Parliament Question: High-Performing Panchayats

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2768 ANSWEREDON 10/03/2026 HIGH-PERFORMING PANCHAYATS 2768. SHRIJASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA: DR. KALYANVAIJINATHRAOKALE: SHRIRAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA: SHRIVISHNU DAYALRAM: SMT.D K ARUNA: SHRIDILESHWAR KAMAIT: Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state (a) the criteria and methodology adopted for identification, benchmarking and cross-State peer review of the 1,000 high-performing Panchayats; (b) the details of incentives, recognition or support being provided to the selected Panchayats; (c) the extent to which the initiative has led to measurable improvements in nutrition and infrastructure outcomes; and (d) whether any steps have been proposed to scale up best practices from high-performing Panchayats to other regions to accelerate progress towards a malnutrition-free Bharat and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has anchored the process of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by aggregating the 17 SDGs into 9 themes. To measure the process of implementation of LSDGs at the grassroots level, the Ministry has developed the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) as a composite assessment framework to measure the incremental performance of Gram Panchayats/EquivalenttoGram Panchayatsacross the nine themes. The PAIprovidestheme- wise and overall scores through scorecards and dashboards, enabling identification of performance gaps, relative strengths, and areas requiring focused attention at the Panchayat level. The PAI provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating performance across measurable indicators under the nine themes within the State, and grades GPs under five categories i.e. Achiever (A+), Front Runner (A: 75 to below 90), Performer (B: 60 to below 75),Aspirant(C: 40tobelow60) andBeginner(D:0tobelow40), basedonthe PAIscore. In so far as the identification of 1,000 high-performing Gram Panchayats for accelerating progress towards a malnutrition-free Bharat is concerned, Ministry of Women and Child 1Development (MWCD) launched the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan on 26 December 2024, which identifies and incentivizes high-performing Gram Panchayats based on data from the PoshanTracker Application. States/UTs nominated up to10% of theirGPs meeting specified eligibility criteria relating to functional Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), beneficiary coverage, basic infrastructure and growth measurement efficiency, for selection of top 1,000 qualifiedGPs. (b)Incentives, recognitionandsupport: PAI scores support the States/UTs to identify high-performing Gram Panchayats for incentivizingandfelicitationforexemplarypracticesacross thenine themesof LSDGs. Under the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan, an incentive grant is awarded to the top 1,000 qualified Gram Panchayats, and is distributed as 25% to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, 25% for communitymobilizationandbeneficiary enrolment,and50% for nutrition- focusedAWCactivitiessuch asPoshanVatikasandstrengtheningsupplementarynutrition. (c)Measurable improvementsinnutritionandinfrastructureoutcomes: Within the LSDG framework, Theme 2: Healthy Panchayat covers health and nutrition aspects for improving quality health services of rural citizens, and Theme 6: Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure focuses on rural infrastructure, including rural connectivity, social institutions, GP Bhawan, and utility centres, etc. PAI, through its thematic and composite scores, provides an evidence-based assessment framework across measurable indicators under the nine themes, including themes relating to health/nutrition and infrastructure, thereby enabling identification of performance gaps and areas requiring focusedattentionatPanchayatlevel. Under the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan, the assessment framework is outcome- oriented and data-driven and measures improvements in malnutrition indicators (SAM, MAM, stunting, underweight), maternal nutrition, supplementary nutrition coverage, AWC infrastructure,andgrowthmonitoringefficiency. (d)Scalingupbestpractices: PAI provides a framework for promoting best practices of Gram Panchayats to foster peer learning and exchange of learning among Gram Panchayats across the nine themes of LSDGs. Further, under the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan, beyond recognition, the initiative fosters positive competition, promotes sustainable nutrition practices, and encourages documentationanddisseminationof bestpracticesforwider replication. *** 2