FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: ICR00006506 IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION AND RESULTS REPORT IDA-69560, IDA-69550 and IBRD-92800 ON A LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF US$387.50 MILLION CREDITS IN THE AMOUNT OF US$112.50 MILLION TO INDIA FOR THE CREATING A COORDINATED AND RESPONSIVE INDIAN SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM (CCRISP) (P176447) April 22, 2024 Social Protection & Jobs Global Practice South Asia Region The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective April 12, 2024) Currency Unit = Indian Rupee (INR) INR 83.46 = US$1 US$ 1.32 = SDR 1 FISCAL YEAR July 1 - June 30 Regional Vice President: Martin Raiser Country Director: Auguste Tano Kouame Regional Director: Nicole Klingen Practice Manager: Cem Mete Task Team Leader(s): Shrayana Bhattacharya, Ambrish Shahi ICR Main Contributor: Randa G. El-Rashidi, Eliane Razafimandimby Ramiandrison The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADB Asian Development Bank NCAP National Clean Air Program NCLT National Company Law Tribunal AFD Agence Francaise de Development NDC Nationally Determined Contribution BHIM-UPI Bharat Interface for Money - Unified NDMA National Disaster Management Payments Interface Authority CPF Country Partnership Framework NSAP National Social Assistance Program CPR Centre for Policy Research NSSF National Social Security Fund CMIE Center for Monitoring the Indian NUDM National Urban Digital Mission Economy COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019 ONORC One Nation One Ration Card CPF Country Partnership Framework PforR Program for Results CSS Centrally Sponsored Schemes PDO Program development Objective DBT Direct Benefit Transfer PDS Public Distribution System DEA Department of Economic Affairs PFM Public Financial Management DMEO Development Monitoring and PMGKY Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Evaluation office Yojana DPF Development Policy Financing RBI Reserve Bank of India SC Scheduled Castes DPO Development Policy Operation SCD Systematic Country Diagnostic DRM Disaster Risk Management SDRF State Disaster Relief Fund EPoD Evidence for Policy Design SEC Socio-Economic Census FCI Food Corporation India SFC State Food Corporations FFC Fifteenth Finance Commission SP Social Protection ST Scheduled Tribes FPS Fair Price Shop TPDS Targeted Public Distribution System GDP Gross Domestic Product ULB Urban Local Body GNP Gross National Product UNMANG Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance GOI GOI UT Union Territory IBRD International Bank for Bank Bank Group Reconstruction and Development IDA International Development Association IFC International Finance Corporation IDFC Infrastructure Development Finance Committee IMF International Monetary Fund JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JPAL Jameel Poverty Action Lab KfW Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau MoHUA Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) MHA Ministry of Home Affairs MOF Ministry of Finance MSME Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MTEF Medium-Term Expenditure Framework The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) TABLE OF CONTENTS DATA SHEET ...................................................................................................................................... i I. PROGRAM CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES .......................................................... 1 II. ASSESSMENT OF KEY PROGRAM DESIGN AND OUTCOMES ..................................................... 4 III. OTHER OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 15 IV. BANK PERFORMANCE ......................................................................................................... 17 V. RISK TO SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES ..................................................... 19 VI. LESSONS AND NEXT PHASE.................................................................................................. 19 ANNEX 1. RESULTS FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................... 21 ANNEX 2. BANK LENDING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT/SUPERVISION PROCESSES .................. 27 ANNEX 3. BORROWER, CO-FINANCIERS, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’/STAKEHOLDERS’ COMMENTS ................................................................................................................................... 30 ANNEX 4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................. 31 ANNEX 5. SEQUENCING OF REFORMS AND OTHER WB OPERATIONS ............................................... 39 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) . . DATA SHEET BASIC INFORMATION Product Information Project ID Program Name P176447 Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) Country Financing Instrument India Development Policy Lending DPF Options Programmatic Regular Deferred Drawdown Option Catastrophic Deferred Drawdown Option No No No Crisis or Post Conflict Sub-National Lending Special Development Policy Lending Yes No No Organizations Borrower Implementing Agency Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of India Finance Program Development Objective (PDO) Program Development Objective (PDO) The Development Objective of the proposed operation is to strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through a resilient and coordinated social protection system. Page i The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) PROGRAM FINANCING DATA (USD) FINANCE_TBL Approved Amount Actual Disbursed World Bank Administered Financing 18,000,000 17,879,904 IDA-69560 94,500,000 94,500,000 IDA-69550 387,500,000 387,500,000 IBRD-92800 Total 500,000,000 499,879,904 KEY DATES Concept Review Decision Review Approval Effectiveness Original Closing Actual Closing 30-Mar-2021 20-May-2021 29-Jun-2021 02-Sep-2021 31-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2022 RATINGS SUMMARY Program Performance Overall Outcome Relevance of Prior Actions Achievement of Objectives (Efficacy) Satisfactory Highly Satisfactory Satisfactory Bank Performance Highly Satisfactory RATINGS OF PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN ISRs Actual No. Date ISR Archived DO Rating IP Rating Disbursements (US$M) Page ii The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) SECTORS AND THEMES Sectors Mitigation Co- Adaptation Co- Major Sector/Sector (%) benefits (%) benefits (%) SECTOR0_TBL Public Administration 91 22.06 12.48 Central Government (Central Agencies) 46 28 15 Sub-National Government 36 13 3 Other Public Administration 9 50 50 SECTOR0_TBL Information and Communications Technologies 9 0.00 0.00 ICT Services 9 0 0 Themes Major Theme/ Theme (Level 2)/ Theme (Level 3) (%) Economic Policy 9 Economic Growth and Planning 9 Migration, Remittances and Diaspora 9 Engagement Private Sector Development 18 ICT 18 ICT Solutions 18 Finance 18 Financial Infrastructure and Access 18 Payment & markets infrastructure 9 Financial inclusion 9 Finance for Development 18 Disaster Risk Finance 18 Page iii The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Public Sector Management 36 Public Finance Management 36 Public Expenditure Management 36 Public Administration 9 Transparency, Accountability and Good 9 Governance Data Development and Capacity Building 9 Data production, accessibility and use 9 Social Development and Protection 55 Social Protection 55 Social Safety Nets 45 Social Insurance and Pensions 9 Social protection delivery systems 18 Human Development and Gender 100 Gender 27 Disease Control 100 Pandemic Response 100 Urban and Rural Development 18 Urban Development 18 Urban Infrastructure and Service Delivery 9 Urban Planning 9 Disaster Risk Management 13 Disaster Response and Recovery 8 Disaster Risk Reduction 5 Page iv The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Environment and Natural Resource Management 34 Climate change 34 Mitigation 22 Adaptation 12 Environmental Health and Pollution Management 9 Air quality management 9 Renewable Natural Resources Asset Management 9 Forests Policies and institutions 9 Environmental policies and institutions 18 ACCOUNTABILITY AND DECISION MAKING Role At Approval At ICR Regional Vice President: Hartwig Schafer Martin Raiser Country Director: Junaid Kamal Ahmad Auguste Tano Kouame Director: Lynne D. Sherburne-Benz Nicole Klingen Practice Manager: Stefano Paternostro Cem Mete Qaiser Mahmood Khan, Shrayana Shrayana Bhattacharya, Task Team Leader(s): Bhattacharya Ambrish Shahi . Page v The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) I. PROGRAM CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES 1. This Implementation Completion and Results report assesses the achievement of a Development Policy Operation, “Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System.” The US$500 million operation was approved in June 2021 to support the Government of India (GOI) to build back better and create an adaptive, decentralized, and coordinated and responsive social protection system to meet the evolving needs of the new Indian economy. This operation built on lessons learned from the recent DPF series: First and Second Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response (P173943 & P174027) Development Policy Financing Operations (DPFs) through which emergency social assistance was provided following the COVID-19 crisis. The loan fully disbursed and closed on September 24, 2021.1 Context at Appraisal 2. In the decade preceding the global pandemic, the Government of India (GoI) engineered, within a predominantly informal workforce, rapid economic growth, and steep reductions in absolute poverty. Rural, residency-based social assistance dominated a large and complex set of near-universal decentralized social protection schemes. Digitized socio-economic census data, state-level databases, and the Aadhaar digital ID network supplemented the targeting of poor and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and Public Distribution System (PDS) delivered (and continue to deliver) cash and in-kind assistance, respectively. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic shocks immediately stemmed, and progressively reversed, these development gains. 3. National and state governments took extraordinary measures to counter the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, restricting economic activities, and a complete lockdown of 1.3 billion people. As states-imposed circuit-breakers to contain the disease, unemployment rates rose. A gap between urban and rural unemployment was triggered, with unemployment rates increasing by 2.45 percentage points and rural unemployment rates increasing by 0.5 percentage points the April-March 2021 period. Among workers in urban formal employment, over 70 percent did not have contracts, 54 percent were not entitled to paid sick leave, and 49 percent did not have any form of social security benefits. Without access to savings or workplace-based social protection benefits, informal workers, gig workers, and interstate migrants risked falling into poverty. 4. The Indian economy was contracting when the COVID-19 outbreak unfolded. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth had moderated from 8.3 percent in FY16/17 to 4.0 percent in FY19/20. The growth deceleration was due mostly to: (i) impaired balance sheets in the Banking and corporate sectors affecting credit and investment; and (ii) a marked decline in private consumption growth. The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to economic activity. The implementation of a national lockdown, late-March 2020 onward following the onset of the “first wave” resulted in a major slowdown in economic activity. Over the first quarter of FY20/21 (April-June 2020) real output contracted by 24.4 percent before rebounding on a sequential basis in the second quarter of FY20/21 and returning to positive territory in the third quarter of FY20/21. However, the lockdowns imposed by various states following the timeframe of “second wave” resulted in a fresh round of disruptions in mobility and activity, hampering the rebound witnessed in FY20/21. Further, the weekly unemployment rate, released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), increased by 1 The difference between the approved amount and disbursed amount was due to the exchange rate differences between the SDR and USD values. Page 1 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) about 3 percentage points since the end of March 2021 to 9.5 percent by mid-May 2021, with a significant jump in urban unemployment. 5. India’s macroeconomic policy framework remained adequate for Development Policy Financing. While real output declined precipitously in FY20/21, growth was expected to resume as of FY21/22, once the second wave” receded and the pace of vaccinations gathered pace July 2021 onwards. In view of measures by the RBI to mitigate the fallout from the impact of COVID-19, ample domestic funding was available and refinancing risks were moderate. While India’s exposure to external volatility had increased, high reserve levels and limited external financing needs provided adequate buffers. Further strengthening of resolution mechanisms to tackle the likely broadening of financial sector stress was key in restoring investor confidence in the economy. The government had proposed in the Union Budget (February 2021) that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) framework be strengthened, and that the e-Courts system be implemented. Thus, while significant risks remained, the government and regulatory agencies (Reserve Bank and Securities and Stock Exchange Board)) demonstrated capacity to respond swiftly and adequately. Rationale for Bank Assistance and Choice of Instrument 6. The proposed DPF supported the GOI’s efforts to strengthen and expand its social protection system through a series of reforms to address rapid urbanization, structural transformations in the labor market and climate change. Even before COVID-19, India needed a more adaptive social protection system to address the needs of a more urban, mobile, and diverse population and foster greater support to sub-national governments to tackle the pandemic and future disasters and ecological risks. The Bank had conducted significant analytical work (see Annex 4) that substantiated the need for reforms and the onset of the pandemic escalated their urgency. The reform package was designed to improve efficiency of delivery and address structural challenges that emerged due to a centralized one-size-fits-all social protection approach, proliferation of national schemes, lack of benefits portability and limited for support migrants and urban informal workers. Thus, the proposed operation underpinned the GoI’s focus on creating a dynamic and responsive social protection system and strengthened the prospects of results being achieved successfully. The key objectives of the government program supported through the proposed DPF series were consistent with the COVID-19 strategy to ‘build back better’ and the India Country Partnership Framework’s (CPF) 2018-22 focus on building modern systems of social protection, supporting India to shift away from fragmented schemes, and enhance the poor and vulnerable informal workers’ resilience against future shocks. The Bank had substantial experience in the priority areas and was well positioned to help the country address the severe economic challenges. 