Which of the following programmes received the highest score in the Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) for the Department of Rural Development for the year 2023-24?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) National Social Assistance Programme

Explanation:

• In the 2023–24 Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) assessment for the Department of Rural Development, the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) received the highest score.
• The NSAP is a welfare initiative that provides social security to the economically weaker sections of society, including senior citizens, widows, and disabled individuals.
• Under this programme, financial assistance is given through schemes such as the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).
• The programme plays a critical role in ensuring social inclusion and reducing poverty and vulnerability in rural India.
• Strong data governance in NSAP ensures accuracy, transparency, and accountability in its implementation, directly benefiting the targeted population.
• This achievement highlights the programme's commitment to leveraging data-driven insights for enhanced service delivery and policy-making.

Information Booster:

• The MGNREGA-Programme Component, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are also significant programmes under the Department of Rural Development.
• However, they did not achieve the highest DGQI score in 2023–24.

Additional Knowledge:

• The Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) is a comprehensive framework developed by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog.
• Its purpose is to assess and enhance the quality of data governance in various ministries and departments of the Indian government by fostering evidence-based decision-making, data-driven policy implementation, and enhancing transparency and accountability in public governance.
• The ministries are evaluated along the following metrics to measure their data governance maturity: data quality, data security, use of technology, transparency and data dissemination, and human resource capacity.