{"id":109690,"date":"2026-06-24T16:10:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T10:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=109690"},"modified":"2026-06-24T16:10:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T10:40:38","slug":"pri-reforms-and-innovations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pri-reforms-and-innovations\/","title":{"rendered":"PRIs Reforms and Innovations (2014\u20132026), Governance, Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the last decade, India has witnessed a significant transformation in Panchayat governance through capacity building, digitalisation, fiscal empowerment, technological innovation, and greater participation of women, tribal communities, and youth. These reforms have strengthened democratic decentralisation and positioned Panchayats as key drivers of rural development and inclusive growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/panchayati-raj-institutions\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the <\/span><b>backbone of grassroots democracy in India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Established through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/73rd-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they were envisioned as <\/span><b>institutions of self-government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> capable of planning and implementing development according to local needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By bringing governance closer to citizens, PRIs promote <\/span><b>democratic participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>local accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>inclusive rural development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, however, challenges such as limited administrative capacity, inadequate financial resources, weak planning mechanisms, and uneven devolution of powers constrained their effectiveness. Recognising these gaps, the <\/span><b>Government undertook a series of reforms between 2014 and 2026 aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, improving digital governance, enhancing fiscal autonomy, and making Panchayats more participatory, transparent, and citizen-centric.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>Strengthening Institutional Capacity<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A major challenge before Panchayats has been the lack of institutional and administrative capacity. To address this, the Government launched the <\/span><b>Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2018-19, which was further revamped from 2022-23.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 4.10 crore elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries across over 2.70 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions have been trained.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special emphasis has been placed on strengthening the leadership of women representatives, with more than 33.55 lakh women elected representatives receiving training between 2022-23 and 2025-26.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Investments in governance infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: More than 25,100 Gram Panchayat buildings and over 61,000 computers have been provided, enabling Panchayats to function more effectively and deliver public services efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Deepening Participatory Planning<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Effective local governance requires local participation. Recognising this principle, the Government institutionalised the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) as the primary instrument for participatory village planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, more than 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats prepare development plans through consultations with local communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This has strengthened <\/span><b>bottom-up planning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ensured that development priorities reflect local needs rather than top-down administrative decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The integration of GPDPs with digital platforms has further improved transparency and accessibility, making local planning more accountable and evidence-based.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Digital Transformation of Panchayats<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most remarkable changes in Panchayat governance has been the adoption of digital technologies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>e-GramSwaraj platform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/egramswaraj-portal\/\" target=\"_blank\">e-GramSwaraj platform<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has transformed the functioning of Panchayats by digitising planning, budgeting, accounting, and financial management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 2.59 lakh Panchayats are now part of the e-Panchayat ecosystem.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integration with the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/public-financial-management-system\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Financial Management System (PFMS)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> enables real-time monitoring of expenditures and online payments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of June 2026, online transactions worth more than \u20b93.16 lakh crore have been processed through the integrated platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This has significantly enhanced transparency, reduced delays, and improved accountability in Panchayat finances.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Meri Panchayat App<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Citizen participation has also been strengthened through the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meri Panchayat App<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which provides information on Panchayat meetings, development projects, and public assets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With over one crore downloads, the application has emerged as an important tool for citizen-centric governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>SVAMITVA and Rural Property Reforms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the most transformative rural governance reforms has been the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/svamitva-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme uses drone technology to survey inhabited rural areas and provide legal ownership records through property cards.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of June 2026, around 3.18 crore property cards have been distributed across 1.92 lakh villages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative has reduced property disputes, improved access to institutional credit, strengthened land records, and enhanced the revenue-generating capacity of Panchayats.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By providing formal recognition of property ownership, the scheme has significantly contributed to rural economic security.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Fiscal Empowerment of Local Governments<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Political decentralisation cannot succeed without financial decentralisation. Recognising this, <\/span><b>successive Finance Commissions have increased support to Rural Local Bodies.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/15th-finance-commission\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Fifteenth Finance Commission period (2020\u201326)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, grants amounting to \u20b92.82 lakh crore were released to Rural Local Bodies, representing nearly 95 percent of the total allocation. This is the highest release percentage under any Finance Commission cycle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building on this momentum, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/16th-finance-commission\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Sixteenth Finance Commission (2026\u201331)<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has recommended \u20b94.35 lakh crore for Rural Local Bodies, an increase of nearly 84 percent over the previous cycle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The focus has not only been on grants but also on promoting financial self-reliance. Initiatives such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/samarth-panchayat-portal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>SAMARTH Panchayat Portal<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aim to strengthen Panchayats\u2019 Own Source Revenue (OSR) through better assessment, collection, and management of local revenues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Governance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent phase of Panchayat reforms has been characterised by the adoption of data analytics and Artificial Intelligence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: In 2025, the Government introduced the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to measure Panchayat performance across the nine themes of Localised Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covering more than 2.59 lakh Gram Panchayats, the Index enables performance benchmarking, evidence-based planning, and informed decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>SabhaSaar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Ministry also launched <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SabhaSaar<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an AI-enabled platform that automatically generates Gram Sabha minutes in 23 Indian languages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 1.35 lakh Panchayats have used the platform, generating over three lakh meeting records. This has improved transparency while making local governance more accessible and inclusive.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another innovative step was the launch of <\/span><b>India\u2019s first Gram Panchayat-level weather forecasting initiative<\/b> <b>in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panchayat-level forecasts help farmers and rural communities make informed decisions and improve resilience to weather-related risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Strengthening Tribal Self-Governance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special attention has been given to the implementation of the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/pesa-act-1996\/\" target=\"_blank\">Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA)<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government has developed specialised training manuals in tribal languages, launched a dedicated <\/span><b>PESA-GPDP Portal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, established a Centre of Excellence for PESA, and introduced India\u2019s first PESA Ranking Framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These initiatives have strengthened tribal participation in governance and improved implementation of self-governance provisions in Scheduled Areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Advancing Women-Led Development<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women\u2019s participation in Panchayat governance has expanded significantly over the years. The focus has now shifted from representation to leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan, launched in 2025, seeks to enhance governance, communication, and leadership skills among elected women representatives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>744 Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Additionally, 744 Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats have been identified across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Nirbhay Raho Campaign<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: promotes women\u2019s safety, leadership, and participation in local governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These initiatives reflect a broader shift towards women-led development at the grassroots level.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Engaging Youth in Democracy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministry has also focused on engaging young citizens with local democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/model-youth-gram-sabha\/\" target=\"_blank\">Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> initiative introduces students to democratic decision-making through simulated Gram Sabha proceedings. Covering Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ekalavya-model-residential-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Eklavya Model Residential Schools<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and government schools, the initiative engaged more than 29,000 students in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This effort aligns with the objectives of the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-education-policy-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Education Policy (NEP), 2020<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by promoting civic awareness, leadership, and democratic values among youth.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Know how Panchayati Raj reforms strengthened grassroots democracy through e-governance, fiscal decentralisation, citizen participation, and AI.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":109567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[8297],"class_list":{"0":"post-109690","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-pris-reforms-and-innovations","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109690"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":109696,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109690\/revisions\/109696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}