**Executive Summary**
This report, in response to Unstarred Question No. 1588 answered on December 9, 2025, by the Minister of Panchayati Raj, addresses proposals related to strengthening the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) Act. The report clarifies the government's stance on amending the PESA Act, establishing a grievance redressal mechanism, and ensuring women's participation in Gram Sabhas and Panchayats. The information covers the current status of compliance with constitutional provisions and initiatives undertaken to enhance women's participation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendments and Grievance Redressal:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not propose to amend the PESA Act or establish a grievance redressal mechanism under the Act.
* **Women's Participation:**
* Provisions to ensure women's participation in Gram Sabhas and Panchayats already exist under Part-IX of the Constitution of India, specifically Article 243D.
* Article 243D mandates at least one-third reservation for women in direct Panchayat elections and Chairperson positions.
* 21 States and 2 Union Territories have provisions for 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules.
* The 10 PESA States, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana, are among the 21 States with 50% reservation.
* The Ministry has implemented the Revamped Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026 for capacity building of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* **Training and Advisories:**
* In 2025-26 (as of November 25th, 2025), 41,565 participants, including 18,374 women, have been trained in the 10 PESA States.
* The Ministry has issued advisories to conduct Mahila Sabhas before Gram Sabhas to increase women's active participation in decision-making.
* Advisories have also been issued to enhance the presence of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, and to allocate Panchayat funds for women-centric activities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Panchayati Raj**
* **Impact:** Continue to implement and monitor existing schemes and advisories aimed at capacity building and enhancing women's participation. No new amendments or grievance redressal mechanisms are planned under the PESA Act.
* **Action Required:** Maintain current efforts in training programs and advisory issuance; track progress and outcomes related to women's participation in local governance.
**Stakeholder: States and Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Continue to adhere to constitutional provisions and their own State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules regarding women's reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Implement advisories issued by the Ministry.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with reservation policies, facilitate Mahila Sabhas, and allocate resources for women-centric activities in Panchayats. Utilize the RGSA scheme for capacity building.
**Stakeholder: Elected Representatives (Including Women)**
* **Impact:** Benefit from capacity-building programs aimed at strengthening leadership and managerial skills. Women elected representatives will see increased opportunities for participation in decision-making processes.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in training programs under the RGSA scheme. Utilize platforms like Mahila Sabhas to voice concerns and contribute to policy formulation at the grassroots level.
**Stakeholder: Citizens in Scheduled Areas**
* **Impact:** Existing provisions and initiatives will continue to promote good governance and women-centric development.
* **Action Required:** Engage in Gram Sabhas and Panchayats; hold elected representatives accountable for inclusive and equitable governance.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA): The primary act being discussed in the question, concerning the extension of Panchayat provisions to scheduled areas.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The central ministry responsible for the subject matter of the question, the PESA act and Panchayati Raj institutions.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): Centrally Sponsored Scheme to support Capacity Building of the Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Constitution of India: The fundamental law that contains provisions (Part-IX, Article 243D) regarding reservation for women in Panchayats.
Gram Sabha: Village assembly which ensures women's participation in decision-making
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.–1588
ANSWEREDON- 09.12.2025
LAWTOSTRENGTHEN PESAACT
†1588.SHRIDINESHCHANDRAYADAV:
SHRIGIRIDHARI YADAV:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to amend the law to strengthen the Provision of
PanchayatsExtention tothe ScheduledAreas (PESA)Act, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish a stronger grievance under in redressal
mechanism inthe PESAAct, if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to ensure women's participation in Gram Sabhas and
Panchayatsunderthe PESAAct; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH)
(a) and (b) No, sir. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has no proposal to amend the
Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) or to
establish a grievanceredressal mechanism underthisAct.
(c) and (d) To ensure women's participation in Gram Sabhas and Panchayats provisions
have been provided in Part-IX of the Constitution of India. Article 243D of the Constitution
provides not less than one-third reservation for women out of ‘total number of seats to be
filled by direct election in every Panchayat’ and ‘total number of offices of Chairpersons in
the Panchayats at eachlevel’.These provisions of Part-IXare also applicable toGram Sabhas
and Panchayats under PESA Act. 21 States and 2 Union Territories have gone even further
than one-third reservation and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in
Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules. These 21
States includes all the 10 PESA States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and
Telangana.
Further, to strengthen the leadership & managerial skills for effective delivery of
good governance and capacity building of the Elected Representatives including Women
1Elected Representatives, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented the Revamped
CentrallySponsoredScheme of Rashtriya Gram SwarajAbhiyan (RGSA) from 01.04.2022to
31.03.2026(co-terminus with XVFinance Commission period).ThisMinistry haslauncheda
comprehensive Training Module for assisting the States/Union Territories for the Capacity
Buildingof the Elected Representativesof PanchayatiRaj Institutions underRGSAScheme.
As per data available on the Training Management Portal of the Ministry, in all the
10 PESAStates, total 41,565 participants have been trained in2025-26 (as on 25thNovember,
2025), out of which 18,374are women participants.
This Ministry has issued advisories mandating to conduct Mahila Sabha prior to
Gram Sabha which is a great impetus towards increasing and active participation of women
in the decision-making process at the grassroots level for Women Led Governance.
Advisories have also been issued to States for enhancing the presence and participation of
women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women-
centric activities.
***
2