7. The DPF aligned with focus areas of the Bank’s engagement in India. The operation was consistent with the Bank COVID-19 Strategy to ‘build back better’ and the India Country Partnership Framework (2018-22). The India CPF was adjusted to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the Bank, in consultations with the GOI, developed a three-stage COVID-19 response strategy. The first stage supported the health system to help fight the pandemic, for which a billion- dollar program was approved by the Bank. The second stage aimed to provide social protection to those displaced by the economic shock, with a focus on mitigating the crisis on the poor and vulnerable through the two DPF series, Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program (P173943 and P174027) providing a billion dollars for social protection. According to the program documents, a third phase of interventions was planned focusing on the recovery of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and key corporate sectors was planned. The MSME sector received $750 million DPL (2020/2021) as part of the Bank’s overall support to GoI under COVID. In addition, the $500 million Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance under the Program for Results (PforR - P172226) was approved in June 2021. 8. The DPF leveraged the Bank’s global and deep country knowledge on social protection, gained through technical assistance and analytics over the past decade. Over the years, the Bank worked closely with national and Page 2 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) state authorities to understand the strengths and lacuna of existing social protection programs in India. Improvements in last-mile delivery of cash transfers were catalyzed by providing technical support to the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission responsible for digital payments into beneficiary bank accounts. The Bank’s technical support to the Ministry of Rural Development to leverage the Socio-Economic Census (SEC) data for targeting helped improve transparency of beneficiary identification for programs in India using digitized asset and socio-demographic data. 9. It complemented key reforms of the First and Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program (P173943 and P174027) Development Policy Operation. The proposed operation drew on lessons learned from the first wave of the pandemic to outline and support key reforms for the second wave and future crises beyond COVID-19. Discussions were underway during the appraisal of DPF 2 for additional Bank support to improve coverage and responsiveness of the Indian social protection system towards informal workers with an emphasis on accelerating portable benefits and fostering greater support to sub-national governments to tackle the ongoing pandemic and future disaster and ecological risks. However, considering the need for emergency response during the 2nd wave of the pandemic, a decision was made to proceed with the quick preparation of DPF 2 to be followed by a standalone DPF as internal GoI requirements necessitated additional time and consensus building. Original Program Development Objective(s) (PDO) (as approved) 10. The PDO is to strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through a resilient and coordinated social protection system. Original Policy Areas/Pillars Supported by the Program (as approved) 11. The operation focused on key structural reforms through four pillars: Pillar 1: Institutional Coordination 12. Pillar 1 initiated systemic reforms to provide more context-specific and climate-responsive social protection in Indian states. This included systems integration reforms to: (i) streamline and consolidate major social protection schemes and fund-flows; (ii) provide additional disaster risk management grants to states; and (iii) enhance allocations for response and relief activities in states. Pillar 2: Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers 13. Pillar 2 supported vertical reforms to cover urban informal workers, gig-workers, and interstate migrants. This included ICT and fintech reforms to: (i) improve the digital infrastructure of urban municipalities thru the National Digital Urban Mission; and (ii) expand access to credit/loans for urban street vendors, targeting women-owned micro enterprises, thru the SVANIDHI Initiative. Pillar 3: Strengthening Delivery Systems 14. Pillar three supported delivery systems reforms to tighten targeting methodologies and payment chains for maximal digital and portable inclusion. This included last-mile reforms to: (i) capture and bank difficult-to-reach urban, rural, and migratory Indians thru the RuPay debit card; and (ii) raise awareness and increase uptake of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) benefits thru the Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UNMANG). Pillar 4: Climate Action 15. Pillar 4 supported climate action reforms to increase the adaptation and mitigation capacities of the most vulnerable. This included policy and fiscal reforms to: (i) integrate climate- and disaster-risk indexes into safety nets and Page 3 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) state budget apportionments; (ii) incentivize states to reduce air pollution through performance-based grants; and (iii) frame, track, and provide transparency to the country’s alignment with the Paris Agreement. Significant Changes during Implementation 16. The primary client underwent leadership changes; the fluid pandemic context necessitated agile, mid-stream adjustments; and a food price crisis ensued. New leadership in the Department of Economic Affairs assessed the prevailing context from the first and second social protection DPF and implemented lessons learned into state operations to ensure better response and scale up of safety net systems. II. ASSESSMENT OF KEY PROGRAM DESIGN AND OUTCOMES Prior Actions Results Indicators (original and revised) PILLAR 1 INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION Prior Action 1: The Ministry of Finance has Result Indicator 1 - Achieved: Percentage share of states that have received a increased devolution to state governments direct grant from the GOI following the recommendations of FFC and direct grants to local governments, Baseline (2021): 0% with an increase in central grants to states Target (2023): 100% for disaster management (and 40% of State Current status (2023): 100% Disaster Response Funds earmarked for (Source: FY23/24 budget) response and relief activities, including livelihood support and cash transfers, among other for disaster relief). Result Indicator 2 - Achieved: Size of central FFC grants made to states for annual budget period Baseline (2021): INR 149,924 crore Target (2023): INR 220,843 INR crore Current status (2023): INR 220,843 crore [Source: 2021/22 Union budget] Prior Action 2: The Ministry of Finance has Result Indicator 3 - Achieved: Amount of NSSF loan assistance to Food incorporated the food subsidy into the Corporation of India Budget 2021/22 as part of the Department Baseline (2021): INR 84,636 crore of Food and Public Distribution demand for Target (2023): INR 0 grants. Current status (2023): INR 0 [Source: FCI Website: Brief on Fund Position Jun 30, 2023] Prior Action 3: The Ministry of Finance has Result Indicator 4 - Achieved: The GOI has rationalized centrally sponsored initiated a detailed exercise to rationalize schemes and reduce the number of centrally Baseline (2021): No sponsored schemes. Target (2023): Yes Current status (2023): Yes, number of schemes has been reduced from 460 to 313. [Source: Direct Benefit Transfer Portal] PILLAR 2 EXPANDING SOCIAL PROTECTION NET FOR URBAN INFORMAL WORKERS Prior Action 4: The Ministry of Housing and Result Indicator 5 - Achieved: Percentage of urban municipalities receiving Urban Affairs has launched the National benefits through NUDM Urban Digital Mission, which will upgrade Baseline (2021): 0% data infrastructure and create data Target (2023): 33% exchange platforms for urban Current status (2023): 58.54% municipalities. [Source: March 2022–Press Information Bureau] Page 4 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Actions Results Indicators (original and revised) Prior Action 5: The Ministry of Housing and Result Indicator 6 - Achieved: Percentage of street vendors receiving benefits Urban Affairs has launched a new from SVANIDHI credit/loan program for urban street Baseline (2021): 40% vendors. Target (2023): 55% Current status (2023): 113 % [Source: November 2023–MoHUA] Result Indicator 7 – Partially Achieved: Of total SVANIDHI beneficiaries, percentage of women street vendors Baseline (2021): 40% Target (2023): 50% Current status (2023): 44.4% [40% achieved (44.4-40)/(50-40) ] [Source: MoHUA] PILLAR 3 STRENGTHENING DELIVERY SYSTEMS Prior Action 6: The Ministry of Electronics Result Indicator 8 - Achieved: Digital payment volumes and Information Technology has Baseline (2021): 43,383.28 million formulated a draft scheme with incentives Target (2023): 47,000 million to boost digital transactions in India. Current status (2023): 91,920 million [Source: Dec 2022 – Press Information Bureau] Prior Action 7: The Ministry of Consumer Result Indicator 9: Number of informal workers receiving benefits per month Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has from the ONORC Initiative launched a mobile-based application for Baseline (2021): 13 million migrants to locate the nearest fair price Target (2023): 20 million shop to receive food grains Current status (2023): N/A Alternative Result Indicator - Achieved: Number of portable transactions per month from the ONORC Initiative Baseline (2021): 22 million Target (2023): 30 million Current status (2023): 35 million [Source: August 2022–Press Information Bureau] PILLAR 4 CLIMATE ACTION Prior Action 8: The Ministry of Finance has Result Indicator 10 - Achieved: Share of states receiving transfer from the GOI enhanced weightage given to forest and based on forest, ecology, and disaster risk index ecology, climate vulnerabilities, and Baseline (2021): 0% disaster risk of each state in allocating Target (2023): 33% central government grants to state Current status (2023): 100% governments for disaster management. [Source: March 2023–Ministry of Home Affairs, Disaster Management Division] Prior Action 9: The Ministry of Finance has Result Indicator 11 - Achieved: Percentage of million plus cities that have developed central challenge grants for received funds in 2022/23 cities with populations above one million Baseline (2021): 0% based on achievement of air quality Target (2023): 10% parameters. Current status (2023): 40.5% [Source: October 2022– Press Information Bureau] Prior Action 10: The Ministry of Result Indicator 12 - Achieved: Responsibilities of concerned ministry for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change implementing Paris Agreement have been defined. has created a multi-sectoral committee to Baseline (2021): No monitor progress of India’s implementation Target (2023): Yes of the Paris Agreement. Current status (2023): Yes Page 5 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Actions Results Indicators (original and revised) Prior Action 11: The Ministry of [Source: July 2022–Press Information Bureau] Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has created a portal to capture key adaptation and mitigation actions taken by ministries and to help disseminate among citizens information on key climate change matters in India. Tranche # Amount (USD) Expected Release Actual Release Date Release Date Tranche 1 500,000 24 Sept 2021 Regular Relevance of Prior Actions Rating: Highly Satisfactory 17. The Project Development Objective and the Prior Actions supported country systems to rapidly adjust and deliver new services amid a global pandemic while responding to the changing socio-economic landscape. The PDO was appropriate, being neither too general nor too detailed and expressing the overall objectives of the PAs. The PAs were well sequenced, tightly aligned with the World Bank India Country Partnership Framework FY2018–22, and highly relevant to the country context and priorities at appraisal. PILLAR I: Institutional Coordination Rating: Highly satisfactory Prior Action #1: Increased devolution to state governments and direct grants to local government bodies. Rating: Highly Satisfactory 18. PA#1 was highly relevant, ensuring state governments had access to more flexible financing for social protection to respond to future shocks. Decentralization was key to fostering responsive and adaptive social protection interventions designed to address the growing needs and risk profiles across states and regions in India .This key fiscal reform (contained in the Union budget and legislatively approved) built on the lessons learned in the development policy financing, “Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response”, and supported the implementation of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC) recommendations for the State Disaster Relief Fund grants. During the COVID crisis, states were allowed to use the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to provide complementary social assistance to vulnerable Indian populations (i.e., migrant workers stranded due to lockdown measures) excluded from existing social protection schemes. The grant formulation marks the first use of a climate- and disaster-risk index in India towards social protection to implement COVID-19 pandemic as a “disaster”, and this created a fine-tuned, pro-poor budget instrument. The resulting grants provided additional funds to poor states located in high-risk and vulnerable zones and facilitated effective response to the needs to deliver cash/shelter relief to migrants excluded from PMGKY. In addition, with 40 percent of the grants earmarked for relief assistance (including cash transfer), states gained flexibility to roll out context- specific safety nets. Page 6 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Action # 2: Transparent fund flows for social protection Rating: Highly Satisfactory 19. PA#2 was relevant, aligning with the Fifteenth Financing Commission recommendations for improved public financial management and thus, heightened transparency, accountability, and governance of allocated funds. Food Corporation India (FCI) manages the national food distribution system, covering 800 million Indians. Prior to the reform, a large portion of its funding came from the National Small Savings Fund as five-year loans in lieu of subsidy, constituting an off-balance sheet expenditure to the government, that were repaid in installments. This expenditure transparency measure brought off-budget borrowings on budget and, thus, increased the predictability of subsidy funds for the food distribution system. It also indicated long-term government commitment to prioritizing access to food. Prior Action # 3: Rationalized centrally sponsored schemes Rating: Highly Satisfactory 20. PA#3 was highly relevant, aligning with the decentralization agenda. At the outset of COVID-19, there were 403 centrally sponsored schemes and most required states to finance a share of expenditures. This measure taken by the Ministry of Finance was in congruence with PA#1 and aligned with the recommendations of the FFC to further decentralize safety nets programs. The central government reviewed and reduced the number of schemes to 313 while