POLITY
10. Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out
of their design and implementation.
1. How are beneficiaries identified for different schemes in India? What are the merits and limitations of the
processes adopted for such identifications? Examine.
Approach:
It is straightforward question; it expects student to write about – in first part write method for identification of
beneficiaries for different scheme – in second part write merits – in third part write limitation of these processes
Introduction:
Government Schemes in India are launched by the government to address the social and economic welfare of the
citizens of this nation. These schemes play a crucial role in solving many socio-economic problems that beset
Indian society, and thus their awareness is a must for any concerned citizen.
Body:
For identification of beneficiaries for different scheme of different ministries wide range of sources used as follows:
Dated database based on 2011 numbers: The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). he SECC is being used
in central schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to identify beneficiaries.
A district-wise comparison with data from the last census conducted in 2011
National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2015-16)
SECC, in principle, remains a targeted approach for welfare delivery mechanism
Poverty level under different government data
Most of the government initiatives depend on either land records.
Merits of current beneficiary identification method are:
It promotes equity and reduce favouritism.
It brings transparency in identification method.
It increases penetration of scheme or benefits to needy people.
It helps in identifying sections of people which needs upliftment.
,However, Limitations of current identification method:
Targeted programs create tensions between those who are excluded—some of whom may be among the poor
but “missed” by targeting schemes—and the beneficiaries.
Many scholars have pointed out the tendency of politicians to abuse targeted programs by converting them
into instruments of patronage.
Additionally, most of the benefits meant for end-up being elite captured. As, Amartya Sen points out,”
benefits that go only to the poor often end up being poor benefits.”
SECC database is that it is already eight years old in an economy which is transforming fast, and where
some people have climbed up the income ladder while others have fallen down.
This means that a SECC-type exercise needs to be repeated at frequent intervals to ensure that it matches
current reality. But the more the database is mined for such use, the greater the chances of reporting biases
creeping in, as people learn how to game the database to remain within the ‘right’ cut-off limits.
Migration– As the schemes are implemented at state level, migration of poor denies them benefits of scheme
in another state.
Exclusion error– Eligible beneficiaries are excluded from benefits due to infrastructural issues, lack of
awareness on part of people, lack of verifiable documents etc.
Conclusion:
The inherent challenges in any targeting exercise suggests that quasi-universal schemes with simple exclusion
criteria based on regular and professionally conducted censuses may be a better bet for a country such as ours.
4. Government can only be an enabler of change in a sector. Do you agree? In this light,
critically evaluate the turn that India’ public policy discourse has taken over the last few years.
In its seventh decade of independence, India stands on the cusp of major change: a transformation
that could lead to unprecedented economic growth paired with radical improvements in the nation’s
public policy discourse. To support progress in such an endeavour, the government is incorporating
multiple changes for better digital infrastructure, acting as an enabler in the various sectors.
Body
The government is playing the role of an enabler to create an environment that will provide for
transparent, non-predatory and fair pricing for different sectors to increase their revenue.
, This is being achieved by refraining from changing the rules and adhering to contractual
obligations such as those of long-term off take agreements, apart from holding mutual
consultations in a transparent manner for any changes in the contracts.
Consistency and continuity in government policies with proper regulation can create a
predictable market for industries, who then can build large projects. This results from efforts of
government to act as an enabler for businesses rather than stifle the energy of growing
industries.
Recently, India was ranked 63rd position in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2020 report
which is a great improvement from earlier ranking which has helped in improving performance
in many sectors and is a result of consistent efforts since the past few years.
An additional benefit of improving ease of doing business in India could take the form of
greater confidence in India on the part of multinational companies, which would translate into
larger flows of foreign direct investment and know-how into India, two essential ingredients for
growth and innovation.
The private sector has a major opportunity to help India improve its performance in each
industry. Companies that can craft solutions to support such performance improvement can reap
benefits including entry into new markets, increased revenues, and a much stronger market
position than that of their competitors.
The Indian policy framework today is to empower the states more and to decentralize decision
making for funding, so we will see dynamic and vibrant states almost competing with each
other for resources and being much more open to investment.
The fundamental regulatory or policy transformations over the past few years under the current
government include:
1. The passage of the goods-and-services tax, which is going to create an integrated market in
India for the first time. It’s a value-added tax regime, which is going to dramatically reduce all
of the inefficiencies and barriers within the internal market.
2. Next is the financial infrastructure,i.e, the Jan-Dhan Yojana, which has enabled 100 million-plus
bank accounts enabled by mobile phones. The provision of benefits transfer directly to people’s
bank accounts, using their mobile phone and the Aadhaar is a unique platform—there is no
other country in the world that has this scale of mobile-driven bank accounts with the ability to
transfer money and services directly to the beneficiary without all of the leakages that have
plagued the sector for many, many years.
3. The launch of Digital India by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the objective of
connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy, the
digital revolution has already started happening in India. This vision of the digital India
programme presented by the central government has resulted in inclusive growth in areas of
10. Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out
of their design and implementation.
