Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj developed the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) to assess the progress of Gram Panchayats in achieving localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) and SDG 2030. The PAI incorporates indicators to evaluate infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat level. This assessment is based on local indicators across the 9 themes of LSDGs. The PAI includes 18 indicators for FY 2023-24 under Theme 6, focusing on self-sufficient infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content:
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI):
* Developed to measure the progress of Gram Panchayats in achieving LSDGs and SDG 2030.
* Uses local indicators across 9 themes of LSDGs.
Theme 6: Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure (FY 2023-24):
* Includes 18 indicators to evaluate infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat level.
* Indicators cover facilities and infrastructure related to Anganwadi Centers, habitations, Primary Schools, roads, health centers, Common Service Centers, libraries, Panchayat Bhawans, Community Halls, Livestock Centers, water, sanitation, animal shelters, disaster shelters, playgrounds, and burial/cremation grounds.
List of Local Indicators under Theme 6:
* Percentage of Anganwadi Centers with own building and basic facilities (electricity, drinking water, toilet).
* Percentage of habitation/villages having street lights.
* Percentage of habitations connected with all-weather roads.
* Percentage of Primary Schools with own building and basic facilities (electricity, drinking water, separate toilets).
* All-weather road connectivity from Gram Panchayat to main road.
* Availability of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers/Health Sub-Center with basic facilities.
* Functionality of Common Service Center (CSC) with basic facilities.
* Availability of functional public library.
* Gram Panchayat Bhawan/Panchayat Ghar with own building and basic facilities.
* Gram Panchayat Bhawan/Panchayat Ghar with computer and internet facility.
* Functionality of Community Hall.
* Access to nearby Livestock Center (within 5 KM).
* Gram Panchayat declared "Har Ghar Jal" certified.
* Gram Panchayat declared ODF plus.
* Facilities for stray animals (shelter, water, food, medical facilities).
* Identified Disaster Shelter building.
* Availability of PlayGround.
* Burial/Cremation Ground with basic facilities.
Impact Analysis:
Gram Panchayats:
Impact: Gram Panchayats are directly affected by the assessment of their infrastructure and facilities against the defined indicators. The assessment determines their progress toward achieving LSDGs and SDG 2030.
Action Required: Gram Panchayats need to ensure the availability and quality of infrastructure as per the specified indicators, provide data for assessment, and work towards improving their scores in the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI).
Ministry of Panchayati Raj:
Impact: The Ministry utilizes the PAI to monitor the progress of Gram Panchayats and identify areas needing improvement.
Action Required: The Ministry needs to continue implementing and refining the PAI framework, analyze the data collected, and provide support and guidance to Gram Panchayats to achieve the desired outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The Indian government ministry responsible for Panchayati Raj institutions.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Gram Panchayats: Village level local self-government institutions in India.
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI): An index developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to measure the progress of Gram Panchayats in achieving localized Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all'.
Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers: A network of primary healthcare centers established under the Ayushman Bharat program to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services.
Common Service Center (CSC): Access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, contributing to a digitally inclusive society.
Har Ghar Jal: A program aiming to provide piped water supply to all rural households by 2024.
GOVERNMENTOF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4172
ANSWEREDON 19/08/2025
ASSESSMENTOFFUNCTIONALEFFICIENCYOFGRAM PANCHAYATS
4172. SHRIJASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA:
SHRICHANDRAPRAKASHJOSHI:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a)whether the Government hasadopted anyspecific indicatorsor monitoringmechanismsto
assess the impactof infrastructure anddigitalinvestments onthe functionalefficiency of
Gram Panchayats;and
(b) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) & (b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj has developed Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) to
measure the incremental progress made by Gram Panchayats/Equivalent to GP in achieving
localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) and, consequently, attaining SDG 2030
based onlocalindicatorsacross the 9 themesof LSDGs.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) incorporated a comprehensive array of 18
indicators (for FY 2023–24) under Theme 6: Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure that
evaluate the presence and quality of infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat level. The list of Local
IndicatorsunderTheme6– Panchayatwith Self-Sufficient Infrastructure isatAnnexure-I.
****
1Annexure-I
Annexreferto inreplyto Part(a) & (b)of the Lok SabhaUnstarred QuestionNo. 4172
to beanswered on19/08/2025
List of Local IndicatorsunderTheme6–Panchayat with Self-SufficientInfrastructure
Sl. Indicator
No.
1. Percentage of Anganwadi Centerhavingown buildingwith basic facilities ( Electricity, Drinking
Water& Toilet) inGram Panchayat
2. Percentage of habitation/villageshavingstreet lights
3. Percentage of habitationsconnectedwith all-weatherroads
4. Percentage of PrimarySchoolshavingown buildingwith basic facilities (Electricity, Drinking
water, andseparate Toilets for Boys & Girls) inGram Panchayat
5. Whetherall weatherroadsare connectedfrom the Gram Panchayat tomainroad
6. WhetherAyushman Bharat HealthandWellness Centers/ HealthSubCenter(HSC)with basic
facilities (Electricity, Drinking water,andseparate Toiletsfor men& women) located inGram
Panchayat
7. WhetherCommon ServiceCenter(CSC)isfunctionalwith basic facilities such asElectricity,
Internet,Printer, Computer andManpower inGram Panchayat area
8. Whetherfunctional public libraryisavailableinGram Panchayat area
9. WhetherGram Panchayat Bhawan / PanchayatGhar havingown buildingwith basic facilities
(Electricity, Drinking water, andseparate Toilets for men& women
10. WhetherGram Panchayat Bhawan/ PanchayatGhar hasComputerwith Internet facility
11. WhetherGram Panchayat hasa Functionalandreadytouse Community Hall
12. WhetherGram Panchayat hasaccesstonearbyLivestockCenter(0-5 KM)
13. WhetherGram Panchayat hasbeendeclaredHar Ghar Jal certified
14. WhetherGram Panchayat hasbeendeclaredODF plus
15. WhetherGram Panchayat hasfacilities(shelter, water,food, medical facilities)for the stray
animal
16. WhetherGram Panchayat hasidentifiedDisaster Shelterbuilding
17. WhetherGram Panchayat hasPlayGround during the reference year
18. Whetherthe Burial /CremationGround hasallbasic facilities (water,toilet,sitting facilitiesetc)
inGram Panchayat
****
2