India, Feb. 23 -- The recent observations of the Supreme Court of India on the expanding culture of electoral giveaways revive a fundamental constitutional and economic question. How can a welfare state reconcile social justice with fiscal discipline? The apex court observed, "Most states. are revenue deficit, and yet they are offering such freebies."

It asked, "What kind of a culture are we developing?" In a country marked by structural inequality, redistributive policy is not optional. It flows from constitutional commitments to equality and economic justice.

The challenge arises when electoral competition converts budgetary policy into an escalating contest of untethered promises whose long-term fiscal implications are opaque. India'...