Parliament Question: Aspirational Districts Programme in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2855 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME IN MAHARASHTRA †2855. SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state: (a) the number of blocks selected under the Aspirational Blocks Programme in the country especially in Maharashtra; (b) the criteria adopted for the selection of these blocks along with the details of the financial and technical assistance provided for the development of these blocks; (c) the arrangements made by the Government to evaluate the impact of the programme along with the latest data of poverty rate assessed under the said evaluation in rural areas of Maharashtra including Parbhani district; (d) the details of progress made in poverty alleviation during the last five years particularly in Parbhani Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra along with the details of major schemes being implemented by the Government for poverty alleviation; and (e) the details of the special mechanism put in place for identifying and supporting the extremely poor families in Maharashtra including Washim-Yavatmal, Lok Sabha Constituency? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH) Page 1 of 4(a) & (b) There are 513 Blocks identified under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) which includes 27 Blocks from Maharashtra. These Blocks were selected in consultation with States/UTs based on a composite index using data from Mission Antyodaya and Socio- Economic Caste Census, covering key sectors like health & nutrition, education, basic infrastructure, etc. State/UT-wise allocation of blocks was based on Population (25% weightage), Per capita GDP (75% weightage). The programme focuses on the effective implementation of existing government schemes through convergence and collaboration with key stakeholders. Further, to instill a competitive spirit, financial incentives are provided to blocks based on their performance in the programme’s delta rankings that are done every quarter. The details of financial incentives provided under ABP is at Annexure. To promote cross learning and sharing of best practices amongst ABP Blocks, NITI Aayog organizes national and regional workshops, best practices seminars and capacity building programmes for Block level Officials etc. In addition, senior officials from government of India have been nominated as Central Prabhari Officers (CPOs) for each of the District/Block who undertakes periodic reviews of the programme. (c) to (e) Amongst Parbhani, Washim and Yavatmal Districts, only Washim District is part of the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) while under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), Washim and Yavatmal Districts are included. Under ADP/ ABP programme no estimate relating to poverty is undertaken nor does these programme provide any direct financial benefit to individuals/households. However, these programmes aim to improve governance and quality of life or economic productivity of citizens through convergence of existing schemes which is monitored through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The 3C model approach (Convergence, Collaboration, and Competition) of the programme has successfully accelerated development across core human-development indicators. Government of India is implementing several schemes/programmes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) & Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY NRLM), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment Training Page 2 of 4Institutes (RSETIs), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Watershed Development Component (WDC) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) / National Food Security Act (NFSA), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), PM SVANidhi etc., to improve economic well- being of the people with the main focus on increasing livelihood opportunities, empowering rural women, providing social safety net skilling of rural youth, infrastructure development, etc. Page 3 of 4ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2855 FOR 05.08.2026 REGARDING ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME IN MAHARASHTRA BY SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH AND SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV Details of financial incentives provided to Aspirational Blocks under ABP Delta Rank Incentives Remarks Overall 3.0 Cr. st 1 Best overall 2.0 Cr. nd 2 Best overall st nd Zone wise (1 & 2 Rank) 2.5 Cr. Zone 1 Zone 2 2.5 Cr. Zone 3 2.5 Cr. st Zone 4 2.5 Cr. (1.5 Cr. for 1 & nd 1 Cr. for 2 ) Zone 5 2.5 Cr. Zone 6 2.5 Cr. Total per Quarter Rs. 20 Cr. ***** Page 4 of 4