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National Panchayati Raj Day
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj observes National Panchayati Raj Day, marking 33 years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. The day is currently relevant for reaffirming the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in grassroots democracy, fiscal federalism, and participatory governance.
National Panchayati Raj Day:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Panchayati Raj | Panchayati Raj is a rural local self-government system based on decentralisation and transfer of power from the State to elected bodies at village, block, and district levels. |
| Panchayati Raj Day | National Panchayati Raj Day commemorates constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj Institutions and reaffirms their role in grassroots democracy, fiscal federalism, and participatory governance. |
| Date | National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on 24th April every year. |
| Origin | The first National Panchayati Raj Day has been observed in 2010 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. |
| 73rd Amendment Act | The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 accords constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions and adds Part IX and the 11th Schedule. |
| Constitutional Provisions | Part IX comprises Articles 243–243O related to Panchayati Raj Institutions. |
| Eleventh Schedule | The 11th Schedule contains 29 subjects devolved to Panchayati Raj Institutions. |
| Core Subjects | Agriculture, health, and education are core subjects under Panchayati Raj Institutions for local planning and implementation. |
| Gram Sabha | Gram Sabha is an assembly of all registered voters in a village and forms the bedrock of Panchayati Raj. |
| Participatory Role | Gram Sabha empowers citizens to approve plans, budgets, and social audits. |
| Vision Linkage | Empowered Panchayats are viewed as the foundation for self-reliant villages, farmers, and communities under Viksit Bharat. |
| Capacity Building | Training programmes and exposure visits strengthen decision-making, particularly among women representatives. |
| Fiscal Empowerment | The 16th Finance Commission has recommended an 84% increase in grants to Rural Local Bodies compared to the Fifteenth Finance Commission. |
| Grant Ratio | The grants follow an 80:20 ratio between Basic Grants and Performance Grants. |
| Digital Governance | Digital governance platforms comprise e-GramSwaraj for online accounting and planning and SabhaSaar for transparency in Gram Sabhas. |
| Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 | Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 is a nationwide framework to assess Gram Panchayat performance aligned with 9 SDG themes. |
| PAI Indicators | Indicators under Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 have been rationalised from 516 to 150 with 97.3% participation across 33 States and Union Territories. |
| Cultural Heritage | Monographs under the Panchayat Dharohar Initiative have been released for Tripura, Tirupati, and Uttarkashi to showcase rural heritage. |