The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes four claims regarding the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). This article is a fact check of these claims. The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes four claims regarding the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). This article is a fact check of these claims. What is the Rurban mission and is this a new scheme? A response provided by the government in the Lok Sabha states the aims & objectives of the SPMRM. It states that ‘the Government proposes to develop rural clusters in the country under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). The Mission aims at development of 300 clusters in all States and UTs by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of smart Villages. Under the SPMRM, the State Governments shall identify existing Centrally Sponsored, Central Sector or State Government schemes relevant for the development of the cluster and converge their implementation in an integrated and time bound manner’. Another answer of the government in the Lok Sabha mentions that the Scheme has been approved in September, 2015 and an outlay of Rs. 5142.08 crore has been provided for the scheme for the period 2015-16 to 2019-20. About fourteen (14) components have been suggested as desirable for inclusion in the development of Rurban Cluster. The funding support will be up to 30% of the estimated investment for each Rurban cluster, given as Critical Gap Funding (CGF), while the remaining 70% of the funds are to be mobilized by the States through convergence with synergic State and Central programmes as well as private investment and institutional funding. It has to be noted that the scheme is not entirely new. The SPMRM is a replacement of the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) scheme that was implemented during the UPA’s tenure. Incidentally, the PURA scheme was first announced by the NDA-I government in August 2003. The broad objective of the PURA scheme was ‘holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (or a group of Gram Panchayats) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas’ The PURA scheme was implemented on a pilot basis in seven clusters for a period of three years from 2004-05 to 2006-07. Based on the study by the NIRD, Hyderabad and the recommendations of the Working Group on PURA, the scheme was restructured and approved in 2010 for implementation on a pilot basis under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. Nine (9) projects were approved under the PPP framework. How many clusters have been identified? The first claim is that 267 clusters have been identified for development under the Rurban mission. In an answer provided in the Lok Sabha in July 2017, it is mentioned that the ‘Ministry has allocated 300 Clusters, 100 clusters each in 3 phases in 29 States and 6 Union Territories. Out of 300 Clusters, 196 Clusters have been approved under Phase-I and Phase-II till date. Ministry has also allocated 100 clusters recently under Phase III, and the respective States are identifying clusters to be developed.’ In another answer provided in the Lok Sabha in March 2018, it is stated that, ‘till date, of the mandated 300 clusters, 267 clusters have been identified and approved across the country.” Claim: 267 clusters are identified under the Rurban mission Fact: Of the mandated 300 clusters, 267 clusters have been identified and approved across the country. Hence, the claim is TRUE. Are Thematic clusters being identified? The second claim is that Agro based and thematic clusters for skilled manpower and economic opportunities are being identified. According to an answer provided in the Lok Sabha, ‘Rs. 19,961.81 crores of investment have been estimated in the first 197 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs). Of the total investment proposed, nearly 78% is targeted towards saturation of Economic and Basic Amenities. Various Thematic Areas have been identified for saturation of Economic Amenities, such as Agri Services and Processing, followed by Skill development to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Tourism.’ The details of the specific clusters based on various economic themes is available on the SPMRM website.