Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is enhancing digital governance through the Digital India Programme, focusing on transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Key initiatives include the eGramSwaraj platform for online planning, budgeting, and accounting, integrated with PFMS for real-time payments, and Bhashini integration for multilingual accessibility supporting 22 scheduled languages. Capacity building initiatives are being implemented across states, including Bihar, under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), with ongoing training programs for elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries.
Key Points / Main Content:
Digital Governance Tools and Applications:
* ePanchayat Mission Mode Project: Implemented across all States and Union Territories to strengthen PRIs through digital governance.
* eGramSwaraj: An online platform for planning, budgeting, accounting, and monitoring of works by Gram Panchayats.
* PFMS Integration: Enables real-time payments to vendors and service providers, enhancing financial transparency.
* Bhashini Integration: Enhances multilingual accessibility for PRIs, providing seamless language translation for the eGramSwaraj portal, supporting 22 scheduled languages.
Implementation and Capacity Building:
* Continuous Enhancement: eGramSwaraj platform is continuously improved based on user feedback.
* Capacity Building Programs: Training programs for elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries on digital tools and platforms.
* Handholding Support: Regular workshops in collaboration with State Governments to improve digital literacy and platform adoption.
* Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): Revamped scheme implemented in States/UTs, including Bihar, to capacitate PRIs through funding capacity building and training interventions.
Impact Analysis:
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs):
* Impact: PRIs will become more transparent, accountable, and effective through the use of digital governance tools and enhanced capacity building.
* Action Required: PRIs should adopt and utilize the eGramSwaraj platform, participate in training programs, and provide feedback for platform improvements.
Elected Representatives and Panchayat Functionaries:
* Impact: Enhanced skills and knowledge in digital governance, leading to improved service delivery and decision-making.
* Action Required: Participate in capacity building programs, utilize digital tools and platforms in their daily operations, and engage in workshops for continuous improvement.
Citizens:
* Impact: Increased access to information and services in their preferred regional language, promoting inclusive governance.
* Action Required: Utilize the eGramSwaraj portal for accessing information and services related to Panchayats, and provide feedback on the platform's usability and accessibility.
State Governments:
* Impact: Collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to implement digital governance tools and capacity building initiatives at the ground level.
* Action Required: Support the implementation of eGramSwaraj and other digital platforms, conduct regular workshops, and provide handholding support to PRIs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The Indian government ministry responsible for Panchayati Raj institutions.
Digital India Programme: A Government of India initiative to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
ePanchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP): An initiative implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions through digital governance tools.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs): Local self-government institutions at the village or rural level in India.
eGramSwaraj: An online platform for planning, budgeting, accounting, and monitoring of works by Gram Panchayats.
Public Financial Management System (PFMS): A platform integrated with eGramSwaraj to enable real-time payments to vendors and service providers, enhancing financial transparency.
Bhashini: An AI-based language technology integrated with the eGramSwaraj portal to enhance multilingual accessibility for Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Bihar: A state in India where capacity building initiatives are being implemented for Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at capacitating Panchayati Raj institutions through funding capacity building and training interventions.
GOVERNMENTOF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 349
ANSWERED ON22.07.2025
DIGITALGOVERNANCE TOOLSAND AI/MLAPPLICATIONS
349.SHRIDILESHWAR KAMAIT:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to State:
(a)the detailsof specific digitalgovernance toolsandAI/MLapplicationsintroducedbythe
Government tothe elected representatives;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure their practical implementation at the
panchayatlevel;
(c) whether there is any proposal for expansion of similar capacity building initiatives in
various States including Bihar particularly the areas with Panchayati Raj Institutions
laggingindigitalGovernance; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) Under the Digital India Programme, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing
the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) across all States and Union Territories. This
initiative aims to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by making them more
transparent, accountable, andeffectivethrough digital governance tools. One of the flagship
applications under this initiative is eGramSwaraj, an online platform for planning,
budgeting, accounting, and monitoring of works by Gram Panchayats. Additionally,
integration of eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) has
enabled real-time payments to vendors and service providers, thereby enhancing financial
transparency andefficiency.
Further, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has integrated Bhashini with the e-
1GramSwaraj portal to enhance multilingual accessibility for Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs). This integration aims to provide seamless language translation for the portal,
enabling Panchayat functionaries and citizens to access information in their preferred
regional language. The initiative aligns with the Government’s vision of leveraging AI-
based language technology for inclusive governance. The Bhashini integration currently
supports 22scheduled languages
.
(b) To ensure practical implementation of these tools at the Panchayat level, the
Government hasundertakenthe following steps:
1. Continuous enhancement of the eGramSwaraj platform based on user feedback from
StatesandUTs toensure improvedusability.
2. Implementation of capacity-building programmes to trainelected representatives and
Panchayatfunctionaries ondigitaltoolsandplatforms.
3. Handholding support and regular workshops conducted in collaboration with State
Governmentstoimprove digital literacyandplatform adoptionat the ground level.
(c) & (d) Yes, the Government has undertaken focused initiatives to strengthen capacity
building in various States, including Bihar. The Ministry is implementing Revamped
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. financial
year 2022-23 in States/UTs including Bihar with mainobjective of capacitating Panchayati
Raj institutions (PRIs) through funding capacity building and training interventions for
Panchayat elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries. The State-wise number of
participants trained under the revamped RGSAScheme during the financial year 2024–25
isprovidedat Annexure.
***
2Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 349
answeredon22.07.2025regarding ‘DigitalGovernanceToolsandAI/MLApplications’.
No.ofParticipantstrained
Sl.No States
during2024-25
1 Andaman&NicobarIslands 5221
2 Andhra Pradesh 325643
3 ArunachalPradesh 12344
4 Assam 144936
5 Bihar 435896
6 Chhattisgarh 90559
7 DadraandNagarHaveli
1073
8 DamanandDiu
9 Goa 4519
10 Gujarat 90368
11 Haryana 11909
12 HimachalPradesh 120455
13 Jammu&Kashmir 82534
14 Jharkhand 135817
15 Karnataka 321380
16 Kerala 129632
17 Ladakh 26
18 Lakshadweep 0
19 MadhyaPradesh 242279
20 Maharashtra 363111
21 Manipur 195
22 Meghalaya 78537
23 Mizoram 9841
24 Nagaland 4725
25 Odisha 279505
26 Puducherry 0
27 Punjab 122848
28 Rajasthan 71795
29 Sikkim 6709
30 TamilNadu 78490
31 Telangana 1701
32 Tripura 54228
33 Uttarakhand 22342
34 UttarPradesh 76302
35 WestBengal 228081
Total 35,53,001
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