That’s not future bills. That’s the entire backlog. Farmers with 7 HP pumps or less won’t just get free power going forward; their old unpaid bills, accumulated over years, are gone. This comes weeks after a ₹36,500 crore farm loan waiver. Together, that’s over ₹84,000 crore in relief. The state already spends ₹25,000 crore yearly subsidizing agri-power. Now, they’re swallowing legacy debt too; a move experts say is politically smart but fiscally risky. Even after trimming 92 lakh ineligible beneficiaries from its women’s cash scheme, the government’s welfare bill keeps swelling. One question lingers: How long before the revenue from ‘industry and services’ can keep pace? For now, farmers are breathing easier; and debt-free.