Lok Sabha Question No. 2081 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Aspirational Block Scheme
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2081

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK SCHEME

## 2081.   SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government plans to extend the Aspirational Block Scheme (ABS) to more blocks across the country;
- (b) if so, the details of the extension plan, including the number of blocks to be added, timeline and financial allocation;
- (c) whether the Government has considered to include climate change and environmental vulnerability as criteria for the selection of aspirational blocks under the scheme;
- (d) if so, the parameters proposed to assess climate risks such as vulnerability to extreme weather events, availability of water resources, deforestation and loss of biodiversity;
- (e) the steps being taken to promote climate-resilient infrastructure, green energy and sustainable agricultural practices in aspirational blocks;
- (f) whether the Government is collaborating with the State Governments, international agencies or research institutions to incorporate climate adaptation and mitigation measures in the scheme; and
- (g) if so, the details of the pilot initiatives, if any?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND 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) and (b) The Aspirational Blocks Programme covers 500 blocks across India. Currently, the program is limited to 500 Blocks only.

- (c) and (d ) The aspirational blocks were selected through a transparent process on the basis of published  data.  List  of  indicators  and  the  weight  attached  to  them  for  selection  of  the blocks is attached in Annexure - I.
- (e),  (f)  and  (g)  The  Aspirational  Blocks  Programme is essentially a template for improving governance. The programme monitors all Aspirational Blocks on a quarterly basis across 40 key performance indicators. These indicators  fall under crucial sectors of Health  & Nutrition,  Education,  Agriculture  &  Allied  Sectors,  Social  Development,  and  Basic Infrastructure. The Programme aims at rapid transformation of relatively underdeveloped Blocks.  It  is  envisaged  that  an  improvement  in  the  indicators  under  focus  in  this programme will result in improvement in the quality of life of citizens.

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## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2081 FOR 12.03.2025 BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: REGARDING ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK SCHEME

## The list of indicators considered for the selection of Aspirational Blocks

|   S.No. | Indicator Name                                                                                                   | Sector               |   Weight in Overall |   Weight in Sector |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
|       1 | Percentage of farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kishan Pension Yojana (PM-KMY) to total eligible farmers              | Agriculture          |                  15 |               3.75 |
|       2 | Ratio of Households engaged in Non-Farm to Farm related activities                                               | Agriculture          |                  15 |               3.75 |
|       3 | Percentage of farmers received benefits under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to total eligible farmers | Agriculture          |                  15 |               3.75 |
|       4 | Percentage of total irrigated area to total cultivable area                                                      | Agriculture          |                  15 |               3.75 |
|       5 | Percentage of households with kuccha wall, kuccha roof to total households per block                             | Basic Infrastructure |                  10 |               2    |
|       6 | Percentage of households having Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (PMSBHGY) benefit to total Households | Basic Infrastructure |                  10 |               2    |
|       7 | Percentage of households having piped water connection to total households in the block                          | Basic Infrastructure |                  10 |               2    |
|       8 | Percentage of households availing Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) benefits to total Households              | Basic Infrastructure |                  10 |               2    |

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|   S.No. | Indicator Name                                                                                        | Sector               | Weight in Overall   |   Weight in Sector |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
|       9 | Percentage of households not having sanitary latrines to total households                             |                      |                     |               2    |
|      10 | Percentage of Primary school with electricity availability to total primary schools in Block          | Education            | 25                  |               5    |
|      11 | Primary school with toilet facility to total primary schools in Block                                 | Education            | 25                  |               5    |
|      12 | Dropout rate at the block level                                                                       | Education            | 25                  |               5    |
|      13 | Percentage of Primary school have drinking water facility to total primary schools in Block           | Education            | 25                  |               5    |
|      14 | Percentage of schools having trained teachers for teaching Child with Special Need (CwSN).            | Education            | 25                  |               5    |
|      15 | Percentage of households with Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) bank account to total households | Financial Inclusion  | 5                   |               5    |
|      16 | Percentage of children registered under Anganwadi to total children 0-6 years                         | Health and Nutrition | 25                  |               2.08 |
|      17 | Percentage of children fully immunized to total children                                              | Health and Nutrition |                     |               2.08 |
|      18 | Percentage of children categorized as non-stunted as per ICDS                                         | Health and Nutrition |                     |               2.08 |
|      19 | Percentage of non anemic pregnant women to total pregnant women                                       | Health and Nutrition |                     |               2.08 |
|      20 | Percentage of non- underweight child age under 6 years                                                | Health and Nutrition |                     |               2.08 |

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| S.No.   | Indicator Name                                                                                                           | Sector                      | Weight in Overall   |   Weight in Sector |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
| 21.     | Percentage of pregnant women received services to total pregnant women                                                   |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 22.     | Percentage of lactating mothers received services to total Lactating mothers                                             |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 23.     | Percentage of women delivered babies at hospitals to total pregnant women                                                |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 24.     | Percentage of Non anemic children to total children in age group of 0-6 years                                            |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 25.     | Percentage of newly born Non underweight child to total newly born children                                              |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 26.     | Percentage of beneficiaries received benefits under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Scheme (PMMVY) to total eligible |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 27.     | Percentage of beneficiaries received benefits Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to total eligible                 |                             |                     |               2.08 |
| 28.     | Percentage of Schedule caste population per block                                                                        | General - Capturing Poverty | 20                  |               5    |
| 29.     | Percentage of Schedule tribe population per block                                                                        | General - Capturing Poverty | 20                  |               5    |
| 30.     | Deprived Households per Block                                                                                            | General - Capturing Poverty | 20                  |              10    |
|         |                                                                                                                          |                             | 100                 |             100    |

Source of data for indicators - Mission Antyodaya, UDISE and SECC (2011)

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