPS, introduced by the Vajpayee government and maintained by Congress and the Modi administration for over two decades, calling an unfunded pension scheme a “fiscal disaster.” He criticized the push for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) by some states, arguing that a sustainable, funded pension system is essential for long-term economic stability. On reservations, Chidambaram called the EWS quota a dilution of the established system, noting that it undermines the original purpose of reservation policies. He also addressed the ongoing debate on political freebies, defending Congress's promises as researched and achievable while criticizing other parties for making hollow, impractical promises to win votes.