Chapter 4 · Topic 4.3 · Prelims + Mains3 of 3
Poverty & Developmental Issues: Regional disparity and Aspirational Districts
Key points
- Disparity: unequal development between regions. Diversity: difference in culture, language and nature, not a problem in itself.
- Planning tried to fix colonial imbalances, but the Green Revolution and private investment favoured developed regions.
- Aspirational Districts Programme (January 2018): 117 districts, 49 indicators, five sectors, monthly ranking.
- Aspirational Blocks Programme (January 2023): 513 blocks in 331 districts.
1 PYQ 2015–2024
Prelims box: facts and traps
- ADP: launched January 2018; run by NITI Aayog; 49 KPIs in five sectors; ranked on the Champions of Change dashboard.
- Three Cs: Convergence (schemes work together), Collaboration (Centre, State, district), Competition (monthly delta ranking).
- ABP: January 2023; 513 blocks across 331 districts.
Regional disparity and Aspirational Districts
Like two classmates: one has tuition and books, the other has none. Being different is diversity; that gap is disparity.
Mains 2024 asked the difference. Disparity is unequal development (income, health, schooling, infrastructure) between regions; diversity is difference in culture, language and ecology, which is not a problem in itself. In the National MPI (a poverty measure counting health, education and living standards), the fastest reduction in the proportion of multidimensional poor was observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan (PIB, 17 Jul 2023), yet these States still start from higher poverty.
What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India.
Mains 2026 asked about the planned economy and colonial imbalances. Planning located steel plants and public sector units in backward areas, built dams and irrigation, and transferred funds to poorer States; but the Green Revolution and later private investment favoured already-developed regions, so gaps persisted.
The model of planned economy was adopted in India to address the regional imbalances left behind by colonial rule. Comment.
Mains 2018 asked about aspirational districts. Launched in January 2018, the Aspirational Districts Programme now covers 117 districts and monitors 49 Key Performance Indicators under five sectors: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure, ranked on the Champions of Change dashboard (NITI Aayog). The Aspirational Blocks Programme (January 2023) covers 513 blocks across 331 districts.
Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration, and competition for its success.
What UPSC asks: Prelims: disparity vs diversity. Mains: planning and balance. Next likely angle: the ADP’s three Cs.
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- 2024: define disparity, contrast with diversity, then show how serious it is with MPI data (PIB, 17 Jul 2023).
- 2026: planning helped (steel plants, dams, fund transfers) but gaps stayed.
- 2018: core strategies plus the three Cs. Next likely angle: ADP and the three Cs.
Practice
Mains PYQs on this topic (1)
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of Poverty & Developmental Issues with one recent example.
Flashcards (4)
Disparity vs diversity?
Unequal development vs cultural difference.
ADP launched?
January 2018.
ADP KPIs?
49 under five sectors.
Aspirational Blocks?
513 blocks (2023).
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