Why in news
- National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) signed an MoU with IIM Kolkata for a four-year longitudinal impact assessment of PMGSY-IV and PM-JANMAN roads.
- The study will evaluate socio-economic indicators, livelihood diversification, and essential service accessibility in rural and tribal regions.
Key terms
NRIDA
National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, providing technical support for rural road schemes under Ministry of Rural Development.
PM-JANMAN
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, aimed at comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs.
PMGSY
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a central scheme providing all-weather road connectivity to eligible rural habitations.
Longitudinal Study
A research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over short or long periods of time.
What is the NRIDA-IIM Kolkata Agreement?
- A strategic partnership to conduct evidence-based evaluation of rural road connectivity projects across multiple financial cycles.
- NRIDA functions under the Ministry of Rural Development as the technical nodal agency executing national rural road infrastructure.
Scope of the Longitudinal Assessment
- Monitors changes over a four-year period in transportation costs, travel time savings, and last-mile connectivity in backward regions.
- Tracks household deprivation metrics, agricultural market access, non-farm employment shifts, and health and education service penetration.
- Focuses specifically on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) habitations targeted under PM-JANMAN.
Why it matters
- Establishes a quantitative baseline for evaluating public capital expenditure on rural infrastructure.
- Helps optimize network planning and resource allocation for future phases of rural infrastructure schemes.
Prelims facts
- NRIDA functions under the Ministry of Rural Development.
- PM-JANMAN delivers targeted infrastructure, including roads, to PVTG habitations.
Mains discussion
- Significance of evidence-based policy design in evaluating rural infrastructure outcomes.
- Impact of all-weather road connectivity on reducing multidimensional deprivation in remote tribal pockets.
Source: PIB
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.