GP & Ward Size Dashboard

Who Benefits the Most from GP Delimitation?

Use the dropdown to select a metric. The map and district ranking chart update together.

Northern Districts have the highest population density per Gram
    Panchayat, and stand to gain the most from delimitation.

Northern Districts also have lower levels
    of asset wealth.

District mean of the GP-level asset wealth score (SEC). Higher values indicate greater household asset wealth.

Data Sources

Dataset	Sample Size & Region
Citizen survey conducted as part of an RCT for peer learning among ward members.	9,699 citizens10 districts, Bihar
Census 2011 and Census 2001.	8,392 GPsBihar
Endline Ward Member survey conducted as part of an RCT for peer learning among ward members.	6,213 WMs10 districts, Bihar
2011 Census data of villages.	39,359 villagesBihar
SEC data.	100,456 wardsBihar
NREGA MIS admin data.	8,115 GPsBihar
SEC (Socio Economic Caste Census 2011-12) — ward candidate level 2016 elections; all SEC citizens matched with father; ward and mukhiya candidates matched with SEC census 2016.	750,544 candidates · 2,800,000 citizens · 111,000 matchedBihar
PRD Department Bihar, Nischaysoft dataset — covers Nal Jal/Nali Gali 2016-2019.	100,000+ wardsBihar
SEC, all Mukhiya winners 2016.	7,148 MukhiyasBihar
GP level NREGA MIS admin data, 2021-2024.	7,658 GPsBihar
UGP level dataset, 1991 population census.	6,887 GPsBihar
GP level, source SEC 2006/2011/2016.	8,392 GPsBihar

What is the Optimal GP Population Size?

Smaller GPs consistently outperform in terms of public goods, small-scale infrastructure, and welfare provision — but large-scale projects benefit from the economies of scale of larger GPs.

While the new proposed GP size is an improvement
    from the current average GP population, more public benefits can be reaped from even
    smaller GPs.

Public Goods

Within a block, smaller GPs perform better at the provision of education and health amenities.

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (same 5,000-20,000 population sample).

Small-Scale Infrastructure

Within a block, smaller GPs implement more Nal Jal and Nali Gali
    projects per capita, and households access more of the former.

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (same 5,000-20,000 population sample).

Large-Scale Infrastructure

Within a block, large-scale infrastructure projects benefit from
    economies of scale — larger GPs perform better.

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (same 5,000-20,000 population sample).

Wealth & Welfare

Within a block, smaller GPs see better household wealth, and welfare provision and availment.

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district. NREGA Persondays is a raw bivariate relationship (no controls) — see note below the chart.

What is the Optimal Ward Population Size?

Ward size does not significantly impact ward member efficacy, infrastructure availment, or welfare outcomes.

Ward Member Characteristics

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (survey sample, not full census coverage).

Infrastructure

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (survey sample, not full census coverage).

Welfare

Use the dropdown to switch between outcomes. Map on the right shows the same outcome by district (survey sample, not full census coverage).

Mukhiya & Ward Member Profiles

Smaller GPs and wards have more educated Mukhiyas and Ward Members.

How Educated are the Leaders? — Competence

Mukhiya Education

Mukhiya (GP head) winners, 2016 election, vs GP population. Block-FE controlled, GPs with 5,000-15,000 people.

Mukhiya education (years). N = 6,012 GPs (Mukhiya winners, 2016 election).

Ward Member Education

Ward Member education vs ward population. Block-FE controlled.

WM education (years). N = 60,381 wards/respondents.

How Elite are the Mukhiyas? — Representativeness

Signed representativeness gap (z). N = 1,231 GPs (Father-Son subsample).

Ward Member Networks

Share of Ward Members with the Block Development Officer (BDO)'s phone number, vs GP population. Block-FE controlled, GPs with 5,000-20,000 people.

Share of WMs with BDO's phone number. N = 1,871 GPs with 5,000-20,000 people (2011 Census).