Niti Aayog, the policy think tank of the Government of India, recently unveiled its DEEP DIVE 2nd Delta Ranking. The ranking reflects the progress of 111 Aspirational Districts in India from June to October 2018. It utilized data collected from a comprehensive household survey involving over 100,000 households across all these districts. This assessment and subsequent ranking factor into the broader Transformation of Aspirational Districts program, which strives to promote rapid socio-economic advancement in areas lagging in key developmental sectors.
About DEEP-DIVE 2nd Delta Ranking
The ranking assessed the districts’ development in six key areas: Education, Health and Nutrition, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion, Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure. The data for the ranking was taken from both internal evaluations and external Household Surveys conducted in partnership with TATA Trusts and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (IDInsight) during June 2018.
The Initial and Most Recent Rankings
The first Delta Ranking was released in June 2018. For the period June-October 2018, Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu emerged as the most improved district with Kiphire in Nagaland ranking at the bottom of the list. Other notable performances were from Nuapada in Odisha, Siddharthnagar in Uttar Pradesh, Aurangabad in Bihar, and Koraput in Odisha which ranked among the top five.
Fast Movers: Significant Progress Achieved
Certain districts demonstrated outstanding improvement within the four-month period between June and October 2018. Among these ‘Fast Movers’, Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir jumped from rank 108 to 7, Ranchi in Jharkhand moved up from 106 to 10, and Siddarthnagar in Uttar Pradesh improved from 101 to 3.
| State | June 2018 Rank | October 2018 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir | 108 | 7 |
| Ranchi, Jharkhand | 106 | 10 |
| Siddarthnagar, Uttar Pradesh | 101 | 3 |
Theme Specific Improvements
The ranking also highlighted the districts that made the most and least improvements across different themes. Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh topped the list for education and health and nutrition respectively. On the other hand, Pakur in Jharkhand and Chatra in Jharkhand marked the least progress in the same areas.
Significance of the Delta Rankings
The Delta Ranking goes beyond traditional evaluations by combining data usage with effective administration while keeping the district at the heart of inclusive development. This approach urges District Collectors to concentrate more on these sectors and increase their ranking in upcoming assessments.
About the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ Program
Launched in January 2018, the program aims to rapidly transform districts showing relatively less progress in essential social areas, contributing to balanced regional development. It tracks 81 data-points across six themes impacting the quality of life and economic productivity of citizens. The program essentially involves convergence of Central and State schemes, collaboration between Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors, and competition among districts driven by a mass movement or Jan Andolan.