focusing on building out the schemes comprising the National Development Agenda. The objective was to facilitate efficient center–state funds flows, allow more direct grants to state governments with the flexibility attached under PA#1, and index grants for climate and disaster risk. The reform leveraged states’ access to national safety net programs, bolstered state capacity for managing multiple schemes and anchored the social registry platform at the state level. PILLAR II: Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers Rating: Highly satisfactory Prior Action # 4: National Urban Digital Mission rolled out. Rating: Highly Satisfactory 21. PA#4 was highly relevant, facilitating the identification of beneficiaries in urban settings and catalyzing the scaling-up safety nets and social insurance for urban informal workers. The National Digital Urban Mission was a government program designed to improve the governance and efficiency of services delivery for cities and municipalities underpinned with tailored digital tools and platforms. This allowed digital registries to capture and compile detailed information on citizens such as ownership of assets or presence of female in the household that would feed data platforms as a single source and identify beneficiaries and informal workers requiring support. Available data was viewed as a mechanism to inform program design and allow for a tailored response. Prior Action # 5: New credit/loan program for urban street vendors Rating: Highly Satisfactory 22. PA#5 was highly relevant, expanding social protection coverage to an important workforce population. In India, urban street vendors represent a majority share of employment in large cities, constituting about 10 million informal, self-employed, micro-enterprise owners. The onset of COVID-19 exposed their vulnerability, inflicting significant suffering and income loss. Building on Prior Action 4, this reform introduced a new credit/loan scheme (SVANIDHI) to timely redress urban street vendors’ reversals and to help municipal governments deliver services to their workforce. Its gender lens improved the financial status, social position, and family/household welfare of women street vendors, raising the voice and agency of women. The SVANIDHI scheme created a virtual cycle of street vendors gaining Page 7 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) formal accreditation (Certificate of Vending or Letter of Recommendation) and urban municipalities collecting detailed information and data, which informs the centrally sponsored scheme database and bolsters the state–central safety net systems. Pillar III: Strengthening Delivery Systems Rating: Highly satisfactory Prior Action # 6: Incentives for promoting digital payments Rating: Highly Satisfactory 23. PA#6 was highly relevant, making digital banking accessible and social protection benefits more efficient. While most of the country had seen a boom in digital connectivity, pockets of the population, including rural populations, urban informal workers, and interstate migrants, were unable to access digital platforms. This one-year government program lowered barriers for the poor and vulnerable to access the RuPay debit card, which the Federal Reserve Bank initiated nearly a decade earlier. The card includes added benefits such as free personal accidental death and permanent total disability insurance coverage. The application of fintech to the least digitalized segment of the population removed banking barriers and the enhanced speed, accuracy, and efficiency of social protection benefits payments. Prior Action # 7: Fair Price Shop mobile application launched. Rating: Highly Satisfactory 24. PA#7 was highly relevant, introducing a turn-key innovation to address interstate migrant needs and to allow flexibility in procuring food grains. This mobile-based application built on the lessons learned in the prior development policy financing, “Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response”, specifically portability of social protection benefits in the new Indian economy. In theory, the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Initiative allowed beneficiaries to purchase rations at Fair Price Shops (FPS) nationwide. In practice, survey data showed that the majority of card holders were not aware of the portability option. This PA launched the “Mera Ration App” through the Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UNMANG), enabling card holders to locate a fair price shop anywhere in India. This helped enhance awareness of and access to the portability options for the migrant workforce. While initially there were challenges like increased demand and supply shortages at FPS, those were addressed through proactive monitoring. Pillar IV: Climate Action Rating: Satisfactory Prior Action # 8: Disaster management grants to states allocated based on ecology, climate vulnerabilities, and disaster profile risk Rating: Highly Satisfactory 25. PA#8 was highly relevant, positioning social protection at the forefront as a strategic tool for climate risk management and bolstering increased resilience. Recognizing the spike in disasters and ecological risks across the country and in line with the FCC recommendations this reform increased weightage from 7 to 10 percent for forest cover and ecological zones, such as mangroves in the disaster-risk index used for the allocations of grants to state governments for disaster management in PA#1. The new methodology (replacing an expenditure-based approach) increased pre- positioned financing earmarked for supporting vulnerable households affected by climate shocks. States with high forest cover and ecologically and climatically vulnerable zones would receive more funds. In addition, increased weightage for disaster-risk meant that disaster-prone states would now receive additional grants to rapidly respond to shocks, Page 8 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) including climate-related disasters. This fiscal reform is reflected in the Union budget legislatively approved by the Indian Parliament. Prior Action # 9: Central challenge grants awarded to large cities based on achievement of air quality parameters. Rating: Highly Satisfactory 26. PA#9 was highly relevant, developing central challenge grants for cities with populations exceeding one million based on achievement of air quality parameters. In India, respiratory illnesses represent one the top five causes of morbidity2 and disproportionally affect the poor who are unable to take preventive measures or cope with the health impacts. Ambient air pollution exacerbates this phenomenon. The introduction of ambient air pollution parameters into challenge grants incentivized states to adopt the necessary measures for reducing air pollution and nudged positive behaviors and activities to manage environmental risks. Both PA#8, and #9 were designed to build environmental resilience and reflect the new World Bank approach in India to include climate-sensitive actions in all national level DPFs. Such actions assume significance as in 2018 alone 23 million people in India were affected by disasters – the most compared to any other country in the world3. The climate-sensitive components of the program were considered critical given India’s growing vulnerability to climate shocks. Prior Action # 10 Multisector committee in place to coordinate/monitor achievements of Nationally Defined Contribution goals. Rating: Moderately Satisfactory 27. PA#10 did not have a direct link with the PDO and the social protection efforts but aligned with the vision of building adaptative and climate-responsive social protection systems for growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. Approximately, 85 percent of the country is vulnerable to hazards such as flooding, cyclones, landsides, and drought4and climatic shocks disproportionately impact the poor and vulnerable. The reform aimed to strengthen the monitoring framework of the country’s climate action plan and ensure a coordinated and efficient response to climate change. In the medium term, it aimed to enhance the ability of the GoI to prepare, respond and adapt to climate shocks through collaborative efforts between various departments allowing for more effective adaptation and mitigation to climate change and natural disasters on vulnerable communities. This PA underpins the important role of social protection in leveraging efforts designed to respond to natural disaster risks and considered critical given India’s growing vulnerability to climate shocks. Prior Action # 11 Climate Knowledge Portal launched. Rating: Moderately Satisfactory 28. PA#11 did not have a direct link with the PDO and the social protection efforts, but aligned with the vision of building adaptative and climate-responsive social protection systems for growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. The reform introduced the India Climate Knowledge Portal to disseminate information on climate change and government mitigation initiatives, thus increase transparency. The portal is a viable platform for enhancing climate data analysis and information systems by line ministries and provides the foundation of a comprehensive database with linkages to disaster risk management and early warning systems, social protection data, and household vulnerability 2 Health and Welfare Statistics in India, 2019-2020. Page 9 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) data. This consolidated information is paramount to harmonizing harmonize data and responses among relevant departments at the national, state, and municipal levels in the face of future shocks. Table 1: Assessment of Relevance of Prior Actions Reform Area Rating PILLAR 1: Institutional Coordination Highly Satisfactory PA #1: Increased devolution to state governments and direct grants to local government bodies Highly satisfactory PA #2: Transparent fund-flows for social protection Highly satisfactory PA #3 Reduced number of centrally sponsored schemes Highly Satisfactory PILLAR 2: Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers Highly Satisfactory PA #4: National Urban Digital Mission rolled out. Highly satisfactory PA #5: New credit/loan program for urban street vendors Highly satisfactory PILLAR 3: Strengthening Delivery Systems Highly Satisfactory PA #6: Incentives for promoting digital payments. Highly Satisfactory PA #7: Fair price shops mobile application launched Highly Satisfactory PILLAR 4: Climate Action Satisfactory PA #8 Disaster management grants to states allocated based on ecology, climate vulnerabilities and Highly Satisfactory disaster-profile risk. PA #9 Central challenge grants awarded to large cities based on achievement of air quality parameters. Highly Satisfactory PA #10 Multi-sector committee in place to coordinate and monitor achievements of Nationally Moderately Determined Contribution goals. Satisfactory PA #11 India Climate Knowledge Portal Launched Moderately Satisfactory OVERALL RATING Highly Satisfactory Achievement of Objectives (Efficacy) Rating: Satisfactory PDO #1 To strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through a better coordinated social protection system. Rating: Highly Satisfactory (4/4 achieved) Prior Action # 1 Increased devolution to state governments and direct grants to local government bodies. 29. Under the first prior action, states and local governments should have access to direct grants from the central government for disaster and response management as per the FFC recommendations. The first results indicator measured the share (percentage) of states that received direct grants from the central government. The second results indicator measured the amount of the central grants transferred to state governments. 30. Results Indicators 1 and 2 were achieved at program close. These two indicators were key to jump starting a decentralized and context-specific social protection framework. The central government was mandated under the constitutional to provide direct grants to 100 percent of the states. Under Prior Action 1 reforms, the grant formulation became pro-poor, and central grants increased from INR 149,924 crore to INR 220,843 crore between fiscal 2020/21 and 2021/22. Page 10 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Action # 2: Transparent fund flows for social protection. 31. The second prior action integrated the food subsidy program into the government budget. The third results indicator measured loans of the food distribution system following the reform. 32. Results Indicator 3 was achieved at program close. Following the reform, the government fully repaid Food Distribution India loans (per its website) by end fiscal 2021. There were no further loans, as the funds flow moved onto the central government budget. Considering that subsidized grains cover 800 million Indians, this reform-built predictability and central government commitment into a more cost-effective and dynamic safety net system.5 Prior Action # 3: Rationalized centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). 33. The third prior action benchmarked centrally sponsored schemes against the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s recommendations to rationalize and reduce their numbers, including a third-party evaluation. The fourth results indicator measured the extent of rationalization. 34. Results Indicator 4 was achieved at program close. Rationalization is a work in progress, as social protection schemes involve direct benefits transfers 6. The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog evaluated 127 centrally sponsored schemes (through third party consultants) and delivered an output–outcome monitoring framework in a CSS Rationalization note. As a result of this initial evaluation, the number of schemes decreased from 460 to 313, spanning over 52 ministries and departments. Further, the exercise increased the accountability of and streamlined the processes for ministries and departments, making the overall safety net system more transparent. 35. Results indicators under this pillar I were relevant and measurable, and targets were appropriate. The results indicators measured correctly progress of interventions towards improved coordination of funds and institutions. Data were sourced from published budget or administrative documents. PDO #2 To strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through expanding the social protection net for urban informal workers. Rating: Satisfactory (2/3 achieved) Prior Action # 4: National Urban Digital Mission rolled out. 36. The fourth prior action upgraded digital infrastructure in urban municipalities for improved governance and efficient services delivery. The fifth results indicator measured the percentage of urban municipalities receiving benefits through the (new) National Digital Urban Mission. 37. Results Indicator 5 was achieved and surpassed at program close. The reform rolled out the National Digital Urban Mission in February 20217 to facilitate the electronic delivery of municipal services. The mission identified 206 cities based on the Fifteenth Finance Commission recommendations; of these 206 cities, 54 percent enrolled in the program as of October 2023. This represents a target overage of nearly 20 percentage points, highlighting the fast uptake across all segments of the population and all tiers of government of accessible digitized services. 