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Q93 (IAS/2020) Polity & Governance › Governance, Policies & Social Justice › Parliamentary accountability mechanisms Official Key

With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct ? 1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable assets like physical infrastructure for health, education, etc. 2. A specified portion of each MP's fund must benefit SC/ST populations. 3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned on yearly basis and the unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year. 4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all works under implementation every year. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 (1, 2 and 4 only). The explanation for each statement is as follows:

  • Statement 1 is correct: The primary objective of MPLADS is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets (e.g., drinking water, education, public health, and roads) based on locally felt needs.
  • Statement 2 is correct: Guidelines mandate that MPs must recommend works costing at least 15% of their annual entitlement for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste populations and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe populations.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: MPLADS funds are non-lapsable. Unused funds from a particular year are carried forward to the subsequent years within the MP's tenure.
  • Statement 4 is correct: To ensure accountability, the guidelines stipulate that the District Authority must inspect at least 10% of the works under implementation every year.

Since statements 1, 2, and 4 are accurate, Option 4 is the right choice.

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Q. With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are cor…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 5/10
Statement 1
Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are funds required to be used for creation of durable assets such as physical infrastructure for health, education and other community projects?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > BY MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION > p. 617
Presence: 5/5
“• MPs are allowed to spend their MPLADS funds (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) for purchase of hospital equipment and other COVID-19-related equipment and supplies for government hospitals and dispensaries in their respective constituencies. • MPLADS scheme not to be operative for 2 years (2020-21 and 2021-22) and the related funds to be used in managing COVID-19.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links MPLADS funds to purchase of hospital and COVID‑19 related equipment for government health facilities.
  • Shows MPLADS can be deployed for health-sector physical inputs, supporting use for durable health infrastructure or supplies.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Government Strategy > p. 36
Presence: 4/5
“Similarly, 25% out of the allocation under Prime Minister's Gramodaya Yojana has also been earmarked for funding schemes under submission on sustainability.• 3. MPs are requested to utilise Local Area Development Fund in their respective constituencies to take up water harvesting schemes.• 4. Preparation of pilot projects on water harvesting in selected states have already been”
Why this source?
  • Refers to Local Area Development Fund being used by MPs to take up water‑harvesting schemes, a durable infrastructure project.
  • Demonstrates MPs are requested to deploy constituency development funds for physical infrastructure works.
Statement 2
Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is there a mandated portion or percentage of each MP's fund that must be spent for the benefit of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) populations?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In order to give due attention to the development of infrastructure in the areas inhabited by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Members of Parliament are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 percent of the total MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and at least 7.5 percent of the total MPLADS"
Why this source?
  • This is from the MPLADS Guidelines text specifying annual recommended works for SC/ST areas.
  • It gives explicit mandated percentages: 15% for Scheduled Caste areas and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe areas of the annual MPLADS entitlement.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 18: PANCHAYATS > Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. > p. 319
Strength: 5/5
“Article 243D provides that seats are to be reserved for: (a) Scheduled Castes, and (b) Scheduled Tribes. The reservation shall be in proportion to their population. If, for example, the Scheduled Castes constitute 30% of the population and the Scheduled Tribes 21%, then 30% and 21% seats shall be reserved for them respectively. Out of the seats so reserved, not less than one-third of the seats shall be reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively. These reservations favouring the Scheduled Castes and Tribes shall cease to be operative as specified in Article 334 (at present 80 years, i.e., upto 24 January 2030).^{2} A State may by law also reserve seats or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayat at any level in favour of backward classes of citizens.”
Why relevant

States a clear rule pattern: reservations (and related earmarking) in panchayats are to be 'in proportion to their population' and includes fixed sub‑earmarking (e.g., one‑third of reserved seats for women).

How to extend

A student could apply this proportional/earmarking principle to ask whether MPLADS likewise prescribes spending proportional to SC/ST population in a constituency.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Setting > Government Schemes on SC/ST/OBC > p. 122
Strength: 4/5
“allowance, passage visa fee and insurance premium, annual contingency allowance, incidental journey allowance. The total number of awards (maximum) to be given each year is 100 and 30% of the awards have been earmarked for women candidates. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna: The scheme aims to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities. Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC Students: The scheme provides financial assistance to scheduled caste students for pursuing research studies leading to M.Phil, Ph.D. Venture Capital Fund For Scheduled Castes: Government announced the setting up of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes in 2014 in order to promote entrepreneurship among the scheduled castes providing concessional finance to them.”
Why relevant

Gives an example where a government scheme explicitly earmarks a percentage (30% of awards for women), showing that social schemes sometimes include mandated percentages.

