RAS question
The Aspirational Districts Programme is led by:
Correct answer: (D) NITI Aayog.
The Aspirational Districts Programme is steered at the central level by NITI Aayog.
Explanation
The Aspirational Districts Programme was launched in January 2018 for 112 of India’s most developmentally challenged districts. The programme works across health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, basic infrastructure, and financial inclusion and skill development. ADP is not a ministry-specific scheme housed only under rural development, finance, or home affairs. Its design needs central coordination with state governments and district administrations, and at the Central level, the programme is steered by NITI Aayog. The responsible central institution is NITI Aayog.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Ministry of Rural Development is not the lead body; ADP spans five broad development areas and is steered centrally by NITI Aayog.
- (B) The Ministry of Finance does not lead ADP; the programme’s central steering role belongs to NITI Aayog.
- (C) The Ministry of Home Affairs is not the lead body for ADP, even though basic infrastructure is one of the programme’s focus areas.
Concept
Government schemes and institutional responsibility are important in Indian Economy. RAS often asks such questions because development programmes are best understood through both their objective and the body that coordinates implementation.