India's Emerging Welfare Stack

What if the future of welfare is not about designing better schemes—but about trusting people more? For decades, India's welfare architecture has evolved through an expanding network of subsidies, entitlements, and targeted programs. Yet as social challenges become more complex and citizens' needs more dynamic, a fundamental question emerges: Should governments continue deciding what people need, or should people have greater agency in deciding for themselves? In this session from Mission Billion Summit 2026 by Change Engine, policy experts, researchers, and social sector leaders explore the future of welfare in India—from rights-based programs and public service delivery to the rise of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) and cash transfers as tools for social protection. At its heart, the conversation is about something deeper than welfare design: *how societies create security, dignity, and opportunity for those navigating uncertainty, vulnerability, and economic stress.* Speakers: • Susan Thomas, Senior Research Fellow & Co-founder, XKDR Forum • Varun Aggarwal, Founder, Change Engine • Pankhuri Shah, Founder, Project DEEP (Moderator) Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction & Panelist Introductions 02:27 Defining Welfare: Objectives of the Modern Welfare State 03:26 Evolution of India's Welfare System & DBT 05:25 Welfare as Redistribution: Who Are the Beneficiaries? 16:12 Cash Transfers: Potential, Risks & Design Principles 21:30 Karnataka Case Study: Evidence from Gruha Lakshmi 29:01 Outcomes Debate: Tied vs. Untied Cash & Measurement 37:12 Fiscal Prudence & The Case for a Welfare Policy 42:34 Audience Q&A 52:49 Gender, Agency & Intra-Household Decision Making 56:42 Closing Remarks & Key Takeaways The discussion draws on emerging evidence from India and around the world, revealing a powerful insight: when households receive reliable support, they often prioritize needs that outsiders cannot easily see—paying off debt, reducing financial stress, caring for family members, or creating a sense of stability that allows them to plan for the future. These choices may not always align with the stated objectives of a scheme, but they raise an important question: Do people need more programs—or do they need more freedom to decide what is best for their own lives? The panel also explores the promise and limitations of cash transfers, the challenge of managing thousands of overlapping welfare schemes, and the need for a more coherent welfare framework that focuses on outcomes rather than administrative complexity. Ultimately, this session argues that the future of welfare may lie not in creating more schemes, but in building systems that are simpler, more responsive, and centered on the lived realities of citizens.