Status: The government is implementing the Aspirational District programme to improve the socio-economic conditions of 25 crore people living in 112 backward districts across 27 states/UT. While most of these districts have improved, other districts have shown rapid progress. On a similar template, the government has launched the Aspiration Blocks Programme to fast-track the development of 500 underdeveloped blocks. The government has also launched the mission Purvodaya to ensure speedier development of eastern India by turning the region into an integrated steel hub. Eastern states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and north Andhra collectively possess 80% of Iron ore, almost 100% coking coal and 30% of India’s port capacity. The mission aims to leverage these advantages to set up steel plants and develop steel clusters, logistics and utilities infrastructure. However, no specific funds have been provided for this mission in the past three years. On the outcome side, one greenfield plant in the public sector has come up in Nagarnar, Chattisgarh. i ii iii iv v