5 Department of Food and Public Distribution Annual report 2022-2023 6 The number of direct beneficiary transfers is from the website of the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission, Government of India. Page 11 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Action # 5: New credit/loan program for urban street vendors. 38. The fifth prior action initiated a new credit/loan program for urban street vendors. The Ministry of Health and Urban Affair established a target of 5 million urban street vendors. The sixth results indicator adopted this target to measure coverage of the SVANINDI Initiative. The seventh results indicator measured the gender-sensitivity of the initiative. 39. Results Indicator 6 was surpassed at program close. The SVANIDHI Initiative provided accessible credit/loans to nearly 5, 658 million street vendors, exceeding the target of 5 million set by the MoHUA within nine fiscal quarters. The initiative provided collateral-free working capital credit/loans to urban street vendors who registered and received formal accreditation with their municipal governments. The program folded vendors into the formal social protection and banking systems; monthly paid vendors a 7 percent interest subsidy plus up to INR 100 crore for digital transactions; and facilitated the state to capture detailed information for improved social protection targeting and services delivery. 40. Results Indicator 7 was not achieved at program close. Women represented 44 percent of total SVANIDHI beneficiaries, totaling 2,513 million women micro enterprise owners who benefited from significant support, which is a major achievement in the context of a primarily male-dominated sector (street vending) given women’s restrictions in accessing formal banking networks and safe public spaces. The target of 50 was not achieved, however, complementary programs supported women informal workers, such as the National Social Assistance Program and the Ministry of Labour and Employment E-Shram platform. 41. Results indicators under this pillar II were relevant and measurable. The results indicators adequately measured progress towards expansion of social protection to urban informal workers. Data were sourced from published budget or administrative documents. Targets were generally set at reasonable levels, except for the seventh results indicator which may have been ambitious given the male-dominated street vendor sector. PDO#3 To strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through strengthening delivery systems. Rating: Highly Satisfactory (2/2 achieved) Prior Action # 6: Incentives for promoting digital payments. 42. The sixth prior action boosted digital financial transactions through a one-year incentive for banks to promote RuPay debit cards and the Bharat Interface for Money–Unified Payments Interface for low-value, person-to-merchant transactions. The eighth results indicator measured the increase in volume of digital payments. 43. Results Indicator 8 was surpassed. The volume of digital transactions nearly doubled from 43 billion to 91 billion during the one-year incentive scheme launched under the reform in fiscal 2021/22. Given the scheme’s success, the government extended the initiative another year. The Press Information Bureau reported: “Digital payments are being made for even the smallest of transactions, with nearly 50 percent classified as small or micropayments: Rs 10 for a cup of milk chai or Rs 200 for a bag of fresh vegetables. That is a significant behavioral shift in what has long been a cash- driven economy.”8 Targeting affordability measures for poor and vulnerable Indians may have the greatest impact and be sustainable in the long run, especially for women and households headed by women. 8 From Local to Global: How India’s Digital Payment Revolution is Inspiring the World. Page 12 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Prior Action # 7: FPS mobile application launched 44. The seventh prior action supported the launch of a mobile App to enable beneficiaries in locating the nearest fair price shop. The ninth results indicator measured the number of informal workers receiving benefits per month from the One Nation One Ration Card Initiative. An alternative indicator was proposed number of portable transactions per month from the One Nation One Ration Card Initiative. 45. Results Indicator 9 was surpassed. The average number of portable transactions per month in August 2022 was 35 million, as compared to 19 million in May 20219. This reform propelled the reduction of inefficiencies, facilitated access to food grains, and personalized services, making social protection more adaptive to shocks and protecting the poor and vulnerable in times of crisis. Besides facilitating the location of fair price shops, the App enables beneficiaries to check their food grain entitlement, recent transactions, and Aadhaar seeding status. Given the slow uptake, a nationwide awareness campaign was conducted. The Mera Ration Mobile App addressing asymmetries in accessing portable rations to scale up access is now available in 13 languages. 46. Results indicators under this pillar III were relevant and targets were appropriate. Results indicators adequately measured efforts in strengthening delivery systems. The information for results indicator seven was not available, and the ICR team applied an alternative indicator (number of portable transactions per month from the One Nation One Ration Card Initiative). PDO#4 To strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through a resilient and climate responsive social protection system. Rating: Highly Satisfactory (3/3 achieved) Prior Action # 8: Disaster management grants to states allocated based on ecology, climate vulnerabilities, and disaster profile risk (enhanced weightage). 47. The eighth prior action introduced an ecology, climate vulnerabilities, and disaster risk index in state grant allocations. The tenth results indicator measured the share of states receiving transfers from the central government based on the new, ecology, climate-vulnerabilities, and disaster-risk index. 48. Results Indicator 10 was surpassed. Based on the latest data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, all states were allocated funds through the National Disaster Response Fund for disaster risk, equivalent to INR 19,572.8 crore. In 2023, INR 10,031.20 crore was released as the first installment mostly in July to cover heavy rains and flooding. This indicator underpins the importance of combining rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development with targeted interventions and stronger social protection to mitigate short-term climate risks. Prior Action # 9: Central challenge grants awarded to large cities based on achievement of air quality parameters 49. The ninth prior action developed the central challenge grants for cities with populations exceeding one million based on achievement of air quality parameters. The eleventh results indicator measured the percentage of cities that received funds. 50. Results Indicator 11 was surpassed. Climate change is a great disruptor of poverty reduction and worsens prospects for poor households and communities. The Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund identified 42 cities with 9 ONORC Nationwide portability of ration, Reforms in Public Distribution System Page 13 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) populations exceeding one million for performance-based grants to improve air quality from fiscal 2020/21 to fiscal 2025/26. The grant supported all 42 cities funds to implement their action plans (INR 4,400 crore in fiscal 2020/21 and INR 1833 crore in fiscal 2021/22). As of October, of fiscal 2022/23, roughly 40 percent of the cities received challenge grant funds for meeting air quality parameters. Social protection policy is an important catalyst for expanding climate change investments to improve in air quality and reduce emissions. Prior Action # 10 Multi-sector committee in place to coordinate/monitor achievements of NDC goals Prior Action # 11 India Climate Change Knowledge Portal launched 51. The tenth prior action established the Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement to, among other, map ministerial responsibilities for achieving India’s Nationally Defined Contributions. The eleventh prior action created a portal to capture and help disseminate key information on ministerial adaptation and mitigation activities. The twelfth results indicator measured whether the committee defined the ministerial responsibilities. 52. Results Indicator 12 was achieved at program close. An inter-ministerial group was set up in November 2020; the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change actively chairs the group. The committee first met in March 2021 and deliberated on carbon trading schemes for the energy sector and reviewed the progress in the National Emissions under National Action Plan on Climate Change. This close monitoring nudged India to achieve its original contributions and establish more ambitious goals. The portal is accessible and shows ministerial climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. Social protection plays an important role in harmonizing and building natural capital and resilience. 53. Results indicators under this pillar IV were relevant and measurable, and targets were appropriate. Results indicators measured adequately efforts to mitigate climate changes though two results indicators (instead of one) would likely be more effective for Paris Alignment measurements. Table 2 Summary of Results Targets Achievements Reform Area Exceeded or achieved Partially achieved Not achieved PILLAR 1: Institutional Coordination Prior Action #1 2 Prior Action #2 1 Prior Action #3 PILLAR 2: Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers Prior Action #4 1 1 Prior Action #5 1 PILLAR 3: Strengthening Delivery Systems Prior Action #6 `1 Prior Action #7 1 PILLAR 4: Climate Action Prior Action #8 1 Prior Action #9 1 Prior Action #10 and Prior Action #11 1 TOTAL 11 0 1 Overall Outcome Rating and Justification Rating: Satisfactory Page 14 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) 54. The overall outcome is rated Satisfactory. Prior actions were satisfactory as the DPF supported key reforms designed to foster a more coordinated, dynamic and shock responsive social protection platform. It fostered devolution of flexible funds to states to address local risks and provide assistance and credit to informal workers and migrants. Most objectives were achieved, with the exception of the objective under Pillar 2 on “Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers” which was partially achieved as the sector is largely male dominated and encouraging female participation requires intensive communication, awareness raising and capacity building efforts. In this context, one could view the current target of 43 percent (versus 50 percent) as being significant. 55. While Bank’s financial and technical support underpinned the program targets, the results also built on robust country systems, previous Bank support and technical assistance/resources and harmonization with partners. The operation benefited from the reforms under the First and Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program (P173943 and P174027) Development Policy Operation as well as from technical assistance from development partners, such as the Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, German KfW, and Japanese International Cooperation Agency. The prior actions under this operation also leveraged existing country platforms, resources systems, digital public infrastructure to optimize and make social protection more portable and inclusive. The Bank’s leadership, technical know-how and convening power mobilized the government and development partners to align and focus resources toward addressing the most critical development challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery phase. III. OTHER OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS Poverty, Gender, and Social Impacts 56. Overall, this operation helped alleviate and prevent further social and economic distress from COVID-19 and future shocks among the most vulnerable groups. The focus on the urban poor (informal workers, gig workers, and interstate migrants) and intervention reforms directly improved: (a) access to subsidized food for 35 million informal workers and interstate migrants (PA#7); (b) income support for 2.9 million urban street vendors (out of 5 million) through increased access to credit/loans (PA#5); and (c) access to banking services and use of digital payments for informal workers (PA#6). Among the most vulnerable groups, tribal communities who have the highest rate of poverty in India also benefited from this operation and the benefits generated through portability, in turn alleviating the burden of poverty. The reform related to increased devolution of funds to state and local government, including the shift from expenditures-based (PAs#1 and 8) could potentially contribute to offset certain regional inequalities as poor states located in high-risk and vulnerable zones would now receive additional grants for disaster management allowing them to effectively respond to the ongoing crisis and future shocks. Resources from these grants can be used for livelihood support, protecting assets, cash transfers and other services for disaster relief and would benefit the most vulnerable households. 57. The program helped reduce gender gaps. The program’s focus on directly transferring benefits to women through the PDS and SVANIDHI measures were aimed at redressing the amplified gender-based vulnerabilities Enhanced grants to States and local governments for climate responsive safety nets, disaster relief and response to the second wave of the crisis were designed to benefit women as most States target female headed households as key beneficiary groups. Women represent an important share (30 percent in Delhi) of the informal self-employed street vendors in India Page 15 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) who were severely affected by the pandemic10. Under PA#5, 2.513 million women benefited from the SVANIDHI Initiative. Reforms had positive impacts on women and women-headed households and contributed to their financial and digital inclusion. For instance, Mera Ration mobile App (PA#7) eased the burden on women in charge of everyday household food.11 The National Urban Digital Mission (PA#4) registries captured gender-disaggregated women workers and women-headed households, who are prioritized for future benefit delivery. The NSAP program has leveraged support for widows, elderly females and targeting households living below the poverty line. Finally, most social assistance programs providing cash transfer or food support use additional targeting weights for women-headed households in their eligibility criteria, as women-headed households tend to be poorer than male headed households. 