How to extend

Use this example to reason that MPLADS, as a government scheme, might similarly include explicit percentage earmarks for beneficiary groups and so check MPLADS rules for such clauses.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 65
Strength: 4/5
“Those constituencies that have the highest proportion of Scheduled Tribe population are reserved for ST. In the case of Scheduled Castes, the Delimitation Commission looks at two things. It picks constituencies that have higher proportion of Scheduled Caste population. But it also spreads these constituencies in different regions of the State. This is done because the Scheduled Caste population is generally spread evenly throughout the country. These reserved constituencies can be rotated each time the Delimitation exercise is undertaken. The Constitution does not make similar reservation for other disadvantaged groups. Of late there has been a strong demand seeking reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women.”
Why relevant

Explains the rule for reserving constituencies: SC/ST reservations are tied to areas with higher proportions of these populations and are geographically distributed.

How to extend

Suggests a pattern where benefits or allocations are linked to local demographic proportions, prompting a check if MPLADS allocations are required to reflect SC/ST population shares in constituencies.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > BY MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION > p. 617
Strength: 3/5
“• MPs are allowed to spend their MPLADS funds (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) for purchase of hospital equipment and other COVID-19-related equipment and supplies for government hospitals and dispensaries in their respective constituencies. • MPLADS scheme not to be operative for 2 years (2020-21 and 2021-22) and the related funds to be used in managing COVID-19.”
Why relevant

States that MPLADS funds have specified permissible uses and that the scheme's operation can be suspended/modified (example: COVID‑related restrictions).

How to extend

Shows MPLADS is governed by specific rules, so a student should examine MPLADS guidelines to see if they include mandated SC/ST expenditure percentages.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: LOCAL GOVERNMENTS > READ AN IMAGE > p. 190
Strength: 3/5
“Look at this photograph. The local Sarkar is sitting out in the sun. Is there any other feature that strikes you? While reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes are mandated by the constitutional amendment, most States have also made a provision to reserve seats for Backward Castes. As the Indian population has 16.2 per cent Scheduled Castes and 8.2 per cent Scheduled Tribes, about 6.6 lakh elected members in the urban and local bodies hail from these two communities. This has”
Why relevant

Notes that constitutional/state provisions mandate reservation for SC/ST in local bodies proportional to population, indicating a broader governmental practice of translating demographic proportions into mandated allocations.

How to extend

A student could generalize this practice to hypothesize MPLADS might require proportional targeting of funds for SC/ST and then verify in MPLADS documentation.

Statement 3
For the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are funds sanctioned on a yearly basis and are unspent or unused funds prohibited from being carried forward to the next financial year?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > III Financial Powers and Functions > p. 258
Strength: 5/5
“The budget is based on the principle of annuity, that is, the Parliament grants money to the government for one financial year. If the granted money is not spent by the end of the financial year, then the balance expires and returns to the Consolidated Fund of India. This practice is known as the 'rule of lapse'. It facilitates effective financial control by the Parliament as no reserve funds can be built without its authorization.”
Why relevant

States the general budgetary principle of annuity / 'rule of lapse' — Parliament grants money for one financial year and unspent balances expire to the Consolidated Fund.

How to extend

A student could apply this general rule to MPLADS to suspect that MPLADS allocations, being government grants, may also be annual and subject to lapse unless specific provisions exist.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > III Financial Powers and Functions > p. 258
Strength: 5/5
“The budget is based on the principle of annuity, that is, the Parliament grants money to the government for one financial year. If the granted money is not spent by the end of the financial year, then the balance expires and returns to the Consolidated Fund of India. This practice is known as the 'rule of lapse'. It facilitates effective financial control by the Parliament as no reserve funds can be built without its authorization.”
Why relevant

Repeats the same annuity / rule of lapse principle, reinforcing that parliamentary grants are normally single-year authorisations.

