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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1906
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026
NON-PARTICIPATION OF WEST BENGAL IN ASPIRATIONAL BLOCKS PROGRAMME
1906 SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is aware that the State of West Bengal is the only State which has
not participated in the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) launched by NITI Aayog;
(b) number of Aspirational Blocks identified in the State along with their names and
districts, as per the initial selection under the Programme;
(c) reasons conveyed by the State Government of West Bengal, if any, for not implementing
or participating in the Programme; and
(d) number of letters, reminders or official communications issued by the Central
Government or NITI Aayog to the State Government regarding participation in the
Programme, year-wise?
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)
(a) Yes Sir. The Government is aware that West Bengal is the only State which has not
participated in the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) launched by NITI Aayog.
(b) As per the initial selection of 500 blocks under the Aspirational Block Programme
launched by NITI Aayog there are 29 blocks identified across 10 districts in West
Bengal. The list of these blocks and the districts is attached at Annexure.
(c) No reasons have been officially conveyed by the Government of West Bengal to NITI
Aayog for not implementing or participating in the Programme.
Page 1 of 3(d) NITI Aayog has made multiple efforts including formal correspondence from senior
level to engage with the State Government of West Bengal so as to encourage
participation in the Aspirational Blocks Programme.
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Page 2 of 3ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) of RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1906 FOR ANSWER ON 09.03.2026 REGARDING NON-
PARTICIPATION OF WEST BENGAL IN ASPIRATIONAL BLOCKS PROGRAMME
BY SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA
S. NO. STATE NAME DISTRICT NAME BLOCK NAME
1 West Bengal 24 Paraganas South Magra Hat-2
2 West Bengal 24 Paraganas South Thakurpukur Mahestola
3 West Bengal Bankura Indpur
4 West Bengal Bankura Khatra-1
5 West Bengal Bankura Onda
6 West Bengal Birbhum Khoyrasol
7 West Bengal Birbhum Mayureswar-1
8 West Bengal Birbhum Nanoor
9 West Bengal Dinajpur Dakshin Kumarganj
10 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Chopra
11 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Goalpokher-2
12 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Goalpokher-1
13 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Hemtabad
14 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Islampur
15 West Bengal Dinajpur Uttar Itahar
16 West Bengal Maldah Chanchal-1
17 West Bengal Maldah Habibpur
18 West Bengal Maldah Harishchandrapur-2
19 West Bengal Jhargram Binpur-1
20 West Bengal Jhargram Binpur-2
21 West Bengal Jhargram Gopiballavpur-2
22 West Bengal Jhargram Gopiballavpur-1
23 West Bengal Medinipur West Keshiary
24 West Bengal Medinipur West Salbani
25 West Bengal Murshidabad Bhagabangola-1
26 West Bengal Murshidabad Lalgola
27 West Bengal Purulia Balarampur
28 West Bengal Purulia Hura
29 West Bengal Purulia Kashipur
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