58. Over the long run, the reforms laid the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient social protection financing and delivery architecture. Expansion of coverage will require an overarching body which monitors, strategizes, and guides innovations and ensure coordination to meet the diverse needs of the poor and vulnerable. Hence, meeting the diverse needs of the states will require continued support to build on the recent achievements to ensure center and state consolidate delivery costs, avoid duplication and meet the evolving risk profile of the poor and vulnerable particularly the urban poor (informal workers, gig workers, and migrants), minority groups, and women. Environmental, Forests, and Natural Resource Aspects 59. The program generated more resources that should positively impact ecologies and natural resources. Under Pillar 4, reforms contributed to climate adaptation measures and should have positive environmental impact. With Prior Action 8, states received more direct grants for disasters response and weightage increased from 7.5 to 10 percent given to the size of ecology, climate vulnerabilities, and disaster risk. That represented 70,919 core INR additional funding for states available for disaster responses, climate mitigation measures, and social assistance. This reform should encourage states to preserve their forests and ecological zones. Prior Action 9 provided challenge grants for large cities (over 1 million population) to tackle air pollution and improve health outcomes. Finally, Prior Actions 10 and 11 strengthened the institutional framework for a more coordinated response on climate change through the multisectoral committee monitoring the NDCs and the climate knowledge portal; both reforms are expected to contribute to positive environmental outcomes and support the climate agenda. Institutional Change/Strengthening 60. The program contributed to strengthening institutional capacity for a resilient, decentralized, coordinated and responsive social protection system. Reforms under this operation capitalized on the first Development Policy Operation series and brought further changes in the financing and delivery architecture of India’s social protection. Under Pillar 1, rationalization of the 460 centrally sponsored to 313 schemes combined with the fiscal devolution to states contributed to streamlining fund-flows for social protection, thus giving states an increased ability to respond to disasters and provide social assistance. This was foreshadowed by strengthening the capacity of institutions and states managing the delivery of benefits. Under Pillar 2, municipal governance capacity was strengthened through the roll-out of digital reforms and implementation of digital platforms/databases for more efficient citizens service delivery. Under Pillar 4, the creation of the Apex committee helped mobilize all stakeholders with a whole government approach. Improved coordination contributed to early achievement of India’s Nationally Determined Contributions. 10 A study conducted during the pandemic by the Institute of Social Studies Trust showed that 97 percent of women reported a drop in incomes following lockdowns) 11 Among Public Distribution System enrollees, 75 percent of women-headed households received rice benefits. Page 16 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Other Unintended Outcomes and Impacts 61. The policy dialogue conducted during the preparation and implementation of first and second DPF (PMGKY) series and this operation led to a broader role for the Bank in terms of policy level dialogues with the GoI. Prior to the DPF series, there was no collaboration on Development Policy Financing in Social Protection. The expertise and knowledge brought by the analytical work built the Bank trust and credibility with the GoI counterparts and triggered for Bank support through the DPF series. The COVID crisis was the catalyst that allowed to push for needed reforms. As a result, the Bank engaged in policy dialogues on the labor and employment mandate of the GOI, which advanced the Bank’s engagement in the G20 labor and employment dialogue. 62. The operation highlighted the utility of social protection in the management of climate-induced disasters and as an adaptation measure to climate change. The operation aimed to support reforms toward a resilient and coordinated social protection system that would be well-prepared to respond shocks such as the COVID pandemic, however integration of social protection into climate-induced disaster risk management (DRM) has become the key theme of this operation with 2 pillars integrating DRM, climate change and social protection. IV. BANK PERFORMANCE Rating: Highly Satisfactory 63. Overall Bank Performance is rated Highly Satisfactory, based on the Quality at Entry and the Bank’s important role in the preparation of the DPF itself and in closely coordinating with the government in defining reform priorities and partners to coordinate a comprehensive program of technical assistance. The Bank team designed an operation that was appropriately selective rather than overly ambitious in pursuing key initiatives. The general strategy to preserve previous gains and achieve improvements while pushing the reform agenda was appropriate to the development context and pivotal to the success of the Development Policy Operation series. Design and Preparation 64. Analytical underpinnings were strong for operational design. Prior actions were thoroughly grounded in recent analytical work led by the highly technical and well-grounded Bank India’s social protection team in collaboration with various academicians and experts. The DPF design incorporated surveys and rapid reviews by two national think-tanks for the Bank. This analytical work contributed to increased Bank credibility and helped the Bank team engage in meaningful dialogue with the GoI counterparts around the reforms and thus fast-track the preparation. The operation also built on the Bank’s deep engagement with various ministries and institutions as well as state authorities on social protection reforms through technical support and operations. The Bank was notably engaged with the FFC on the fiscal reforms. Moreover, the Bank team consulted with the development partners and worked closely with ministries, state government and agencies in the design of coordinated actions and planned outcomes. 65. The operation built on lessons from the previous DPF series and supported key reforms that were designed to address challenges with implementation of PMGKY related to adequate coverage of vulnerable populations, coordination of institutions, efficiency of delivery and benefits portability. Thus, this operation institutionalized fiscal devolution to states and focused on addressing the needs of the underserved segments of the population: the informal workers (migrants and informal workers). The operation incorporated climate responsive safety nets design and enhanced deployment of states funds to provide livelihood and social assistance, take up recovery and reconstruction and step-up preparedness and capacity building in ecologically vulnerable regions of the country. Page 17 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) 66. Through the convening power of the DPF instrument, the Bank team coordinated with development partners. Donor engagement was facilitated by the depth and extensiveness of the analytic work on social protection undertaken by the Bank which culminated in the multi-stakeholder workshop on “Schemes to Systems” in Delhi in December 2019. This convinced many donors to disburse against the same policy matrix. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), German Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) partnered on the first phase of the DPF. The donors fully aligned with the policy matrix and contributed USD 1 billion to the proposed DPF 1 and 2 reforms. For this DPF, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) committed to the policy matrix. Collaboration with knowledge partners was also ongoing through Advisory Services and Analytics. A donor working group was set up and facilitated by a secretariate financed by an ADB technical assistance. They met every six months to coordinate and harmonize efforts, related to implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program and technical assistance (TA). Partnerships with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as the ADB and KfW providing technical assistance support were integral to enhancing coordination and sustaining a common vision. 67. The Bank team assessed the overall risk of the operation as substantial. At appraisal, macroeconomic and institutional capacity for implementation were rated as substantial risks. Macroeconomic risks were linked to the increased social spending and related fiscal impacts; however, public debt was considered sustainable, and the risks were mitigated by building back better and increasing resilience against future shocks. Institutional capacity risks were mostly linked to state government capacity; however, technical assistance during implementation complemented with monitoring and evaluation during implementation mitigated these risks. 68. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework leveraged knowledge partnerships to track impacts and results. The World Bank built on earlier collaboration with knowledge partners such as Jameel Poverty Action Lab (JPAL), Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD), Infrastructure Development Finance Committee (IDFC) and Center for Policy Research (CPR) on taking stock of India’s social protection programs through ongoing Advisory Services and Analytics. The Bank team also relied on CMIE panel surveys; administrative data on program releases and bank account transactions maintained by DBT Mission and NDMA to triangulate results; administrative data on coverage under the One Nation One Ration initiative by PDS line agency; and administrative data from MoEF to leverage information for the Climate Action Pillar. Going forward, there is a need to strengthen the consistent measurement of program outcomes through exploring the creation of a social protection survey module drawing on existing government managed sample surveys (such as PLFS) or with MoLE. This will allow for improved planning, strategizing and monitoring. Implementation and Supervision 69. An ISR was not required for the operation, but monitoring was carried out. The Bank maintained frequent (bilateral) contact with the ministries to monitor the program results despite the pandemic and lockdowns. Nonetheless, results indicators were not all tracked, as administrative data from ministries were not always available. Monitoring responsibilities were mapped and shared with development partners: for example, ADB and followed the ONORC Initiative and the Bank focused on survey data collection through the CMIE by including a specific social protection module. Regular donor discussions were organized and facilitated by the secretariat financed under an ADB technical assistance since the first DPF, to coordinate and take stock of the technical assistance support to the GoI as part of the implementation of this DPF. Moreover, bilateral meetings took place during the implementation of DPF2 and this DPF, KfW convened monthly meetings to exchange information on studies, analytics and any pending issues. Page 18 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) V. RISK TO SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES 70. Given the government’s strong commitment, the program outcomes are likely to be sustained. The reforms proposed by the three DPFs were based on strong analytical work and aligned with the GoI priorities, which ensured government commitment and ownership. This DPF capitalized on the experience during the COVID crisis and lessons learned from the first two DPFs to improve the social protection systems in India to prepare for future shocks. Reforms under Pillar 1 are direct reflections of the FFC recommendations which are part of the constitutional mandate, thus achieved results are likely to be sustained in the medium term. Prior actions under Pillars 2 and 3 leveraged existing programs, including interventions initiated under the first two DPFs, such as portability and digital payments of benefits, are expected to be sustained. The climate reforms under Pillar 4 aligned with the GOI priorities and increased commitment to address climate change, thus are likely to be sustained. Moreover, since the DPF series leveraged pre- existing systems and social protection benefits are funded through government budget without donor assistance, program outcomes should be sustained beyond the DPF series. 71. The risks to the sustainability of the development outcome are considered negligible. GoI leadership has consistently shown strong commitment to prioritizing social protection to improve efficiency of delivery, coverage, and access. This has been reflected through ongoing efforts to continuously expand India’s safety nets architecture to become more dynamic and inclusive by catering to a diversity of needs across states and vulnerable groups. VI. LESSONS AND NEXT PHASE Lessons Learned 72. The DPF is the right instrument to respond to emergency situations in the context of a robust social program and strong evidence behind the prior actions. India had a social protection system in place which was fragmented and lacked coordination. When the crisis hit, the GOI was able to ramp up the necessary social spending capitalizing on existing systems. The COVID crisis highlighted the urgency for developing a harmonized system. Through Bank operations and analytical work, the Bank team was engaged in ongoing dialogue with GoI counterparts around the necessary reforms to address structural challenges. Strong analytical work and ensuing credibility with the GOI enabled the Bank team to swiftly prepare and roll out the emergency DPFs and more importantly to gain the GOI’s ownership of the prior actions. 73. The use of different Bank instruments (DPF and PforR) helped strengthen state engagement . The DPF series and this standalone DPF drew from the extensive knowledge gained from Bank operations and analytical work. In turn, the emergency DPFs were complemented with state-level operations (PforR) that leveraged the reforms that were implemented through these DPFs such as devolution to state. Most follow-up operations were designed to increase the coverage and strengthen state capacity social protection delivery systems. This also contributed in enhancing the Bank’s engagement with the GoI in the related thematic areas. 74. Maintaining coordination and collaboration are cornerstones to scaling up social protection interventions. Collaboration across sectors supported a coherent reform program. This operation supported 12 reforms in social protection, in public finance management (PFM), governance and climate action. It was challenging to link PFM and climate action reforms to social protection reforms; however, since the DPF was addressing structural challenges to increase resilience, a multisectoral approach was necessary. A coherent program design was achieved largely due to a grounded analytical work, a strong technical Bank team and strong country leadership. These factors facilitated policy dialogue across sectors and prompted a shared vision. Page 19 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) 75. Strong ownership from and a champion within the GoI offered an excellent opportunity to achieve reforms and shifts in attitude, particularly during a time of high fiscal pressure. Government commitment and ownership were garnered through the strong analytical work produced by the Bank team and through a steady relationship with the line ministries. Champions within the GoI helped fast-track the preparation of the operation by ensuring prior actions were completed rapidly. They also ensured strong alignment of development partners to support the reforms. 