The Niti Aayog is revamping its Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) to achieve better results in India's underdeveloped districts. The revamped ADP 2.0 will focus on innovation and training, with revised key performance indicators and a new 'Inspirational Districts' category for top-performing districts.
According to the policy think tank, the existing framework will undergo major refinements and structural improvements, with selective modifications in programme design and implementation process. New districts may be added to the scheme, and the emphasis will be on innovation and training people in selected districts.
The cash rewards for the best performers might be done away with, as several existing indicators have reached near-saturation across most districts, leaving limited scope for incremental gains. The KPI framework will be revised and rationalised by July 2026 to sharpen focus on remaining gaps and drive last-mile saturation.
The top-performing districts among the 112 ADP districts will be graduated into an 'Inspirational Districts' category, acting as torchbearers and mentors for other aspirational districts. They will be ranked separately and will not be eligible for award funds under the challenge method, though they may access support under the innovation category.
