Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) : Most Important Topic for 2023 NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.

Get unlimited access to the best preparation resource for competitive exams : get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam.

  • The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 1993 - 94. The Scheme enables the Members of Parliament to recommend works for creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs to be taken up in their constituencies in the area of national priorities namely drinking water, education, public health, sanitation, roads etc.
  • The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has been responsible for the policy formulation, release of funds & prescribing monitoring mechanism for implementation of the Scheme.
Illustration: Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) : Most Important Topic for 2023 NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, Etc.) , GATE, CUET, Olympiads Etc

Features

  • The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is ₹ 5 crore.
  • MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population & 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by S. T. population.
  • In order to encourage trusts & societies for the betterment of tribal people, a ceiling of ₹ 75 lakh is stipulated for building assets by trusts & societies subject to conditions prescribed in the scheme guidelines.
  • Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies & Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election (with select exceptions) . Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
  • All works to meet locally felt infrastructure & development needs, with an emphasis on creation of durable assets in the constituency are permissible under MPLADS as prescribed in the scheme guidelines. Expenditure on specified items of non-durable nature are also permitted as listed in the guidelines.

Implementation

  • A Member of Parliament shall give his/her choice of Nodal District in a prescribed format to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation with copy to the State Government & to the District Magistrate of the chosen District.
  • The annual entitlement of ₹ 5 crore shall be released, in two equal instalments of ₹ 2.5 crore each, by Government of India directly to the District Authority of the Nodal District of the Member of Parliament concerned.
  • Each MP shall recommend eligible work on the MP՚s letter head duly signed by the MP to the district authority.
  • The District Authority shall identify the Implementing Agency capable of executing the eligible work qualitatively, timely & satisfactorily. It shall be responsible for timely & effective implementation of such works. All recommended eligible works should be sanctioned within 75 days from the date of receipt of the recommendation, after completing all formalities. The District Authority shall, however, inform MPs regarding rejection, if any, within 45 days from the date of receipt of recommendations, with reasons thereof.
  • MPLAD Scheme can be converged in individual/stand-alone projects of other Central & State Government schemes provided such works of Central/State Governments Schemes are eligible under MPLADS. Funds from local bodies can similarly also be pooled with MPLADS works.
  • Wherever such pooling is done, funds from other scheme sources should be used first & the MPLADS funds should be released later, so that MPLADS fund results in completion of the project.
  • As soon as a work under the Scheme is completed, it should be put to public use. For greater public awareness, for all works executed under MPLADS a plaque (stone/metal) carrying the inscription ‘Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme Work’ indicating the cost involved, the commencement, completion & inauguration date & the name of the MP sponsoring the project should be permanently erected.
  • One MP - One Idea: In order to foster a grass-root bottoms-up approach to innovation & development & to arrive at solutions for local problems, which are sustainable & scalable, there is a need for seeking out & campaigning for ideas that have the potential to solve challenges.
  • Accordingly, based on the innovative ideas received from the local people regarding developmental projects, a ‘One MP – One Idea’ Competition may be held in each Lok Sabha constituency annually to select the three best innovations for cash awards & certificate of appreciation for next five best innovations.
  • To access the detailed scheme guidelines