Registered Society No. S-32707 (2002)

Development Evaluation Society of India

Learning from experience for effective development

Major Studies

Major Studies / Field Surveys Carried Out by the Organisation

DESI has conducted evaluation studies and large-scale primary field surveys for Government ministries, national research institutions and international agencies. Since 2019, field surveys have been conducted using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing on mobile handsets).

Early Evaluation Studies (2010)

  • Prevention of Japanese Encephalitis in 50 Villages of Gorakhpur District: An Evaluation Study — July 2010. Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Luxembourg.
  • Empowerment of Gond and Korku Tribes through Health and Education, through the Use of Natural Herbs and Medicines: Evaluation of Sahmet-TdH Community Health Programme, Kesla, Madhya Pradesh — July 2010. Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Luxembourg.
  • Supplementary Evaluation of the Project “Promotion of Health and Education Activities”, implemented by Dalit Sangh and supported by TdH and PSF in Sohagpur, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh — July 2010. Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Luxembourg.
  • Empowering Tribals of Vadodara: Evaluation of Bhasha Research Centre Intervention — July 2010. Sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Luxembourg.
  • “State of Development Evaluation – India, 2010”, IDRC, Canada. This study was done at IRMED, Delhi by Dr. S. P. Pal and Dr. Milindo Chakrabarty of DESI (this arrangement was made as DESI did not have an FCRA account of its own).
  • Impact of Intervention in the Education Sector in India by the British Government, 2010, conducted by NCAER and Sarda University.

Field Surveys (2019 onwards)

  • Convergence of Agricultural Interventions in Maharashtra (CAIM), 2019, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). The field survey was carried out by DESI in three selected districts (Akola, Wardha and Washim) of the Vidarbha region with a total sample of 1,501 beneficiary questionnaires, 399 village questionnaires and 24 Focus Group Discussions, from 8 March to 10 April 2019 using CAPI.
  • Evaluation Study on the Scheme of Equity Support to National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) and State Tribal Finance & Development Corporations (STFDCs), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration. DESI conducted the field survey of about 1,900 beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries spread over 11 states — Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal — during February–March 2019 using CAPI.
  • Support to National / State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India, sponsored by the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. DESI surveyed about 1,000 respondents comprising empanelled suppliers of TRIFED, artisans, MFP trainees, MFP trainers, handicrafts trainers and training agencies, spread over 16 states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Nagaland) during February–March 2019 using CAPI.
  • Evaluation of the Scheme of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, undertaken by the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. DESI conducted the primary survey covering 10 states, 20 districts, 40 blocks and 80 villages; about 2,600 structured questionnaires were canvassed among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries using CAPI.
  • Rapid Assessment of Swasth Nagrik Abhiyan (SNA), undertaken by IIPA on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to review existing IEC (Information, Education & Communication) activities and suggest a framework to improve the Abhiyan. DESI conducted the primary survey in six states (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Tamil Nadu), interviewing 1,920 beneficiaries, 90 ASHA, ANM and Anganwadi workers and 30 school teachers using CAPI, and organised 24 video-recorded FGDs during September–October 2019.
  • Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Study of National Dairy Programme-I, assigned to NCAER by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). DESI undertook the field survey in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh — village schedules in 370 villages, listing of 18,500 households and household schedules for 4,440 households — from 1 to 30 September 2019 using CAPI.
  • NCAER Study on the Fisheries Sector in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, covering 2,000 households, 30 hotels, 15 restaurants and 15 district officials, plus 15 FGDs in district fish markets, during April–July 2022.
  • Impact of COVID-19 on PMEGP Units and Khadi Institutions, assigned to IIPA by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). DESI conducted the field survey in 20 major states covering 8,001 PMEGP units, 313 Khadi institutions and 26 FGDs during March–July 2022.
  • All India Citizens Survey of Police Services (AICSPS) — Haryana, assigned to NCAER and sponsored by the Bureau of Police Research & Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. Women respondents from 2,250 households, 8 police stations, 24 police personnel and 1 FGD, August 2023.
  • AICSPS — Uttar Pradesh (West): women respondents from 5,925 households, 8 police stations and 24 police personnel, February–April 2024.
  • AICSPS — Gujarat, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli: women respondents from 7,200 households, 28 police stations and 24 police personnel, June–August 2024.
  • NCAER Study on Physical Verification of 128 Institutes and 6,784 Beneficiaries of the Pre- and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST Students (MoTA) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, July–August 2024.
  • NCAER Study, “Assessing the Effectiveness of Small Borrowings in India (Micro Finance)” in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, covering 1,940 borrower beneficiaries and 5 FGDs, September–October 2024.
  • NCAER Study, “Concurrent Evaluation of PM Vishwakarma (PMV Q1)” in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, covering 2,982 beneficiaries, 2,403 non-beneficiaries, 33 skill training centres, 65 trainers/assessors, 10 FGDs and 11 KIIs, February 2025.
  • NCAER Study, “Central Water Commission Study to Assess Indirect Benefits of Irrigation” (CWC) in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, covering 2,490 households, 30 village schedules and 11 FGDs, April–May 2025.
  • NCAER Study, “Assessment and Validation of Benefits of Social Welfare Schemes in Left Wing Extremism Affected Region of Chhattisgarh State” (Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India), covering 53,260 rural households, 260 village questionnaires, 4 FGDs and 1 KII, May–July 2025.
  • AICSPS — Bihar: women respondents from 2,150 households, 4 police stations and 12 police personnel, July–August 2025.
  • NCAER Study, “Concurrent Evaluation of PM Vishwakarma (PMV Q2)” in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, covering 1,982 beneficiaries, 677 non-beneficiaries, 31 skill training centres, 62 trainers/assessors, 6 FGDs and 4 KIIs, January–July 2025.
  • NCAER Study, “Concurrent Evaluation of PM Vishwakarma (PMV Q3)” in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, covering 3,125 impact-assessment beneficiaries, 911 monitoring beneficiaries, 1,199 non-beneficiaries, 28 skill training centres, 67 trainers/assessors, 6 FGDs and 10 KIIs, January–February 2026.