Nobel Prize winner Dr Abhijit Banerjee was one of the economists Congress had consulted for formulating NYAY or Nyuntam Aay Yojana. NYAY was the flagship social welfare programme of the party in its 2019 election manifesto. The scheme promised to give 20% families in poorest of the poor category Rs 72,000 each annually.
Speaking to BusinessToday.IN earlier this year Dr Banerjee said that he had suggested a minimum income guarantee of Rs 2,500 per month, keeping in mind the fiscal discipline. However, the Congress announced a more expansive and ambitious Rs 6,000 crore a month with an outlay of Rs 3.60 lakh crore.