National Panchayati Raj Day

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day 2025, presented the Special Category National Panchayat Awards- 2025.

About

  • These awards include the Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA), Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award (ANPSA), and Panchayat Kshamta Nirman Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar (PKNSSP). 
  • The awards aim to recognize Gram Panchayats and institutions that have demonstrated exemplary performance in areas such as climate resilience, fiscal self-reliance, and capacity building. 
  • Awardees have been selected from States including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Assam.

National Panchayati Raj Day

  • India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 every year to mark the foundation of the Panchayati Raj System, when the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992, came into force. 
  • It celebrates the importance of grassroots democracy, strengthens local governance and helps empower rural communities.

Panchayati Raj System

  • The word Panchayat comes from two words – “Panch” meaning five and “Ayat” meaning assembly.
    • It refers to a traditional system where a group of elders from a village would come together to solve problems or settle disputes. 
  • The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, appointed in 1957, recommended the establishment of the Panchayati Raj system in India.
  • The Panchayati Raj system has three levels – Village Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad.
    • The Village Panchayat: It has around five members that includes a Sarpanch.
    • The Panchayat Samiti: It usually covers 20 to 60 villages. Its head is called the Pradhan and the deputy is the Up-Pradhan.
    • The Zilla Parishad: It includes members from Panchayat Samitis and government officials. Its main job is to guide and check the work done in the district.
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj was created in 2004 which handles all matters related to Panchayati Raj and is led by a cabinet minister.
  • Panchayat elections are held every five years to choose new members.
  • Reservation: Article 243D of the Constitution provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Class of citizens and women. 

Need for the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India

  • Decentralization of Power: PRIs bring governance closer to the grassroots level, empowering local communities to take decisions tailored to their specific needs.
  • Democratic Participation: Ensures people’s direct involvement in decision-making processes, thereby strengthening democracy at the village level.
  • Efficient Implementation of Schemes: Local self-governments can effectively implement and monitor development schemes based on local conditions and requirements.
  • Better Utilization of Resources: Local bodies can ensure optimal use of resources like land, water, and manpower due to better understanding of regional dynamics.
  • Inclusive Development: Encourages participation from marginalized communities, including women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs), fostering inclusive growth.
  • Employment Generation: Through rural development programs like MGNREGA, PRIs play a critical role in providing employment and reducing rural poverty.

Challenges of Panchayati Raj Institutions

  • Lack of Infrastructure and Digital Literacy: Insufficient computer skills hinder efficient working.
    • Digital divide limits effective implementation.
  • Inadequate Financial Resources: Panchayats often lack adequate funds for development activities, it leads to delays, poor execution, and increased risk of corruption.
  • Poor Coordination Among Administrative Bodies: Poor inter-departmental coordination affects developmental work and fund utilization.
    • Issues include politicization, inadequate incentives, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
  • Male Dominance in Decision-Making: Women’s political participation is hindered by patriarchal norms.
    • Even if elected, women may not have real power due to dominance by male officials.
  • Low Literacy and Awareness: Many representatives, especially women, are unaware of their powers and responsibilities due to low education levels.
    • The general public, especially at the grassroots, lacks understanding of Panchayati Raj’s role and benefits.
  • Irregular Elections and Tenure Issues: Delay in conducting elections affects continuity and planning.

Government Initiatives to Strengthen PRIs

  • Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): Focuses on strengthening governance capabilities of PRIs.
    • Supports training, e-governance, infrastructure, and capacity building.
  • e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project: Aims to digitalize Panchayati Raj functioning.
    • Provides web-based applications for budgeting, accounting, and planning (like PRIASoft, PlanPlus, etc.).
  • Financial Incentives and Performance Grants: States and the Finance Commission provide performance-based grants to reward efficient and transparent PRIs.
  • e-Gram Swaraj Portal: Launched in 2020, it provides a unified digital platform for Panchayat planning, accounting, monitoring, and reporting.
    • Since 2021, all payments under Central Finance Commission funds are done only online through the eGramSwaraj – PFMS Interface (eGSPI) system.
  • Gram Manchitra – Spatial Development Planning: Launched in 2019 as a geospatial platform for evidence-based planning.

Conclusion

  • PRIs have played a crucial role in promoting democratic values, inclusive development, and grassroots-level decision-making.
  • For PRIs to reach their full potential, sustained efforts are needed to enhance their autonomy, build institutional capacity, ensure adequate funding, and promote active citizen participation. 
  • Strengthening PRIs is not just about rural governance—it’s a powerful step toward achieving participatory democracy, sustainable development, and an empowered rural India.

Source: IE

 

Other News of the Day

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations Context Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister of India, held the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) with Pakistan ‘in abeyance with immediate effect’ in the aftermath of the terror strike in Pahalgam. About Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)- It is the apex decision-making body in India responsible for...
Read More

Syllabus: GS 3/Economy  In News India's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework is offering valuable insights for governments worldwide revising their social protection systems. The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system It was launched on January 1, 2013, to reform government welfare delivery by simplifying processes, ensuring accurate targeting of beneficiaries, reducing fraud, and facilitating faster flow...
Read More

Syllabus: GS3/Economy  Context The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), hosted the release of the ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book, curetted by the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE). About The ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book features 30 of India’s most promising innovations identified through the nationwide ‘I Am Circular’ Challenge. It...
Read More

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy Context According to the April 2025 edition of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, India will remain the fastest growing major economy over the next two years. World Economic Outlook Report The World Economic Outlook (WEO) is the International Monetary Fund’s key report on global economic trends and policy challenges.  Published twice a...
Read More

Davis Strait Syllabus: GS1/Places in News Context A hidden landmass has been found beneath the icy waters of the Davis Strait. About The discovery was made by a team of scientists from the UK and Sweden during a study of the ocean floor in the region.  The landmass is now named the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent. ...
Read More