How to extend

Combine this repeated rule with knowledge that MPLADS is a parliamentary-authorised scheme to infer MPLADS funds are likely yearly unless an exception is specified.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Funds > p. 256
Strength: 4/5
“All the legally authorised payments on behalf of the Government of India are made out of this fund. Public Account of India. All other public money (other than those which are credited to the Consolidated Fund of India) received by or on behalf of the Government of India shall be credited to the Public Account of India. This includes provident fund deposits, judicial deposits, savings bank deposits, departmental deposits, remittances and so on. This account is operated by executive action, that is, the payments from this account can be made without parliamentary appropriation. Contingency Fund of India. The Constitution authorised the Parliament to establish a 'Contingency Fund of India', into which amounts determined by law are paid from time to time.”
Why relevant

Explains the role of the Consolidated Fund and Public Account — unspent public money normally relates back to these government accounts.

How to extend

A student could trace where unspent MPLADS money would legally revert (e.g., Consolidated Fund) under the lapse principle to test if carry‑forward is allowed.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 4: Government Budgeting > 4.3 Government Accounts > p. 150
Strength: 3/5
“The money is used to provide immediate relief to victims of natural calamities and also to implement any new policy decision taken by the Government pending its approval by the Parliament. In all such cases after the Parliament meets, a Bill is presented indicating the total expenditure to be incurred on the scheme/ project during the current financial year. After the Parliament votes the Bill, the money already spent out of the Contingency Fund is recouped/ withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India to ensure that the corpus of the Contingency Fund remains intact. The corpus of the fund has been increased to Rs.”
Why relevant

Describes recoupment from the Consolidency/Contingency Fund and parliamentary approval processes for extraordinary expenditures.

How to extend

Use this example of how temporary expenditures are regularised after Parliament meets to assess whether temporary MPLADS expenditures might be treated differently from annual grants.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Other Grants > p. 255
Strength: 3/5
“Token Grant It is granted when funds to meet the proposed expenditure on a new service can be made available by reappropriation. A demand for the grant of a token sum is submitted to the vote of the Lok Sabha and if assented, funds are made available. Reappropriation involves transfer of funds from one head to another. It does not involve any additional expenditure. Supplementary, additional, excess and exceptional grants and vote of credit are regulated by the same procedure which is applicable in the case of a regular budget.”
Why relevant

Describes 'token grant' and reappropriation mechanisms — showing that funds can be moved between heads but new expenditure needs parliamentary sanction.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to ask whether unused MPLADS funds could be reappropriated or would instead lapse without fresh parliamentary approval.

Statement 4
Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is the district authority required to inspect at least 10% of all works under implementation each year?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"4.5.2 They shall inspect at least 10% of the works under implementation every year, and would involve the Member of Parliament concerned in such inspections"
Why this source?
  • This is from the official MPLADS Guidelines document (district authority section).
  • Clause 4.5.2 explicitly mandates the district authority to inspect at least 10% of works under implementation every year and involve the MP in such inspections.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 39: Panchayati Raj > C. Y.K. Rao Committee > p. 386
Strength: 4/5
“in the scheme of democratic decentralisation. It stated that "the district is the proper unit for planning and development and the Zilla Parishad should become the principal body for management of all development programmes which can be handled at that level." • (ii) The Panchayat Raj institutions at the district and lower levels should be assigned an important role with respect to planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes. • (iii) Some of the planning functions at the state level should be transferred to the district-level planning units for effective decentralized district planning. • (iv) A post of District Development Commissioner should be created.”
Why relevant

States that the district is the proper unit for planning and that district-level bodies should have roles in planning, implementation and monitoring of development programmes.

How to extend

A student could infer that MPLADS works, being development programmes, are likely subject to district-level monitoring and thus check official MPLADS guidelines for an inspection quota or percentage.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 39: Panchayati Raj > C. Y.K. Rao Committee > p. 386
Strength: 4/5
“in the scheme of democratic decentralisation. It stated that "the district is the proper unit for planning and development and the Zilla Parishad should become the principal body for management of all development programmes which can be handled at that level." (ii) The Panchayat Raj institutions at the district and lower levels should be assigned an important role with respect to planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes. (iii) Some of the planning functions at the state level should be transferred to the district level planning units for effective decentralized district planning. (iv) A post of District Development Commissioner should be created.”
Why relevant

Reiterates that Panchayat Raj institutions at district and lower levels are assigned roles in implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes.

