MPLAD Scheme: UPSC Daily Important Topic | 9 December 2021

•The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a program first launched during the Narasimha Rao Government in 1993.

•It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India.

•It was aimed towards providing funds for developmental works recommended by individual MPs.

•The MPs then were entitled to recommend works to the tune of Rs 1 crore annually between 1994-95 and 1997-98, after which the annual entitlement was enhanced to Rs 2 crore.

•The UPA government since 2011-12 raised the annual entitlement to Rs 5 crore per MP.

•To implement their plans in an area, MPs have to recommend them to the District Authority of the respective Nodal District.

•The District Authorities then identify Implementing Agencies that execute the projects.

•The respective District Authority is supposed to oversee the implementation and has to submit monthly reports, audit reports, and work completion reports to the Nodal District Authority.

•The MPLADS funds can be merged with other schemes such as MGNREGA and Khelo India.