CEA Arvind Subramanian, NITI Aayog member differ on UBI implementation

Bibek Debroy spoke in favour of conversion of certain existing subsidies into the scheme

Two of the government’s top economists took opposite views on how the Universal Basic Income (UBI) for the poor should be implemented. Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said the UBI should not be an add-on to existing subsidies and social programmes; NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy said it should be implemented additionally to existing schemes.

These views were made at a day-long event on the UBI in New Delhi on Monday. While Debroy spoke at a session in the morning, Subramanian had to skip the event because of work in the finance ministry. His slideshow on the topic was presented