Lok Sabha Question No. 2810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Functioning of DRDAs
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2810 ANSWERED ON 10/03/2026

## FUNCTIONING OF DRDAS

## 2810. Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of misuse diversion of funds by certain District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) in the country during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard, State and UT-wise;
- (c) the details of the review of the functioning of the District Rural Development  Agencies  (DRDAs)  conducted  during  the  said period State and UT-wise including Maharashtra;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to improve the functioning of the DRDAs across the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof, State and UT-wise including Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (e): The Government discontinued the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) Administration Scheme with effect from 01.04.2022 and the decision was  communicated  to  the States/UTs with a request to take necessary action. States/UTs were advised to merge the DRDAs with the Zila Parishad/Zila Panchayats or, where such bodies do not exist, with District Councils or other appropriate district-level bodies, as decided by the respective State Governments.

Further, it was also communicated that staff working in DRDAs on deputation basis may be absorbed or repatriated to their parent departments, while the support staff on the rolls of DRDAs may be absorbed  in  appropriate  line  departments  or  district  planning  and monitoring bodies as per their qualifications. The accounts of funds

released  under  the  DRDA  Administration  Scheme  are  to  be  duly audited and the balance/unutilized funds as on 31.03.2022 are to be transferred to the concerned Zila Panchayats/Zila Councils or other designated district-level bodies and accounted for appropriately.

Subsequent to the discontinuation of the DRDA Administration Scheme,  no  Grants-in-Aid  have  been  released  by  this  Ministry  to DRDAs since FY 2022-23. Accordingly, the  question  of  monitoring, review of functioning, or taking steps for improving the functioning of DRDAs by this Ministry during the last three years does not arise. However, as informed by the Government of Maharashtra, no cases of  misuse  or  diversion  of  funds  have  been  reported  in  respect  of DRDAs in the State during the period under reference. It has further been  informed  that  the  DRDA  Administration  Scheme  was  earlier implemented with Central and State funding in the ratio of 60:40 for meeting the salary and administrative expenses of DRDA officials and staff. Following the decision of the Government of India to discontinue  the  Scheme  w.e.f.  01.04.2022,  the  Government  of Maharashtra, instead of closing the institutional arrangement, converted  the  DRDA  Administration  Scheme  into  a  100%  Statefunded Scheme and decided to continue it for a further period of five years  from  01.04.2022  to  31.03.2027.  The  input  received  from Government of Maharashtra is at Annexure.

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Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 2810 dated 10.03.2026

| Point                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Reply                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a) Whether the Government has taken note of any misuse/ diversion of funds by certain District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) in the country during the last three years and the current year;                                                                                                                                                                          | (a) No misuse/ diversion of funds in DRDAs in Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| (b) If so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard, State and UT-wise;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | (b) Question does not arise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| (c) The details of the review of the functioning of the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) conducted during the said period State and UT-wise including Maharashtra; (d) Whether the Government proposes to take any steps to improve the functioning of the DRDAs across the country; and (e) If so, the details thereof, State and UT-wise including Maharashtra? | (c), (d) & (e) District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) Scheme grants were provided by the Central Government and the State Government in the ratio of 60:40 for the salaries of the officers and employees of the District Rural Development Agencies. However, as per the letter dated 01.11.2021 of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, instructions were given to discontinue the scheme in Maharashtra from 01.04.2022. Instead of closing the scheme, vide Government Resolution dated 01.04.2022 the State Government converted it into 100% State Scheme & continued it for the next 5 years, i.e., from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2027. |

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