76. Adaptive social protection required deliberate efforts to link social protection with disaster risk management and climate change adaptation efforts. Poorer populations and vulnerable groups (women, children, the elderly, and marginalized communities) are disproportionately affected by shocks more exposed and are prone to adopt negative coping mechanisms. Well-designed social protection programs integrated with the disaster risk management and climate change adaptation interventions can help reduce vulnerabilities. With the increased funding for disaster management and response, devolution to states and the flexibility of using disaster response funds for social protection (emergency cash or in-kind assistance), this operation provided a strong foundation for a coordinated social protection system that supports adaptation, resilience building and response to climatic and disaster-induced shocks. Next Phase 77. The Bank remains engaged in the key reform areas of this operation. Most importantly, the policy dialogue conducted during the preparation and implementation of DPF series led to a broader role for the Bank and launched strong dialogue during the G20 meetings on labor and employment. This DPF series initially included a fourth DPF; however, the second phase was replaced by operations designed to strengthen the coverage and coordination of state level social protection delivery systems: (i) approved in March 2023, the Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Project ( P175811) capitalizes on digitalization reforms, further devolution of funds to state governments and integration of social protection and disaster management; and (ii) under preparation, the Integrated Service Provision and Innovation for Reviving Economies Program (Sikkim, P180634) is being designed to strengthen state capacity to deliver services and support climate change resilience. Further, discussions on addressing exclusions or service-gaps for the most vulnerable communities such as homeless populations, migrants, Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, elderly and those residing in poorly connected regions has triggered a request for technical assistance made by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Finally, Ministry of Labor and Employment supports a partnership with the World Bank team to share experiences across states and showcase Indian experience of pandemic relief and delivery systems innovations achieved through several DPF actions for a global audience. Page 20 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ANNEX 1. RESULTS FRAMEWORK . RESULTS INDICATORS Pillar: INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Percentage share of States who Percentage 0.00 100.00 100.00 have received direct grant from Central Government following 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 recommendations of FFC Comments (achievements against targets): Achieved Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Size of Central FFC Grants made Number 149,924.00 220,843.00 220,438.00 to States for annual budget period (in INR crore) 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Achieved. Page 21 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Amount of NSSF loan assistance Number 84,636.00 0.00 0.00 to Food Corporation of India (INR Crore) 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Achieved Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion National government has Yes/No No Yes Yes rationalized centrally sponsored schemes. 01-Jun-2022 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Achieved Rationalization exercise was initiated and number of schemes was reduced from 460 to 313. Page 22 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Pillar: EXPANDING SOCIAL PROTECTION NET FOR URBAN INFORMAL WORKERS Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Percentage of urban Percentage 0.00 33.00 58.54 municipalities receiving benefits through NUDM. 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Percentage of street vendors Percentage 40.00 55.00 113.00 receiving benefits from SVANIDHI. 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Gender-sensitive program Percentage 40.00 50.00 44.40 coverage measured by proportion of female informal 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Page 23 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) workers in total beneficiary pool of SVANIDHI. Comments (achievements against targets): Not achieved. This still represents 2,513 million female street vendors that benefited from the SVANIDHI program. and complementary programs supported women informal workers . Pillar: STRENGTHENING DELIVERY SYSTEMS Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Digital payments volumes (in Number 43,383.28 47,000.00 91,920.00 million). 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed. Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Number of informal workers Number 13.00 20.00 35.00 receiving benefits per month from the ONORC initiative (in 01-Jun-2022 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 million). Page 24 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed. An alternative measure was proposed to measure this indicator : number of portable transactions per month Pillar: CLIMATE ACTION Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Share of States receiving Percentage 0.00 33.00 100.00 transfer from Central Government based on forest, 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 ecology, and disaster risk index. Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Percentage of million plus cities Percentage 0.00 10.00 34.60 that have received funds in 2022-2023 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Surpassed Page 25 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Indicator Name Unit of Measure Baseline Target Actual Achieved at Completion Responsibilities of concerned Yes/No No Yes Yes ministry for implementing Paris agreement have been defined. 01-Jun-2021 30-Jun-2023 30-Oct-2023 Comments (achievements against targets): Achieved . Page 26 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ANNEX 2. BANK LENDING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT/SUPERVISION PROCESSES A. TASK TEAM MEMBERS Name Role Preparation Qaiser M. Khan, Shrayana Bhattacharya Task Team Leader(s) Satyanarayan Panda Procurement Specialist(s) Manoj Jain Financial Management Specialist Harminder Singh Team Member Yeshika Malik Team Member Rangeet Ghosh Team Member Ambrish Shahi Team Member Mehul Jain Team Member Anindo Kumar Chatterjee Social Specialist Tanusree Talukdar Team Member Emilia Skrok Team Member Frederico Gil Sander Peer Reviewer Aurelien Kruse Team Member Helene Bertaud Counsel Adarsh Kumar Team Member John D. Blomquist Team Member Shashank Ojha Team Member Urvashi Narain Team Member Cem Mete Peer Reviewer Page 27 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Antonia T. Koleva Team Member Supervision/ICR Shrayana Bhattacharya, Ambrish Shahi Task Team Leader(s) Satyanarayan Panda Procurement Specialist(s) Manoj Jain Financial Management Specialist Yeshika Malik Team Member Rangeet Ghosh Team Member Mehul Jain Team Member Anindo Kumar Chatterjee Social Specialist Tanusree Talukdar Team Member Emilia Skrok Team Member Frederico Gil Sander Peer Reviewer Aurelien Kruse Team Member Helene Bertaud Counsel Adarsh Kumar Team Member Shashank Ojha Team Member Urvashi Narain Team Member Cem Mete Peer Reviewer Antonia T. Koleva Team Member Qaiser M. Khan Team Member . B. STAFF TIME AND COST Staff Time and Cost Stage of Project Cycle No. of staff weeks US$ (including travel and consultant costs) Preparation FY21 21.920 171,519.09 Page 28 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) FY22 5.147 33,320.61 Total 27.07 204,839.70 Supervision/ICR FY22 1.900 15,071.39 FY23 2.601 18,916.07 FY24 3.375 21,192.08 Total 7.88 55,179.54 . Page 29 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ANNEX 3. BORROWER, CO-FINANCIERS, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’/STAKEHOLDERS’ COMMENTS COMMENTS FROM DEA FOR (1) FIRST AND SECOND ACCELERATING PMGKY DPO (2) CCRISP DPO The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance Government of India is pleased to acknowledge and study the Implementation Completion and Results Report (ICR) of the First and Second Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana) DPO series and Created a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System DPO. We note the World Bank’s detailed assessment of the relevance of the Prior Actions and the efficacy of achievement of objectives and acknowledge the ‘Satisfactory to highly Satisfactory’ outcome rating awarded to these DPOs. 2. First and second Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program (PMGKY) was signed on May 15, 2020 and December 16, 2020 respectively with objectives to strengthen the capability of state and national governments in India to provide coordinated and adequate social protection to the poor and vulnerable from the COVID- 19 pandemic. Further, in order to strengthen the capability of the state and national governments in India to respond to the needs of informal workers through a resilient and coordinated social protection system, a stand-alone DPO “Created a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System” was signed on July 15, 2021. 3. In the ICR of First and Second Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program (PMGKY), there is mismatch in approved loan amount and disbursed amount figure under Second Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response (PMGKY). The difference between the approved amount and disbursed amount was due to the exchange rate differences between the SDR and USD values. 4. These DPOs being reviewed were prepared in record time and during challenging implementation circumstances due to the pandemic. As highlighted in the ICR, the DPO documents and reform matrix were also leveraged by other development partners to provide parallel financing. The preparation with regard to implementation of these DPOs and ICR engaged various ministries/departments. We appreciate the efforts of the World Bank team for their proactive and collaborative approach towards the preparation, delivery and disbursement of DPOs and the ICR by engaging with various stakeholders concerned and with DEA. We also thank concerned line ministries/departments and other key stakeholders for their valuable comments/views during various stages of these DPO including preparation for implantation and ICR. 5. The DPOs and PMGKY experience showcase India’s role as a thought-leader on adaptive social protection and delivery through use of technology and innovative programs. We endorse the suggestions made by the ICR to host a high-level knowledge sharing event to highlight the implementation experience of PMGKY for other countries and development partners subject to conditions that the concurrence of ministries/departments concerned are obtained and no financial implication on GOI. 6. We would like to thank the World Bank and the other development partners once again for coming forward to support the Government of India at a critical time when the country was impacted by the most devastating and catastrophic pandemic. Page 30 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ANNEX 4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Supporting documents for ICR preparation 1. Dalberg (2022) Fulfilling the promise of One Nation One Ration Card, A frontline perspective from 5 Indian states 2. Department of Food and Public Distribution Annual report 2022-2023 3. Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (2019) Note on CSS Rationalization 4. Fitfteenth Finance Commission (2020) Main Report 5. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (n/a), Impact Assessment of RuPay Card on Weaker and Marginalized Sections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh 6. National institution for transforming India (2015) Report Of The Sub-Group Of Chief Ministers On Rationalisation Of Centrally Sponsored Schemes 7. Niti Ayog Annual report 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 8. Niti Ayog (2019) Rationalization of CSS 9. Shrayana Bhattacharya, Sutirtha Sinha Roy (Bank, 2022) Intent to Implementation: Tracking India’s Social Protection Response to COVID-19 10. Bank (2018) India Country Partnership Framework (20218-2022) 11. Bank (2019) Schemes to Systems: Lessons from Social Protection in India 12. Bank (2021). Program Appraisal Document “Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System” (CCRISP) 13. Bank (2020) Program Appraisal Document “Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program” 14. Bank (2020) Program Appraisal Document “Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program” 15. Press Information Bureau press releases 16. Food Corporation of India website 17. Ministry of Home Affairs/ Disaster Management Division website 18. Department of Food and Public Distribution website 19. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change website 20. Direct Benefit Transfer website 21. Bank Data – Country Profile of India Table 1 - List of people interviewed during ICR preparation. SL Name Designation Organization 1. Qaiser M. Khan Former TTL of the DPF series World Bank 2. Mehul Jain Climate Change Specialist World Bank 3. Anindo Kumar Chatterjee Senior Social Development Specialist World Bank 4. Shrayana Bhattacharya Senior Social Protection Specialist / TTL World Bank of the DPF series 5. Ambrish Shahi Senior Social Protection Specialist / TTL World Bank of the DPF series Page 31 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) 6. Junaid Kamal Ahmed Vice President of Operations, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (Former Country Director, WB India) (MIGA), World Bank Group 7. Arun Sharma Senior Digital Development Specialist World Bank (Former Director of DBT Mission) 8. Mr. Hanish Chhabra Former Joint Secretary, DEA Ministry of Finance 9. Dr. Sekhar Bonu Former Director General DMEO, Niti Aayog 10. Ms. Arti Ahuja Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 11. Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthy Additional Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 12. Ms. Vibha Bhalla Joint Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 13. Ms. Deepika Kachhal Joint Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 14. Shri Rupesh Kumar Thakur Joint Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 15. Shri Amit Nirmal Joint Secretary Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 16. Shri Amit Nirmal Deputy Director General, Directorate Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) General of Employment 17. Dr. Mahendra Kumar Director, LC & ILAS Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 18. Shri Piyush Kumar Pathak Deputy Director, ILAS Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) 19. Mr. L.P. Sharma Deputy Secretary (PMGKAY and Food Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) Distribution (MoCAFPD) 20. Mr. Ravi Shanakar Director, Department of Food and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Public Distribution Distribution (MoCAFPD) 21. Mr. Gaurv Jha Director Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) 22. Ms. Shalini Pandey Director Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) 23. Dr Saurabh Garg Secretary Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 24. Mr. Rajesh Kumar Deputy Secretary, DEA Ministry of Finance 25. Mr Punit Kumar Joint Director (Fund Bank Division), Ministry of Finance DEA 26. Pritika Singh Program Lead Artha India (Knowledge partner) 27. Himanshu Sharma Program Lead Microsave (Knowledge partner) 28. Dr Muniraju Deputy Advisor, Social Protection NITI Ayog 29. Vismit Bansal Technical Lead Dalberg Consulting 30. Mr Dharmvir Jha Director, MGNREGS Section Ministry of Rural Development 31. Niels Kemper Technical Lead, Social Protection KFW 32. Kiran Avandhunala Co-cordinator Donor Meetings PMGKY KFW Table 2 - DPF Prior Actions and Analytical Underpinnings Prior Actions (Update) Analytical Underpinnings Operation Pillar I: Institutional Coordination Report of the 15th Finance Commission for 2021-2026, Finance Commission in Prior Action 1: The Ministry of Finance has increased devolution to state COVID Times, GOI, December 2020 governments and direct grants to local government bodies, with a raise in central grants to states for disaster management (and 40% of State Disaster Adaptive Social Protection: Building Resilience to Shocks. Social Protection and Response Funds earmarked for response and relief activities including Jobs Global Practice, Bank, 2020 livelihood support, cash transfers and others for disaster relief) From Intent to Implementation: A Snapshot of India’s Social Protection Response to COVID-19, Bhattacharya and Roy 2020 Page 32 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Pathways to Reducing Poverty and Sharing Prosperity in India: Lessons from the Last Two Decades, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, Bank, 2016 India Poverty and Equity Brief, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, Bank, October 2019 The Efficacy of Government Entitlements in Helping PL Families Navigate the Financial Impacts of COVID-19, Dalberg Asia, April 15, 2020 Prior Action 2: GOI has incorporated the food subsidy into the Budget for White Paper on PM Garib Kalyan Yojana: Coverage, Identification and 2021-2022 as part of the Department of Food and Public Distribution demand Implementation, IDFC Institute, April 11, 2020 for Grants Social Protection Financing and COVID-19 Policy Note, Centre for Policy Research, April 11, 2020 Prior Action 3: The Ministry of Finance has initiated a detailed exercise to rationalize and reduce the number of centrally sponsored schemes. Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures A “living paper”, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, v.1 March 20, 2020 Schemes to Systems: Social Protection in a Transforming India, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Practice 2019 Social Protection for a Changing India, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Practice 2011 Operation Pillar II: Expanding the Net for Urban Informal Workers Economic Survey of India 2016, Ministry of Finance, GOI India’s Internal Labor Migration Paradox, FCI Practice, Bank Policy Paper 8356, February 2018 Informal Workers in India: A Statistical Profile. August 2020. Govindan Raveendran and Joann Vanek, WIEGO Unintended Consequences of Lockdowns: Covid-19 and the Shadow Pandemic. NBER. September 2020. Ravindran, Saravana and Manisha Shah. Report of the High-Level Committee on Deepening of Digital Payments, Reserve Bank of India, May 2019 Prior Action 4: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Home-Based Workforce Calls for Protections to Survive the COVID-19 Crisis, National Urban Digital Mission, which will upgrade data infrastructure and Homenet South East Asia. August 2020 create data exchange platforms for urban local bodies. Vegetables on Wheels in Ahmedabad, India: SEWA partners with municipality Prior Action 5: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a new to ensure food access during lockdown. Martha Chen. WIEGO June 2020 credit/loan program for urban street vendors. The COVID-19 response: Getting gender equality right for a better future for women at work. ILO June 2020 Women and Work: How India Fared in 2020. IWWAGE and KREA, December 2020 Impact of COVID19 National Lockdown on Women Street Vendors in Delhi. ISST-JANPAHAL. December 2020 Reaching India’s Poorest Women with COVID-19 Relief. EPOD Yale Policy Brief. April 2020 State of Working India 2021. Centre for Sustainable Employment. Azim Premji University 2021 Page 33 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Pillar III: Strengthening Delivery Systems Social Protection Financing and COVID-19 Policy Note, Centre for Policy Research, 11th April 2020 Schemes to Systems: Social Protection in a Transforming India, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Practice 2019 Social Protection for a Changing India, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Practice 2011 Migration and COVID-19, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, March 31st, 2020 Last-Mile Delivery Options for COVID-19 Relief in India, Bank Social Protection and Jobs Practice, March 28th, 2020 Prior Action 6: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has formulated a draft scheme with incentives to boost digital transactions in Data Privacy and Regulations for India COVID-19 Program, Bank Social India. Protection and Jobs Practice, March 29th, 2020 Prior Action 7: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched a mobile-based application for migrants to locate the nearest A Mixed-Method Review of Cash Transfers and Intimate Partner Violence in fair price shop to receive food grains. Low and Middle-Income Countries. The Bank Observer, Volume 33, Issue 2. Page 218-258. September 2018. Ana Maria Buller, Amber Peterman, Meghna Ranganathan, Alexandra Bleile, Melissa Hidrobo and Lori Heise Violence against Women as a ‘Relational’ Vulnerability. Naila Kabeer. UNDP Paper Series. 2014 How is economic security linked to gender-based violence? New insights from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum 2019. December 2019. Amber Peterman, Shalini Roy and Meghna Ranganathan. IFPRI Men, Masculinity and Domestic Violence Against Women in Marriage : Case Studies and Analysis ICRW 2016. Operation Pillar IV: Climate Action Central Ground Water Board Groundwater Yearbook India 2018-19. GOI, 2019 Prior Action 8: The Ministry of Finance has enhanced weightage given to forest and ecology, climate-based vulnerability, and disaster-risk profile of Climate change and water security: each state of each state in allocating central government grants to state impacts, future scenarios, adaptations and mitigations. governments for disaster management. Kibria, G., Haroon, A. Y., & Nugegoda, D. (2016). Prior Action 9: The Ministry of Finance has developed central challenge grants Ministry of Jal Shakti. (2019, June 27). Vulnerable and Overexploited Areas. GOI to be awarded to cities with populations above one million based on achievement of air quality parameters. University of Sussex-UCL (2020, August 26). Majority of groundwater stores resilient to climate change. Prior Action 10: The Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change has created a multi-sector committee to monitor progress of India’s India 2020: Energy Policy Review, International Energy Agency 2020 implementation of the Paris Agreement. Global Climate Risk Index 2020 Prior Action 11: The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has created a portal that captures key adaptation and mitigation actions taken by Conditional cash transfers to alleviate poverty also reduced deforestation in various ministries and helps disseminate amongst citizens information on key Indonesia. Paul. J Ferraro and Rhita Simorangkir. June 2020 climate change matters in India Page 34 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Table 3 - Major social protection programs, platforms, and schemes in India Name of program / Brief overview platform / scheme Aadhar Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number that can be obtained voluntarily by the citizens of India and resident foreign nationals who have spent over 182 days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the GOI, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, following the provisions of the ‘Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits, and services) Act, 2016’. Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric ID system. Considered a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship, Aadhaar does not itself grant any rights to domicile in India. Antyodaya Anna Yojana Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is the GOI sponsored to provide highly subsidized food to millions of the poorest (AAY) families. It was launched by the government on December 25, 2000, and first implemented in the Indian state of Rajasthan. After identifying the "poorest of the poor" (the 10,000,000 poorest families in the Below Poverty Line category) through surveying, the government began providing them an opportunity to purchase up to 35 kilograms of rice and wheat at a highly subsidized cost of INR 3 per kilogram of rice and INR 2 per kilogram of wheat. Poor families were identified by their respective state rural development facilities using surveys. The scheme has been expanded twice, once in June 2003 and then in August 2004, adding an additional 5,000,000 BPL families each time and bringing the total number of families covered up to 20,000,000. after this additional 50 lakh families were added in 2003. Atal Pension Yojana Atal Pension Yojana (APY) – a pension scheme for Indian citizens – is focused on the unorganized sector workers. (APY) Under the APY, guaranteed minimum pension ranging between INR 1,000 to 5,000 per month will be given at the age of 60 years depending on the contributions by the subscribers. Following are the eligibility criteria: • The age of the subscriber should be between 18 - 40 years. • He / she should have a savings bank account / post office savings bank account. The prospective applicant may provide Aadhaar and mobile number to the Bank during registration to facilitate receipt of periodic updates on APY account. However, Aadhaar is not mandatory for enrollment. Building and Other Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Funds were created at the state level under the Building and Other Construction Workers Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 to provide support and Welfare Fund assistance to construction workers. The Act applies to every establishment employing ten or more building workers (BOCWWF) in any building or other construction work for a period of 12 months. All construction workers between the ages of 18 to 60 years who have worked for a period greater than 90 days in a year are eligible to register as beneficiaries. Registered workers have to pay a monthly contribution toward the fund as per rates decided by state governments. There are about 35 million workers registered with respective Building & Other Construction Welfare Boards of different state and union territories. Deendayal Antyodaya Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) is a flagship poverty alleviation program Yojana-National Rural implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI. It aims to reduce poverty by enabling the poor household Livelihoods Mission to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities resulting in sustainable and diversified (DAY-NRLM) livelihood options for the poor. This is one of the world's largest initiatives to improve the livelihoods of the poor. The Mission seeks to achieve its objective through investing in four core components viz., (a) social mobilization and promotion and strengthening of self-managed and financially sustainable community institutions of the rural poor women; (b) financial inclusion; (c) sustainable livelihoods; and (d) social inclusion, social development, and access to entitlements through convergence. The Mission seeks to reach out to around 10 Crore rural poor households in a phased manner by 2022-23 and impact their livelihoods significantly. Direct Benefit Transfer With the aim of reforming Government delivery system by re-engineering the existing process in welfare schemes for (DBT) simpler and faster flow of information/funds and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication, and reduction of fraud Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was started on January 1, 2013. DBT’s electronic framework is followed by all Ministries/ Departments and their attached Institutions/PSUs and is applicable on all Central Sector (CS)/ Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and for all schemes that involve cash transfers. Aadhaar is not mandatory in DBT schemes but is preferred and beneficiaries are encouraged to have Aadhaar. JAM (i.e., Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile) are DBT enablers and as on date more than 22 crore Jan Dhan Account, more than 100 crore Aadhaar and about 100 crore Mobile connections provide a unique opportunity to implement DBT in all welfare schemes across country including States & UTs. Employees’ Provident The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) came into existence with the promulgation of the Employees' Provident Funds Fund (EPF) Ordinance on the November 15, 1951. It was replaced by the Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952. The Act and Schemes framed there under are administered by a tri-partite Board known as the Central Board of Trustees, Page 35 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) consisting of representatives of Government (Both Central and State), Employers, and Employees. Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is responsible for the day-to-day management of EPF and its schemes which include – (i) EPF Scheme 1952, (ii) Pension Scheme 1995, and (iii) Insurance Scheme 1976. eShram eShram portal developed by Ministry of Labor and Employment for creating a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW), which will be seeded with Aadhaar. It will have details of name, occupation, address, occupation type, educational qualification, skill types etc. for optimum realization of their employability and extend the benefits of the social security schemes to them. It is the first-ever national database of unorganized workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers etc. Fair Price Shop (FPS) Fair Price Shop (FPS) is a part of India's public system established by the GOI which distributes rations at a subsidized price to the poor. Locally these are known as ration shops and public distribution shops, and chiefly sell wheat, rice, and sugar at a price lower than the market price called Issue Price. Garib Kalyan Rojgar The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) was launched on 20th June 2020, for a period of 125 days to boost Abhiyan (GKRA) employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages and similarly affected citizens in rural area. The GKRA ended on 22 October 2020 and a total of 50.78 crore person-days employment were generated with a total expenditure of INR 39,293 crore during the Abhiyaan. Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), established under the Mahatma National Rural Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, is an Indian social welfare measure that aims to guarantee Employment Guarantee the 'right to work'. It aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage Scheme (MGNREGS) employment in a financial year to at least one member of every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Women are guaranteed one third of the jobs made available under the scheme. Currently there are 55.1 million households are benefitting from MGNREGS through 473.7 million active workers (54.5 percent female participation). National Migrants National Migrants Information System (NMIS) is a central online repository on migrant workers. This was developed Information System by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to track and facilitate seamless movement of migrants and (NMIS) provide them with necessary cash or in-kind assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Social The National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) is a welfare program being implemented by the Ministry of Rural Assistance Program Development in both rural and urban areas. NSAP was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15 th August (NSAP) 1995. It provides a monthly pension for old age, widows, disabled persons and a one-time lump-sum assistance of is given to bereaved family on death of the prime bread winner. NSAP comprises of the following five schemes: • Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Under the scheme, BPL persons aged 60 years or above are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 200/- up to 79 years of age and Rs.500/- thereafter. • Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): BPL widows aged 40-59 years are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 200/-. • Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): BPL persons aged 18-59 years with severe and multiple disabilities are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 200/-. • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Under the scheme a BPL household is entitled to lump sum amount of money on the death of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 64 years. The amount of assistance is Rs. 10.000/-. • Annapurna: Under the scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free of cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible, have remained uncovered under NOAPS. One Nation One Ration The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Initiative launched in 2019 is one of the major reforms to India’s Public Card (ONORC) Distribution Scheme (PDS), which currently guarantees food security to nearly 237 million low-income households with ration cards. Prior to the launch of ONORC, ration card holders could secure their entitlement only at a Fair Price Shop (FPS) where they were registered. ONORC lets them access their food entitlement at any FPS in the country, a feature described as “portability”. It was designed specially to benefit migrant households (both inter -state and intra- state), numbering nearly 67 million so that they could access their ration on the move.10 Further, w hile ‘better service’ or ‘empowerment’ were not primary goals, for the first time it offered beneficiaries a choice in availing their rations, whether they were migrating or at home. Pradhan Mantri Garib Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY; transl.  Prime Minister's Food Security Scheme for the Poor) is a Kalyan Anna Yojna food security welfare scheme announced by the GOI on March 26, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The (PMGKAY) program is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The scheme aims to feed the poorest citizens of India by providing grain through the Public Distribution System, to all the priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme). PMGKAY provides 5 kg of rice or wheat (according to regional dietary preferences) per person and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card. The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security Page 36 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) program in the world. The Union Budget 2022-23 allocated a sum of Rs. 2 Lakh Crores for the scheme in fiscal year 2022-23. Pradhan Mantri Garib The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), a special health insurance scheme for Health Care Workers, was Kalyan Package (PMGKP) launched on 30 March 2020 to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may be at risk of being impacted. Pradhan Mantri Garib Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY) was launched by GoI in 2020 as the flagship COVID-19 response social Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY) protection program. The PMGKY program was not a new scheme, rather an integrated package scaling up cash and food assistance through pre-existing programs which have large outreach and strong delivery mechanisms: The PMGKY package cost the Government approximately USD 23 bil lion. It used India’s well-developed Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to transfer benefits directly to the Bank accounts of beneficiaries from the treasury, thereby trying to ensure timely payments to those in need. The identification of beneficiaries relied on India’s near-universal programs, supplemented by digitized databases of pre-existing government schemes, state level databases maintained for the National Food Security Act 2013 and the Aadhaar digital ID network. Pradhan Mantri Jan- Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2015, is a National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) access to financial services, namely, a basic savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension for the unbanked population in an affordable manner. Under the scheme, a basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) outlet, by persons not having any other account. Till date 508.9 million beneficiaries have been banked through PMJDY. Some benefits of PMJDY accounts include – no minimum balance requirement, RuPay debit card, accident insurance coverage (INR 1-2 lakh), overdraft facility (up to INR 10,000) and eligibility for DBT transfers among others. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) launched in 2015, is a one-year life insurance scheme Jyoti Bima Yojana renewable from year to year offering coverage for death. The scheme is administered through both public and private (PMJJBY) sector insurance companies in tie-up with scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks. With the target to include the poor and the underprivileged section of the society, this social security scheme was envisaged to foster the spirit of inclusive growth tandem with GoI’s vision of ‘Sabke Saath Sab ka Vikas’. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KSN), launched in 2019, is an initiative by the GOI that give farmers up to Samman Nidhi (PM-KSN) INR 6,000 (US$75) per year as minimum income support. However, it is important to note that landless farmers are not covered under this initiative as farmstead ownership is an eligibility criterion. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), a government-sponsored accident Health Insurance program, Bima Yojana (PMSBY) provides coverage for accidental death, total and partial disability, as well as permanent disability. A person must be between the ages of 18 and 70 to apply for this program. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 may participate in this program, but they must have a bank account. It is a one-year cover, renewable from year to year. The scheme is offered / administered through Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) and other General Insurance companies. The benefits range between 1 – 2 lakh INR (1 lakh INR for partial permanent disability and 2 lakh INR for death / complete incapacitation). Pradhan Mantri Street Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANIDHI), launched in June 2020, is a collateral free working Vendor Atmanirbhar capital loan program for street vendors. Since its launch, over 5 million street vendors have benefitted from this Nidhi (PM-SVANIDHI) scheme. The features of the scheme include – a) Collateral free working capital loan up to INR 10,000, of 1 year tenure, with enhanced loan of INR 20,000 and INR 50,000 in the second and third tranches respectively, on repayments of earlier loans. b) Interest subsidy @ 7% per annum; and c) Reward for digital transactions, by way of cash back up to INR 1,200 per year. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala In May 2016, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ Yojana (UJJWALA / (PMUY) as a flagship scheme with an objective to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and PMUY) deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes etc. Usage of traditional cooking fuels had detrimental impacts on the health of rural women as well as on the environment. The target under the scheme was to release 8 Crore LPG Connections to the deprived households by March 2020. During COVID-19 crisis, GoI leveraged this scheme through PMGKY and distributed free LPG cylinders to 80 million households. Public Distribution The Public Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian food security system that was established by the GOI under the System (PDS) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to distribute food and non-food items to India's poor at subsidized rates through Fair Price Shops (FPS). The PDS covers 800 million beneficiaries through its half million strong FPS network. State Disaster Response The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), constituted under Section 48 (1) (a) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Fund (SDRF) and is the primary fund available with State Governments for responses to notified disasters. The Central Government Page 37 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) National Disaster contributes 75% of SDRF allocation for general category States/UTs and 90% for special category States/UTs. The Response Fund (NDRF) annual Central contribution is released in two equal installments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission. The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), constituted under Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, supplements SDRF of a State, in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in SDRF. Unified Mobile UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is developed by Ministry of Electronics and Application for New-age Information Technology and National e-Governance Division to drive Mobile Governance in India. UMANG provides Governance (UMANG) a single platform for all Indian Citizens to access pan India e-Gov services ranging from Central to Local Government bodies (905 central and 877 state level services). Till date, UMANG has facilitated 3.9 billion transactions for 56.8 million registrants. Page 38 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) ANNEX 5. SEQUENCING OF REFORMS AND OTHER WB OPERATIONS Table 4: Sequencing of Social Protection Interventions and Reforms through DPF Series Emergency COVID-19 Reforms (April-July 2020 Medium Term SP + COVID-19 Reforms (July- Reforms + Long Term Structural SP COVID-19 through PMGKY-DPF1) Nov 2020 through PMGKY-DPF2) Reforms (Feb- June 2021 through CCRISP DPF-1) Scaling-up a core set of pre-existing PMGKY triggered a fundamental shift in the Ministry of Finance initiates rationalization food/cash programs announced through social protection system from scheme-based through accepting 15th Finance Commission PMGKY for immediate COVID-19 relief, silos towards a more coordinated recommendation for scheme rationalization reaching 87% of poorest households. approach engaging key departments and and benchmarking. anchored by Ministry of Finance . By notifying COVID-19 pandemic as a Reforms enabled states to use SDRF Implementation of the 15th FC ‘disaster’, the national government monies to deliver context-specific social. recommendations deepens the adaptive and enables state governments to access to assistance to populations in hot decentralized safety nets agenda initiated funds from the State Disaster Response spots/containment zones for COVID-19 through the previous DPF series. Ministry of Funds (SDRF) to implement and deliver relief. This reform is being used by state Finance devolves funds to state/local COVID-19 cash/shelter relief to migrants governments to design and scale-up locally. governments to tailor responses to excluded from PMGKY. relevant packages during the second wave immediate context-specific needs for safety in India. Six states have announced localized nets. Additional financing allocated based on assistance packages based on case burden. the disaster risk index which includes climate change, ecological vulnerabilities, and pollution parameters, among others. 40% of SDRF earmarked for relief assistance for crisis beyond COVID-19. Portable food and in-kind benefits to One-Nation-One-Ration and amendments Additional food-grains for all PDS migrant workers through State Disaster to national Labor Codes triggered benefits households for May and June 2021. Response Funds (food and insurance) for migrants across state boundaries. Mera Ration application to address information asymmetries in accessing portable rations –thereby scaling up access to benefits for migrants Clear benchmarking of food subsidy bill to Establish cost to provide grains to migrants. Door-step delivery of relief by states UMANG platform leveraged online Scheme to offer incentives and address leveraging post offices, fair price shops and information alerts on payment to constraints faced by FSPs, scaling up timely community-based machinery improve last-mile delivery of payments and reducing transaction costs cash. for informal workers to contribute to insurance/make transfers. Quasi-income support measures for urban Through Affordable Rental Housing New credit program for urban street Informal workers through welfare funds to Platform (for urban poor) and National vendors. provide COVID-19 relief. Social Security Board, the government expanded support for urban underserved National Urban Digital Mission --aims to workers. strengthen IT Infrastructure for service . delivery at the municipal level. Page 39 of 40 The World Bank Creating a Coordinated and Responsive Indian Social Protection System (CCRISP) (P176447) Table 5: Relevant operations preceding, parallel to and following the DPF series. SL Name of the Operation Approval Date Status 1. Assam State Public Finance Institutional Reforms (ASPIRe) Project (P157198) June 15, 2017 Active 2. Chhattisgarh Public Financial Management and Accountability Program (P166578) February 21, 2019 Active 3. Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth (P175811) March 28, 2023 Active 4. Punjab: Building Fiscal and Institutional Resilience (P175261) September 19, 2022 Active 5. The Resilient Kerala Program (P174778) June 24, 2021 Active 6. Sikkim: Integrated Service Provision and Innovation for Rural Economies Program N/A Pipeline (P180634) 7. West Bengal Building State Capability for Inclusive Social Protection (P174564) June 14, 2022 Active 8. RIGHTS: Inclusion, Accessibility and Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in June 14, 2022 Active Tamil Nadu (P176404) 9. India SEWA 2025 Digital Financial Inclusion of Informal Sector (P167886) March 22, 2019 Closed 10. Tejaswini: Socioeconomic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls & Young Women June 21, 2016 Closed (P150576) 11. India: Bihar Integrated Social Protection Strengthening Project (P118826) June 20, 2013 Closed 12. Tamil Nadu Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Project: TA Disability (P129119) March 1, 2012 Closed Page 40 of 40