The paper attempts to assess both efficiency and adequacy (i) in identification and (ii) of benefits from National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). It includes a discussion on the use of citizens’ identifier (Aadhar) to facilitate the administration of NSAP, and whether the design could be adapted and serve as a precursor to a Universal Basic Income (UBI) programme. The revised paper contextualizes the discussion on India with an international comparison and utilizes information from the programme dashboard for analysis across Indian states.

The project analyses the plausible links between gender and federalism with special emphasis on tax transfers, expenditure assignments and fiscal decentralization.

The objective of the study is to review the functioning of SFCs and effectiveness of their recommendations in strengthening the process of decentralization in India.

Subsequent to inputs received on an earlier version, the paper is under revision to include a sub-section that works out a proposal to rationalize defined benefits under the ‘old pension system’. We propose to curtail ‘terminal benefits’, namely: (i) leave encashment, and (ii) commutation of pension. It is argued that these ‘terminal benefits’ work against the rationale for ‘work-life balance’ intended by the provision of ‘earned leaves’, while ‘commutation of pension’ is a largesse pre-empting a stream of conditional future benefits. The resources thus released may be utilized to adequately finance the annual government contribution of INR 1,000 into the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) accounts for all extant unorganized sector workers less than 40 years of age. Further, it is proposed that this unrequited contribution (by the Government) must be continued for the worker with an APY account until age 60, as well as into the APY accounts for eligible entrants that newly join the labour force. Portability of accounts across occupations and geographies must be ensured.