Mr. Yatin Diwakar will present his Ph.D. defense as per the detail below:

Date: 30.01.2025

Time: 1030 – 1130 hrs.

Venue: Conference Room No.1, C-TARA Office

Title: Deepening the Institutionalisation of National Monitoring and Evaluation System in India

Supervisor: Prof. Bakul Rao, C-TARA

Internal Examiner: Prof. Trupti Mishra, SJMSoM

External Examiner: Dr. Shyam Singh, Inst. of Rural Management, Anand

Chairperson: Prof. Bhalchandra Puranik, Mech. Engg.

Abstract:

The Government of India has adopted a programmatic development model, implemented through its bureaucratic apparatus. To ensure effective implementation, control and feedback systems such as monitoring, auditing and evaluations are mandated. Despite a long history since independence and regular efforts to strengthen the system, it is observed that institutionalisation of evaluation is weak in India. This thesis documents the history and status of the national monitoring and evaluation system in India, juxtaposes it with the auditing system to understand structural issues, using the ice-berg model of systems thinking. This exercise is done using the components under the political dimension of the EvalGLOBE framework for institutionalisation of evaluation systems. The practice of M&E in the country is assessed through tools created during this study and applied to schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development to show their applicability.  A way forward is proposed and work is done towards drafting the National Evaluation Policy for India. Experiences from other countries in the region and literature is used to comment on how the national M&E system can be deepened in India.