How to extend

One could reasonably look for scheme-specific monitoring rules (e.g., inspection frequency/percentage) in central MPLADS procedure documents given this delegated monitoring role.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 40: Municipalities > Salient Features > p. 402
Strength: 3/5
“However, the Parliament may extend the provisions of this part to the scheduled areas and tribal areas subj ect to such exceptions and modifications as it may specify. District Planning Committee Every state shall constitute at the district level, a district planning committee to consolidate the plans prepared by panchayats and municipalities in the district, and to prepare a draft development plan for the district as a whole. The state legislature may make provisions with respect to the following: • The composition of such committees; • 2. The manner of election of members of such committees; • 3. The functions of such committees in relation to district planning; and • 4.”
Why relevant

Explains that every state shall constitute a District Planning Committee to consolidate and prepare district development plans, highlighting formal district-level planning structures.

How to extend

Using this, a student might deduce that formal district committees would implement or record any mandated inspection norms (like a 10% requirement) if such a rule exists for centrally sponsored schemes.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > 4. The Block-Level Planning > p. 57
Strength: 3/5
“At levels below the district, there are blocks and villages. The block level planning was started during the First Five-Year Plan. Each district was divided into a number of blocks and each block comprised about 100 villages with a population of about 60,000. The programme visualised (i) mobilisation of local resources, and (ii) participation of people in the decision making and implementation of the development scheme. Hence, a new unit of planning was created at block level under the leadership of a block development officer and a team of various specialists and village level workers. The general supervision of blocks was made by the Block Samitis under the chairmanship of the Block-Pramukh and elected representatives.”
Why relevant

Describes block and district level planning and supervision through block samitis and block development officers, indicating multi-tier oversight in implementation of projects.

How to extend

A student could use this to argue that inspection responsibilities could be distributed across tiers and therefore look for a specified percentage (e.g., 10%) in MPLADS operational guidelines or administrative orders.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > BY MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION > p. 617
Strength: 4/5
“• MPs are allowed to spend their MPLADS funds (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) for purchase of hospital equipment and other COVID-19-related equipment and supplies for government hospitals and dispensaries in their respective constituencies. • MPLADS scheme not to be operative for 2 years (2020-21 and 2021-22) and the related funds to be used in managing COVID-19.”
Why relevant

Mentions specific administrative decisions about MPLADS (allowed expenditures and temporary suspension), showing the scheme is governed by central rules and can be regulated.

How to extend

From this, a student might infer MPLADS has formal operational rules (including possible monitoring/inspection requirements) and should consult MPLADS manuals or ministry orders to verify a 10% inspection rule.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Administrative Accountability'. They moved from asking 'What can be built?' to 'Who checks what was built?' (Statement 4). Always check the monitoring mechanism (Social Audit, District Inspection, etc.) for major schemes.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Moderate/Trap. Statement 3 is the classic 'Non-Lapsable' exception taught in Polity. S2 and S4 are 'Guideline Minutiae' found in the official Ministry PDF.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Parliament > Financial Control > Discretionary Grants (MPLADS).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: 1. MPLADS funds are Non-Lapsable (carry forward allowed). 2. Lok Sabha MPs: Constituency only. 3. Rajya Sabha MPs: Anywhere in the State. 4. Nominated MPs: Anywhere in India. 5. SC/ST Quota: 15% and 7.5% mandatory. 6. Role: MPs 'Recommend', District Authority 'Sanctions' and 'Inspects'.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying flagship schemes involving money (MPLADS, MGNREGA), always check the 'Financial Lifecycle': Is it demand-driven? Is it lapsable? Who is the actual implementing authority (usually the DC/DM, not the MP)?
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 MPLADS / Local Area Development Funds for physical infrastructure
💡 The insight

MPLADS and related local development funds are used by MPs to create constituency-level infrastructure projects such as water‑harvesting works.

High-yield for questions on central schemes and MPs' discretionary funds; links to topics on decentralised development and scheme financing. Mastering this helps answer queries on permissible uses, infrastructure creation, and constituency development priorities.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Government Strategy > p. 36
🔗 Anchor: "Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are fund..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Use of MPLADS for health-sector inputs and emergency response
💡 The insight

MPLADS funds can be allocated to purchase hospital equipment and COVID‑19 related supplies for government health facilities.

