A Critical Evaluation of PMGSY Implementation in Haryana: Policy, Funding, and Execution Challenges

Dalip Kumar — 2025-12-15

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), launched in 2000, has been one of India’s flagship programs aimed at enhancing rural connectivity and inclusive growth. Despite its nationwide success, the implementation trajectory across states reveals significant disparities. This paper critically evaluates PMGSY implementation in Haryana during 2016–2023, focusing on policy design, fund utilization, execution quality, and institutional accountability. Haryana, despite its above-average road density and receipt of over ₹2,500 crores under PMGSY, continues to underperform relative to neighbouring states such as Punjab and Rajasthan. The study employs a mixed-method research design combining quantitative analysis of secondary data with qualitative case studies from Bhiwani and Hisar districts. Data were sourced from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports, and Haryana Statistical Abstracts. Analytical tools include inter-district comparison, fund-utilization efficiency ratios, content analysis of implementation documents, and field-level policy matrix evaluation. Comparative benchmarking with Punjab and Rajasthan is used to contextualize Haryana’s performance. The results demonstrate persistent implementation inefficiencies and governance gaps. Between 2016 and 2023, fund utilization in Haryana fluctuated between 76 and 90 percent, accompanied by disbursement delays of up to eight months. Only 47.2 percent of the targeted rural roads were completed, compared to 89 percent in Punjab and 93.5 percent in Rajasthan. Quality-control issues affected nearly 18 percent of projects, indicating weak contractor supervision and limited third-party auditing. Despite digital governance tools like OMMAS, real-time monitoring and e-accounting systems remain underused. District-level evidence from Bhiwani and Hisar further reveals that local fiscal bottlenecks, weak institutional coordination, and delayed state contributions have hindered progress. In Bhiwani, only 67 percent of allocated funds were utilized, with poor drainage and design deficiencies causing early road deterioration. In Hisar, 62.7 percent of targeted works were completed, but overlapping expenditures with other schemes and manual record-keeping reduced transparency. The social implications are severe: school dropout rates rose in remote areas due to poor accessibility, while transport costs for marginal farmers increased by 15–18 percent, limiting their access to agri-markets. The study argues that Haryana’s PMGSY experience reflects systemic governance failures rather than financial inadequacy. The findings emphasize the necessity of decentralizing planning to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and ensuring participatory decision-making. Policy recommendations include (i) strengthening local governance and Gram Sabha involvement, (ii) institutionalizing third-party audits and performance-linked funding, (iii) integrating gender-sensitive and climate-resilient road designs, (iv) establishing a dedicated post-construction maintenance fund, and (v) aligning PMGSY objectives with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 11, and 13. By situating Haryana’s case within the broader discourse of fiscal federalism and rural governance, the paper underscores that infrastructural development must transcend expenditure efficiency to encompass institutional reform and community accountability. Aligning PMGSY with sustainability indicators and leveraging digital monitoring can bridge the state’s rural infrastructure gap and enhance socio-economic mobility. The study thus contributes to the evolving debate on rural road governance by providing evidence-based insights for policymakers and development economists seeking to make rural connectivity more inclusive, transparent, and future-ready.

Government Schemes for Development of MSMEs in India

Padmini Tomer — 2025-12-15

For socio economic development of the country like India, the MSME sector play crucial role and become backbone of country’s economy. Employment, Exports and GDP growth of the country is directly influenced by the contribution of this sector. This sector provides employment to around 26 crore peoples with the help of more than 7.34 crore MSME’s and become vital component of Indian economy. It further contributes in entrepreneurship development and innovation with the help of digitalization, financial inclusion and supporting government policies. Moreover, this sector also facilitates Indian government to achieve the goal of sustainable development and become number one economy in coming decades. The concept of MSME was first introduced in the year 1951 under industrial (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 and reshaped in present structure with the help of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006. In country’s Gross Value Added the share of MSMEs increase from 27.3 % in the year 2020-21 to 30.1% in the year 2022-2023. Both the number of exporting MSMEs and export from MSMEs also increased manifold during 2020 to 2024. Despite all above achievements this sector suffers from problems like inadequate formal credit and limited access to financial support. Lack of skilled labour, inadequate infrastructure, absolute technology, competition, limited market access, climate change and sustainability issues are main hurdles in progress of this sector. Above all lack of formalization leads to hurdle in accessing formal credit. To overcome above problems huge initiatives are taken by Indian government in the form of both financial and non-financial schemes like Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), StandUp India, PM Vishwakarma Scheme, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, Credit Guarantee Schemes, and Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) etc. To study government initiatives for MSMEs sector in India this research article has been planned. This research article also highlighted latest trends and how government efforts help to promote sustainable growth in this sector. Mainly secondary data has been considered to frame this paper.

International Journal of Management and Development Studies

A Critical Evaluation of PMGSY Implementation in Haryana: Policy, Funding, and Execution Challenges

Government Schemes for Development of MSMEs in India