Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Rural Development addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1478 on July 29, 2025, regarding the appointment of consultants. As of July 25, 2025, the Ministry hired consultants to facilitate the smooth implementation of flagship programs and support officers. The response outlines the hiring process and the number of consultants in the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and the Department of Land Resources (DoLR).
Key Points / Main Content:
Consultant Hiring:
* The Ministry of Rural Development hires consultants to facilitate the smooth implementation of its flagship programmes and to support officers in different programme divisions.
* Consultants support coordination with States/UTs, enabling officers to focus on core policy issues and meet deadlines.
* Consultants are hired through Institutions, Autonomous bodies, Public Sector Enterprises, etc.
* The consultants are hired after following due process with the approval of the Competent Authority, ensuring compliance with the General Financial Rules (GFR) and other instructions.
* Remuneration is paid from the Ministry's budget.
Consultant Numbers (as of 25.07.2025):
* 325 consultants were hired within different divisions of the Department of Rural Development (DoRD).
* 37 consultants were hired by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR).
Reservation Roster:
* The Ministry does not have category-wise data (UROBCSCST) of the Consultants.
* The response does not specify whether Constitutional provisions of reservation roster have been adhered to in making these appointments.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Rural Development:
Impact: The Ministry is responsible for hiring consultants to aid in implementing flagship programs and supporting officers, particularly given the increased workload.
Action Required: Ensure continued adherence to GFR and other relevant instructions when hiring consultants.
Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and Department of Land Resources (DoLR):
Impact: The DoRD benefits from consultant support in implementing programs such as PMAYG, PMGSY, DAYNRLM, MGNREGA, DDUGKY, and NSAP. The DoLR benefits from consultant support in the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and Watershed Dev. Component-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0.
Action Required: Effectively utilize consultants to enhance program implementation and coordination with States/UTs.
Officers of the Ministry:
Impact: Officers are supported by consultants, enabling them to focus on core policy issues and ensure deadlines are met.
Action Required: Leverage consultant support to improve efficiency and focus on strategic initiatives.
States/UTs:
Impact: Benefit from improved coordination with the Ministry, leading to more effective program implementation.
Action Required: Collaborate with the Ministry and consultants to optimize program outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: The central ministry responsible for rural development programs and policies.
Department of Rural Development: A department within the Ministry of Rural Development, responsible for implementing flagship programs.
Department of Land Resources: A department within the Ministry of Rural Development, focused on land resources management and related programs.
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin: Flagship housing scheme aimed at providing affordable housing in rural areas.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: A flagship employment scheme providing guaranteed wage employment to rural households.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission: A national mission focused on poverty reduction by building strong institutions for the poor, enabling them to access a range of financial services and livelihoods options.
Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme: A program for modernizing land records and promoting digital access to land information.
General Financial Rules: A set of rules and regulations governing financial matters in the government, ensuring transparency and accountability.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1478
ANSWERED ON 29/07/2025
APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS
1478. Shri DharmendraYadav:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the number of consultants/advisors appointed in the Ministry of
Rural Development, category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST);
(b) the number of consultants/advisors appointed against the
regular posts out of them;
(c) the number of consultants/advisors appointed against the
temporary posts or under the schemes run by the Ministry of
Rural Development;
(d) whether the Constitutional provisions of reservation roster
have been adhered in making these appointments;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the details of the Act, Rules, Office Memorandum of the
Government under which these Constitutional provisions have
been superseded?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)
(a) to (f): The Ministry of Rural Development comprises two
departments viz – the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and
the Department of Land Resources (DoLR). Under this Ministry, the
Department of Rural Development is engaged in the implementation
of several flagship programs of the Government of India - the
Pradhan MantriAwaasYojanaGramin (PMAY-G), Pradhan Mantri Gram
SadakYojana (PMGSY), DeendayalAntyodayaYojana- National Rural
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Deen
DayalUpadhyayGrameenKaushalyaYojana (DDU-GKY) and the
National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), etc.. All these flagship
Page 1 of 2programmes are implemented through a dedicated Management
Information System using innovative IT solutions. The Department
of Land Resources (DoLR) is engaged in the exercise of the Digital
India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and
Watershed Dev. Component-Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana
2.0. Therefore, it is seen that the workload in this Ministry has
significantly increased.
The Ministry of Rural Development has hired consultants to
facilitate the smooth implementation of its flagship programmes
and to support the Officers engaged in different programme
divisions of the Ministry. The Consultants also provide support for
facilitating smooth day-to-day coordination of the Ministry with the
States/UTs, enabling the Officers to focus on core policy issues and
ensure the meeting of milestones within the set deadline.
As on 25.07.2025, a total of 325 consultants were hired with
different divisions of the DoRD and 37 consultants were hired by the
DoLR. These consultants are hired through Institutions, Autonomous
bodies, Public Sector Enterprises, etc. The Consultants are hired
after following due process with the approval of the Competent
Authority, thereby ensuring compliance with the provisions of the
General Financial Rules (GFR) and other extant instructions. The
remuneration of the consultants is paid from the funds made
available to this Ministry as Budget support. The category-wise data
of the Consultants is not available with this Ministry.
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