Important for questions on scheme flexibility and emergency reallocation of funds; connects to public health financing, scheme suspension/repurposing, and governance of discretionary funds.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > BY MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION > p. 617
🔗 Anchor: "Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are fund..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Proportional reservation of seats for SC/ST in Panchayats
💡 The insight

Reservation of seats in panchayats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is allotted in proportion to their population.

High-yield for UPSC questions on local governance and affirmative action; links constitutional provisions (Article 243D) to practical allocation of representation and aids analysis of policy equity and resource targeting. Useful for questions on decentralisation, reservation policy and comparative state-level implementations.

📚 Reading List :
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 18: PANCHAYATS > Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. > p. 319
🔗 Anchor: "Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is there..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Criteria for reserving constituencies for SC/ST
💡 The insight

Constituencies with higher proportions of SC or ST population are selected for reservation and such reserved constituencies may be rotated during delimitation.

Important for exam questions on electoral law, delimitation and representation; helps explain how demographic distribution drives political reservation and supports arguments about fairness, rotation and regional balance in assembly and parliamentary seats.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is there..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 SC and ST population shares in India
💡 The insight

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes comprise substantial shares of the population (SC ~16.6%, ST ~8.6% in 2011 data).

Useful for framing policy questions, estimating proportional reservations/allocations and analysing social justice measures; connects census demographics to reservation policy, welfare schemes and electoral representation debates.

📚 Reading List :
  • Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Gender, Religion and Caste > Social and Religious Diversity of India > p. 39
🔗 Anchor: "Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is there..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Rule of lapse (budget annuity principle)
💡 The insight

Parliamentary grants are made for one financial year and unspent balances expire, which is directly relevant to whether allocations (like MPLADS) can be carried forward.

High-yield for questions on financial powers of Parliament and budgetary control; links to Consolidated Fund mechanics and helps answer whether yearly grants can create multi-year reserves. Mastery enables reasoning about carry-forward, supplementary grants and fiscal limits.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > III Financial Powers and Functions > p. 258
🔗 Anchor: "For the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are funds ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Nature and operational uses of MPLADS funds
💡 The insight

MPLADS specifies permitted uses and has been subject to operational decisions (for example temporary suspension and repurposing), which affects how its allocations are treated in practice.

Important for polity and governance questions on constituency-level funds and scheme administration; connects to public expenditure prioritisation and emergency reallocation of funds (useful for case-based prelims/mains questions).

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > BY MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION > p. 617
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Government Strategy > p. 36
🔗 Anchor: "For the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), are funds ..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Convergence Rules: MPLADS funds can be converged with MGNREGA or Khelo India to create durable assets, but funds cannot be used for 'acquisition of land', 'religious structures', or 'recurring expenses' (salaries/inventory).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Construction Logic' Hack: Statement 1 says funds are for 'durable assets' (buildings, roads). Construction in India often takes multiple years. If Statement 3 were true (funds lapse yearly), no large durable asset could ever be completed. Therefore, for an infrastructure scheme to work, funds *must* be non-lapsable. S1 and S3 are logically incompatible. Eliminate S3.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-2 (Separation of Powers): The Supreme Court (2010 Bhim Singh judgment) upheld MPLADS, ruling it does not violate Separation of Powers because MPs only 'recommend' works, while the Executive (District Authority) retains the power to 'sanction' and 'implement'.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2011 · Q30 Relevance score: 1.58

With reference to “Aam Admi Bima Yojana”, consider the following statements: 1. The member insured under the scheme must be the head of the family or an earning member of the family in a rural landless household. 2. The member insured must be in the age group of 30 to 65 years. 3. There is a provision for free scholarship for up to two children of the insture who are studying between classes 9 and 1 2. Which of the statements given above is/ correct?

IAS · 2017 · Q55 Relevance score: 1.47

With reference to 'National Investment and Infrastructure Fund', which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog. 2. It has a corpus of ₹ 4,00,000 crore at present. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

IAS · 2016 · Q26 Relevance score: 1.12

With reference to 'Stand Up India Scheme', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. 2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2017 · Q11 Relevance score: 0.30

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) ? 1. It decides the RBI's benchmark interest rates. 2. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year. 3. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister. Select the correct answer using the code given below :