National Panchayati Raj Day

Prelims: Current events of national importance | Polity & Governance

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj observed National Panchayati Raj Day, marking 33 years of the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.

Panchayati Raj – It is a rural local self‑government system in India, based on decentralisation.
Power transferred from the State to elected bodies at village, block, district levels.
Panchayati Raj Day – It is to commemorate the constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and reaffirm their role in
- Grassroots democracy,
- Fiscal federalism, and
- Participatory governance.
Celebrated on – 24^th April every year.
Began in – 2010, when the first National Panchayati Raj Day was observed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Constitutional & Governance Context

73rd Amendment Act, 1992 – Accorded constitutional status to PRIs; added Part IX (Articles 243–243O) and 11^th Schedule.
- Eleventh Schedule contains 29 subjects devolved to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- Agriculture, health, and education are core subjects, making Panchayats responsible for local planning and implementation in these areas.
Gram Sabha – Bedrock of Panchayati Raj.
- It is an assembly of all registered voters in a village.
- Foundation of participatory democracy.
- Empowers citizens to approve plans, budgets, and social audits.

Highlights, 2026

Vision of Viksit Bharat – Empowered Panchayats seen as the foundation for self‑reliant villages, farmers, and communities.
Capacity Building & Women Leadership – Training programmes and exposure visits have strengthened decision‑making, particularly among women representatives.
Fiscal Empowerment – 16^th Finance Commission recommended an 84% increase in grants to Rural Local Bodies compared to the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
- 80:20 ratio – Basic Grants (assured flows) vs Performance Grants (linked to own‑source revenue mobilisation).
Digital Governance Tools – Digital governance platforms like e‑GramSwaraj (online accounting & planning) and SabhaSaar (transparency in Gram Sabhas) advance accountability, efficiency, and SDG localisation.
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0
- India’s nationwide framework to assess Gram Panchayat performance, aligned with 9 SDG themes.
- Indicators rationalised from 516 to 150, with 97.3% participation across 33 States/UTs.

Cultural Heritage – Release of monographs under Panchayat Dharohar Initiative (Tripura, Tirupati, Uttarkashi) showcasing rural heritage.

References