1. How are beneficiaries identified for different schemes in India? What are the merits and limitations of the
processes adopted for such identifications? Examine.
Approach:
It is straightforward question; it expects student to write about – in first part write method for identification of
beneficiaries for different scheme – in second part write merits – in third part write limitation of these processes
Introduction:
Government Schemes in India are launched by the government to address the social and economic welfare of the
citizens of this nation. These schemes play a crucial role in solving many socio-economic problems that beset
Indian society, and thus their awareness is a must for any concerned citizen.
Body:
For identification of beneficiaries for different scheme of different ministries wide range of sources used as follows:
Dated database based on 2011 numbers: The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). he SECC is being used
in central schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to identify beneficiaries.
A district-wise comparison with data from the last census conducted in 2011
National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2015-16)
SECC, in principle, remains a targeted approach for welfare delivery mechanism
Poverty level under different government data
Most of the government initiatives depend on either land records.
Merits of current beneficiary identification method are:
It promotes equity and reduce favouritism.
It brings transparency in identification method.
It increases penetration of scheme or benefits to needy people.
It helps in identifying sections of people which needs upliftment.
,However, Limitations of current identification method:
Targeted programs create tensions between those who are excluded—some of whom may be among the poor
but “missed” by targeting schemes—and the beneficiaries.
Many scholars have pointed out the tendency of politicians to abuse targeted programs by converting them
into instruments of patronage.
Additionally, most of the benefits meant for end-up being elite captured. As, Amartya Sen points out,”
benefits that go only to the poor often end up being poor benefits.”
SECC database is that it is already eight years old in an economy which is transforming fast, and where
some people have climbed up the income ladder while others have fallen down.
This means that a SECC-type exercise needs to be repeated at frequent intervals to ensure that it matches
current reality. But the more the database is mined for such use, the greater the chances of reporting biases
creeping in, as people learn how to game the database to remain within the ‘right’ cut-off limits.
Migration– As the schemes are implemented at state level, migration of poor denies them benefits of scheme
in another state.
Exclusion error– Eligible beneficiaries are excluded from benefits due to infrastructural issues, lack of
awareness on part of people, lack of verifiable documents etc.
Conclusion:
The inherent challenges in any targeting exercise suggests that quasi-universal schemes with simple exclusion
criteria based on regular and professionally conducted censuses may be a better bet for a country such as ours.
4. Government can only be an enabler of change in a sector. Do you agree? In this light,
critically evaluate the turn that India’ public policy discourse has taken over the last few years.
In its seventh decade of independence, India stands on the cusp of major change: a transformation
that could lead to unprecedented economic growth paired with radical improvements in the nation’s
public policy discourse. To support progress in such an endeavour, the government is incorporating
multiple changes for better digital infrastructure, acting as an enabler in the various sectors.
Body
The government is playing the role of an enabler to create an environment that will provide for
transparent, non-predatory and fair pricing for different sectors to increase their revenue.
, This is being achieved by refraining from changing the rules and adhering to contractual
obligations such as those of long-term off take agreements, apart from holding mutual
consultations in a transparent manner for any changes in the contracts.
Consistency and continuity in government policies with proper regulation can create a
predictable market for industries, who then can build large projects. This results from efforts of
government to act as an enabler for businesses rather than stifle the energy of growing
industries.
Recently, India was ranked 63rd position in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2020 report
which is a great improvement from earlier ranking which has helped in improving performance
in many sectors and is a result of consistent efforts since the past few years.
An additional benefit of improving ease of doing business in India could take the form of
greater confidence in India on the part of multinational companies, which would translate into
larger flows of foreign direct investment and know-how into India, two essential ingredients for
growth and innovation.
The private sector has a major opportunity to help India improve its performance in each
industry. Companies that can craft solutions to support such performance improvement can reap
benefits including entry into new markets, increased revenues, and a much stronger market
position than that of their competitors.
The Indian policy framework today is to empower the states more and to decentralize decision
making for funding, so we will see dynamic and vibrant states almost competing with each
other for resources and being much more open to investment.
The fundamental regulatory or policy transformations over the past few years under the current
government include:
1. The passage of the goods-and-services tax, which is going to create an integrated market in
India for the first time. It’s a value-added tax regime, which is going to dramatically reduce all
of the inefficiencies and barriers within the internal market.
2. Next is the financial infrastructure,i.e, the Jan-Dhan Yojana, which has enabled 100 million-plus
bank accounts enabled by mobile phones. The provision of benefits transfer directly to people’s
bank accounts, using their mobile phone and the Aadhaar is a unique platform—there is no
other country in the world that has this scale of mobile-driven bank accounts with the ability to
transfer money and services directly to the beneficiary without all of the leakages that have
plagued the sector for many, many years.
3. The launch of Digital India by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the objective of
connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy, the
digital revolution has already started happening in India. This vision of the digital India
programme presented by the central government has resulted in inclusive growth in areas of
