Context: The Prime Minister launched the Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) during the ‘2nd National Conference of Chief Secretaries’, which is aimed at improving the performance of blocks lagging on various development parameters.

About the Aspirational Block programme

• Transformed from: The aspirational district model will be taken up to the block level in the form of the Aspirational Block Programme. 

• Objective: To enable holistic development in those areas that require added assistance. The focus area will also be more specific thus ensuring greater attention to detail.

• The programme will cover 500 districts across 31 states and Union Territories initially.

• Over half of these blocks are in 6 states—Uttar Pradesh (68 blocks), Bihar (61), Madhya Pradesh (42), Jharkhand (34), Odisha (29) and West Bengal (29).

• The Aspirational Blocks Programme is on the lines of the Aspirational District Programme that was launched in 2018 and covers 112 districts across the country.

The Aspirational Districts programme

• The Government of India launched the 'Transformation of Aspirational Districts' initiative in January 2018.

• Implementation: NITI Aayog anchors the programme with support from Central Ministries and State Governments.

• Aim: The ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ Programme aims to expeditiously improve the socio-economic status of 117 districts from across 28 states.

• Principles: The three core principles of the programme are –

1. Convergence (of Central & State Schemes)

2. Collaboration(among citizens and functionaries of Central & State Governments including district teams)

3. Competition among districts.

• Themes: The programme focuses on 5 main themes- Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.

• Real-time monitoring: NITI Aayog in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh has created a dashboard ‘Champions of Change’ for monitoring the real-time progress of the districts.

• Ranking: Districts are ranked through ‘delta ranking’ based on progress made on a real-time basis.

• Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu achieved overall first rank.

• Simdega (Jharkhand), Chandauli (Uttar Pradesh), Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh) and Rajgarh (Madhya Pradesh) were found to have progressed the most since the beginning of the programme.

• Achievements: Under ADP previously neglected districts, including those in remote locations and those affected by Left Wing Extremism, 'have experienced more growth and development in the last three years than ever before.

• The programme has strengthened the technical and administrative capacities of the districts.