Question : Evaluation of World Bank Assisted Projects

(a) whether the NITI Aayog has received a proposal from the Ministry of Finance to explore the possibility of evaluating the projects which are financially supported by the World Bank;

(b) if so, the details and the objectives thereof;

(c) whether the Government has set any time-frame for the NITI Aayog to submit the report in this regard, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the NITI Aayog also proposes to evaluate all the flagship programmes/schemes and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the government to develop NITI Aayog and raise its stature internationally?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
RAO INDERJIT SINGH

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) The objective for taking up evaluation of the projects funded by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), as stated by the Ministry of Finance, is to undertake independent assessment of the developmental outcomes and impact of these projects from the borrowers’ perspective.

(c) No time-frame has been set for the NITI Aayog for submission of the evaluation reports.

(d) NITI Aayog has been assigned the responsibility to monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives as selected or identified from time to time through the ‘Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office’, i.e. an attached office of NITI Aayog.

Since the MDBs also have an in-built mechanism of undertaking independent assessment of the projects/programmes funded by them, the NITI Aayog has requested the Ministry of Finance to suggest a few projects for independent evaluation as a test case.

(e) NITI Aayog has been established on 1st January 2015 and assigned the responsibility to discharge 13 major functions as per the Allocation of Business Rules, including evolution of a shared vision of national development priorities, foster cooperative federalism, design strategic and long term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and to create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.