Aspirational Districts Programme / Aspirational Blocks Programme

Aspirational Districts Programme / Aspirational Blocks Programme

Overview

The Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programmes are founded on the three core principles of Convergence, Collaboration and Competition. They promote convergence of Central and State Government schemes, collaboration among stakeholders at the Union, State and District levels and healthy competition through regular performance-based rankings. This approach of competitive and cooperative federalism encourages Districts and Blocks to learn from one another, adopt best practices and continuously improve development outcomes.


Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)

Launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in January 2018, the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at transforming 117 Aspirational Districts through evidence-based governance, convergence of schemes and outcome-driven implementation. Anchored by NITI Aayog in partnership with Central Ministries, State Governments and District administrations, the Programme seeks to accelerate socio-economic development and improve the quality of life of citizens in the country's most underdeveloped regions.

ADP follows a data-driven governance model by monitoring incremental progress across 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under five thematic sectors: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure. Performance is monitored through the Champions of Change Dashboard, a real-time public platform that enables transparent monitoring, evidence-based decision-making and targeted policy interventions.


Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)

Building on the success of ADP, the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) was launched in January 2023 to extend the aspirational development model to the sub-district level. The Programme covers 513 Aspirational Blocks across 331 districts in 27 States and 4 Union Territories, including at least one block from every Aspirational District. ABP seeks to strengthen governance and improve the delivery of public services in the country's most underserved blocks through decentralized planning, technology-enabled monitoring and community participation.

The Programme tracks progress across 39 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) spanning five thematic areas: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Allied Services, Social Development and Basic Infrastructure. These indicators enable focused monitoring of development outcomes while supporting evidence-based planning and targeted interventions at the block level. Block Development Strategies, capacity building of local officials and regular review mechanisms further strengthen implementation and ensure convergence across government programmes.


Performance Dashboards

Aspirational Districts Programme (Champions of Change Dashboard):
championsofchange.gov.in

Aspirational Blocks Programme Dashboard:
abp.championsofchange.gov.in

Support and other activities

Thematic awards and subsequent financial support are provided to the Districts and Blocks based on their delta rankings on the Champions of Change portal. Several innovation projects under the five identified themes, are funded irrespective of awards declared to uplift the development activities in Aspirational Districts and Blocks. Several other development activities including infrastructural assets and knowledge-based activities are being undertaken towards betterment of Districts and Blocks in the identified themes by Development Partners and other institutions who support KPI-based performance in these places.

Intensive and specific interventions towards development and progress of Districts and Blocks, theme-based special initiatives are also undertaken under Aakanksha Special Initiatives like Rejuvenation of Waterbodies, District Agri-rural Transformation Plan, Rural Skilling & Innovation Centre, etc. Under Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme, Best Practices being undertaken on field are being compiled, serving as model of cross-learning and knowledge-sharing, wherein a platform is provided to Districts and Blocks to learn from one another and replicate interventions in priority areas.

Together, the Aspirational Districts Programme and Aspirational Blocks Programme represent data-based governance in its truest form. By fostering innovation, strengthening institutions and promoting collaborative governance among the Union Government, States, District and Block administrations, Development Partners and local communities, these programmes are localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 through inclusive, equitable and citizen-centric development.

Reports

Report Name Download

Stories of change- Aspirational Districts and Blocks

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List of 112 Aspirational Districts

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Stories of Change: From India's Aspirational Districts

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An Assessment Of Aspirational Districts Programme

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Aspirational Districts Programme: An Appraisal

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Aspirational Districts - Unlocking Potentials

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DEEP DIVE - Insights from Champions of Change The Aspirational Districts Dashboard

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Transformation of Aspirational Districts - Primer - A New India 2022

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Transformation of Aspirational Districts - Primer - A New India 2022 - Hindi

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Aspirational Districts Baseline Ranking, March 2018

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Best Practices from Aspirational Districts (Volume 1)

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List of Aspirational Districts

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Who's Who
Name Designation Email Id
Shri K. S. Rejimon Joint Secretary/ Programme Director
(ADP & ABP)		 ks[dot]rejimon[at]nic[dot]in
Dr. Mahendra Kumar Deputy Secretary/ AMD (ADP & ABP) dr[dot]mkumar[dot]ias[at]gov[dot]in
Shri Gaurav Katiyar Deputy Secretary g[dot]taiyar15[at]gov[dot]in
Shri Ranjay Kumar Under Secretary ranjay[dot]kumar[at]gov[dot]in
Ms Sharmila Sharma Section Officer Sharmila[dot]sharma43[at]gov[dot]in
Shri Keshav Singh N Consultant Gr. II keshavsingh[dot]n[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Sanjeev Kumar Consultant Gr. I sanjeev[dot]kumar08[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Amitesh Kumar Pandey Consultant Gr. I amitesh[dot]kumarp[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Dr. Salman Ahmad Siddiqui Consultant Gr. I salmanahmad[dot]s[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Dr. Solanke Krishna Rustumrao Consultant Gr. I krishna[dot]solanke[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Neelapu Kartheek Reddy Consultant Gr. I neelapuk[dot]reddy[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Chandra Shekar Cheruku Consultant Gr. I chandra[dot]shekarc[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Dadhich Indrodia Consultant Gr. I dadhich[dot]di[at]nic[dot]in
Dr. Rajan Rawat Consultant Gr. I rajan[dot]rawat[at]nic[dot]in
Shri Chandel Anuragsinh Consultant Gr. I anurag[dot]chandel[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Neeraj Singh Young Professional neeraj[dot]singh1994[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Shan Mohammad Young Professional shan[dot]mohammad[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Gaurav Kumar Mishra Young Professional gk[dot]mishra94[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Shivam Mishra Young Professional shivam[dot]mishra98[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Misbah Shah Young Professional misbah[dot]shah[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Prarthana Pawale Young Professional Prarthana[dot]p[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Sanjeev Kumar Sinha Young Professional sanjeev[dot]kumarsinha[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. S Gauri Gopal Young Professional sgauri[dot]gopal[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Sharna Chakraborty Young Professional sharna[dot]c[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Allada Lokesh Young Professional allada[dot]lokesh[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Rupali Gupta Young Professional rupali[dot]g[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Ronza Shereef Young Professional ronza[dot]shereef[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Mugdha Vijay Narkar Young Professional mugdha[dot]narkar[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Sreelakshmi S Young Professional sreelakshmi[dot]27[at]govcontractor[dot]in
Ms. Shambhavi Singh Young Professional singh[dot]shambhavi[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Mehmeet Chaudhary Young Professional Mehmeet[dot]121[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Ann Maria Jose Young Professional Annmaria[dot]jose[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Amarjoyti Mohapatra Young Professional amarjyoti[dot]m[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Sonal Priyanka Young Professional sonal[dot]priyanka[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Asmi Saini Young Professional asmi[dot]saini[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Binal Desai Young Professional binal[dot]desai[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Ms. Suman Meena Young Professional suman[dot]meena0501[at]niti[dot]gov[dot]in
Shri Abhishek Jha Assistant Section Officer abhishek[dot]jha429[at]gov[dot]in
Ms. Megha Gupta Assistant Section Officer gupta[dot]megha[at]gov[dot]in
Ms. Kashish Goyal Assistant Section Officer kashishgoyal151[dot]kb[at]nic[dot]in
Shri Monti Shakya Office Assistant mrmonti0143[at]gmail[dot]com