New Delhi, June 10 -- When Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014, India's welfare delivery landscape was marked by fragmentation, leakages and the heavy presence of intermediaries between the state and its intended beneficiaries.Twelve years on, the government's flagship social schemes collectively constitute one of the largest welfare architectures in the world - reaching over 800 million people on food security alone, disbursing Rs.4.27 lakh crore directly to farmers, installing taps in over 150 million rural homes and extending health insurance to nearly 550 million citizens.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), launched during the Covid-19 in March 2020 and made permanent from January 2024, stands as the single lar...