It is a widely accepted truth that the Indian state suffers from serious crisis of implementation capability. Despite widespread recognition this crisis, there remarkably little analytical work on how works, particularly at level implementation. We know very about everyday practices local bureaucrats, decision-making systems within which they function and organizational culture norms fosters. Such an understanding critical both to unpacking roots failure as well reform efforts are...

Existing literature has established that a diverse workforce is more creative and productive, with academia being no exception. Research on gender diversity in academia, especially economics so far focused the developed world. This article examines India by analyzing share of women faculty positions, journal publications, participation conference held annually since 2004. Unlike some countries, students actually constitute majority at Master's level India. Yet, evidence suggests women's...

Despite widespread and substantial private expenditure on tutoring outside the formal school system in many developing countries, not much is known about their effects learning outcomes. The main challenge estimating such an effect that decision to send child for correlated with unobserved variables which are also

This paper examines the relationship between prevalence of water borne diseases and gender head village councils by exploiting a natural experiment in local governance India. A constitutional amendment early 1990s ensured that only women could contest elections be at least one-third selected through an exogenous process.

This paper is the first attempt to rigorously evaluate short term effects of 'Janani Suraksha Yojna' (Safe Motherhood Scheme), a nationwide conditional cash transfer program in India, launched April 2005. Under scheme, woman delivering her child medical facility provided monetary rewards.

Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are an increasingly popular tool for incentivizing behavior. This paper evaluates impact of one the largest CCTs in world, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) India, on institutional deliveries. Maternal mortality is high India and JSY aims to reduce it by encouraging deliveries through provision monetary incentives women if they deliver medical facilities, local community health workers facilitate such Exploiting key differences program design between ‘low...

Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education (RTE) places a legal obligation on unaided non-minority private schools admit at least 25 percent their students from economically weaker and socially disadvantaged backgrounds in entry level classes. This article draws detailed study: “State Nation Report: RTE 12(1)(c)”, which analyses legal, financial administrative aspects 12(1)(c). The report finds that state governments have done little ensure its effective implementation large ambiguities...

With a view to reduce high levels of maternal and neonatal mortality, the National Rural Health Mission launched Janani Suraksha Yojana in 2005. This is an innovative conditional cash transfer programme provide monetary incentives women deliver medical facilities. study evaluates its functioning by using unique data set covering eight districts spread across seven “low performing states” country. It shows that JSY working reasonably well, judging proportion receiving after delivering...

The PAISA 2011 report is based on the surveys conducted through Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) that covered more than 14,000 schools across rural India in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Information was collected citizen-led making first only national level, citizen - led effort to track public expenditure education.

Can inequalities in private school access be bridged through a government mandate? Enacted 2009, India's "Right to Education" mandated almost all schools admit at least 25 percent of children their entry class from "economically weak and socially disadvantaged" groups. In this paper, we investigate the impact mandate on nature chosen by targeted households one largest cities India. Applying double-difference estimation strategy, compare choices elder siblings (not eligible for mandate)...

PAISA 2010 is the second annual report which analyzes timing of receipt various grants at school level, under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All) program Government India. This based on a survey 13,000 government schools spread across India and represents unique effort to collect data funds flow micro level.

Can a mandate for inclusive school education translate into reality? What challenges can undermine it in the context of stratified schooling system? We discuss this India's landmark Right to Education Act. A controversial clause Act mandates that private schools should reserve at least 25 percent entry-level seats disadvantaged sections society. This paper, drawing on detailed survey 1642 households, and interactions with parents over 2014–2019, unpacks experiences households who applied...

This report, based on a sample of 20 Gram Panchayats (GP) in Birbhum district, West Bengal (India), is an attempt to analyze GP level finances. More specifically, the report attempts answer following questions: 1) Do get their money? 2) GPs all 3) When do receive 4) spend 5) What money on?