10 marks
150 words
Critically analyse
Direct Benefit Transfer has transformed welfare delivery in India. Critically analyse its successes and limitations.
Decoding the directive: “Critically analyse”
A compact “critically analyse” — cover gains and limitations succinctly and end with a judgment.
What UPSC is really asking
Explain how DBT plus the JAM trinity reduced leakages and ghost beneficiaries, then the limitations — exclusion errors, connectivity/Aadhaar failures, last-mile banking gaps.
Dimensions the examiner expects
Cover these dimensions
- Mechanism — JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile)
- Successes — leakage reduction, targeting, subsidy savings
- Limitations — exclusion errors, authentication failures, banking access
- Balanced verdict
Concepts & keywords to name
Use the right vocabulary
- JAM trinity — the plumbing of DBT
- Aadhaar-enabled payments — identity-linked transfers
- Exclusion vs. inclusion errors — targeting trade-off
- Estimated subsidy savings (govt/Economic Survey figures)
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t do this
- Only listing benefits
- No mention of exclusion errors — the key critique
- Confusing DBT with all subsidy reform
Quick hints before you write
Structuring tips
- Name the JAM trinity explicitly.
- Give one hard example of an exclusion error.
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