Centre Releases Over ₹137 Crores Under XV-FC Grants to Strengthen Rural Local Bodies in Goa, Meghalaya, Sikkim & Uttarakhand

**Executive Summary** The Union Government has released over ₹137 crores in Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) Untied Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Goa, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand during FY 2025–26. The release aims to strengthen rural local governance and covers allocations for different financial years, including second installments of previous years. The grants are to be utilized for location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Grant Allocation Overview:** * The grants are XV-FC Untied Grants for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). * The releases are for the states of Goa, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. * The allocations are for various financial years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26). * **Specific State Allocations:** * **Goa:** ₹11.60 crores released as the second installment of Untied Grants for FY 2023–24 for 2 eligible DPs and 191 eligible GPs; ₹2.979 crores released as withheld portion of the first installment for FY 2023-24 for 2 additional DPs and 24 GPs. * **Meghalaya:** ₹27.00 crores released as the second installment of Untied Grants for FY 2021–22 for all three eligible Autonomous District Councils. * **Sikkim:** ₹6.60 crores released as the second installment of Untied Grants for FY 2025–26 for 6 eligible DPs and 199 GPs; ₹0.165 crores released as the withheld portion of the first installment for FY 2025–26 for one additional DP. * **Uttarakhand:** ₹89.4117 crores released as the first installment of Untied Grants for FY 2025–26 for 13 DPs, 95 BPs and 7,568 GPs. * **Grant Utilization:** * The grants are recommended by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti and released by the Ministry of Finance. * Untied Grants should be utilized for location-specific felt needs under the Twenty-Nine Subjects of the Eleventh Schedule, excluding salaries and establishment costs. * Tied Grants can be used for basic services of sanitation, maintenance of ODF status (including waste, excreta, and sludge management), and supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling. * Grants are released in two instalments in a financial year. **Impact Analysis** **Goa's District and Gram Panchayats (2 DPs + 191 GPs)** * **Impact:** Increased financial resources for local governance and development projects. * **Action Required:** Utilize the Untied Grants for location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, and the Tied Grants for sanitation and drinking water projects. **Meghalaya's Autonomous District Councils (Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia)** * **Impact:** Additional funding to address local needs and improve governance within the Autonomous District Councils. * **Action Required:** Utilize the Untied Grants for location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. **Sikkim's District and Gram Panchayats (6 DPs + 199 GPs)** * **Impact:** Boost in funding for local development projects and strengthening rural local governance. * **Action Required:** Utilize the Untied Grants for location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, and the Tied Grants for sanitation and drinking water projects. **Uttarakhand's District, Block, and Gram Panchayats (13 DPs + 95 BPs + 7,568 GPs)** * **Impact:** Significant financial boost to strengthen rural local governance and implement development projects. * **Action Required:** Utilize the Untied Grants for location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, and the Tied Grants for sanitation and drinking water projects.

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