Parliament Question: DISHA Committees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1743 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026 DISHA COMMITTEES 1743 Smt. Phulo Devi Netam:

Will the Minister of Rural Development be pleased to state:

(a) the number of districts that failed to conduct the mandatory four District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings per year during each of the last three financial years;

(b) the number of districts which did not hold even a single DISHA meeting in 2024–25 and 2025–26;

(c) the reasons furnished by District Collectors for such failure, State-wise; and

(d) whether fund released under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) were withheld or deferred in such districts as envisaged under DISHA monitoring provisions? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) & (b): The number of districts that did not conduct the DISHA meetings year-wise from 2022-23 on wards:

The number of districts that did not conduct The number of districts which Financial four DISHA meetings (at least once in every did not hold even a single DISHA Year Quarter) meeting 2025-26 (till 773 (out of 776 districts*) 138 date) 2024-25 785 (out of 785 districts*) 262 2023-24 753 (out of 761 districts*) 206 2022-23 733 (out of 761 districts*) 164 * (as on last date of respective financial year)

(c): It is stated that the low number of meetings in the 3rd Quarter and 4th Quarter of 2023-24 may be attributed to the Hon’ble MPs being occupied with election related activities. After the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha in early 2024, the District DISHA Committees were dissolved on

24.06.2024. These Committees were re-constituted on 08/08/2024. Since the re-constitution, 1633 DISHA meetings have been convened.

Timely convening of DISHA meetings is crucial for ensuring effective governance and promoting the holistic development of districts. Recognizing the critical importance of DISHA, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is persistently working to ensure that these meetings are convened on a regular basis. All States/ UTs have been urged from time to time to take necessary actions and instruct the relevant Member Secretaries (District Collectors, Magistrates, Deputy Page 1 of 2Commissioners) to ensure that District Level DISHA meetings are held as per DISHA guidelines. Due to the consistent efforts being made by MoRD, the trend of District Level DISHA meetings is improving. The total number of DISHA meetings convened has increased from 645 in 2024-25 to 988 in 2025-26 (till date).

(d): No fund releases under Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been withheld/ deferred due to non-convening of DISHA meetings. ***** Page 2 of 2