Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is utilizing the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and transform rural governance by localizing Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). PAI 2.0, launched in May 2025, builds upon PAI 1.0 with refined indicators and data points. Data collection for PAI 2.0 is ongoing, and the compilation of scores will follow data validation by States/UTs.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs):**
* The Ministry is localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through PRIs, aggregating 117 SDGs into 9 themes.
* This aligns with India's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to achieve SDGs at the grassroots level.
* **Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI):**
* PAI indicates the saturation level of LSDGs in Gram Panchayats and measures progress in achieving localized SDGs towards SDG 2030.
* PAI is a multi-domain, multi-sectoral index for measuring holistic development and progress of Gram Panchayats.
* It identifies development gaps across the 9 LSDG themes, enabling evidence-based planning and prioritization of actions for Thematic Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
* **PAI 2.0 Enhancements:**
* PAI 2.0 (FY 2023-24) refines the framework with more relevant local indicators and data points, improving usability.
* It enhances Gram Panchayat efficiency by simplifying workflows and enabling automatic data standardization from national portals.
* The PAI Portal includes an integrated data entry form with validation checks to ensure accurate data entry.
* PAI 2.0 sees a 70.93% reduction in data points and a 71.04% reduction in indicators compared to PAI 1.0, based on feedback and rationalization.
* PAI 2.0 scores support assessing incremental progress, identifying gaps, and strengthening rural governance delivery.
Impact Analysis:
* **Gram Panchayats:**
* *Impact:* Gram Panchayats are empowered through evidence-based planning tools and a streamlined data collection process to achieve localized SDGs, improving overall development. They also benefit from the ability to set local targets of development and action points, prioritizing Sankalp in themes for preparation of Thematic Gram Panchayat Development Plan.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the data collection process for PAI 2.0 and use the PAI scores to identify development gaps, set targets, and develop action plans.
* **States/UTs:**
* *Impact:* States/UTs are responsible for validating the data submitted by Gram Panchayats, which will then be used to compile the PAI Score and Theme Score.
* *Action Required:* Validate data submitted by Gram Panchayats to enable accurate PAI score compilation.
* **Ministry of Panchayati Raj:**
* *Impact:* The Ministry is responsible for leading the implementation and monitoring of the PAI, to track progress in achieving LSDGs.
* *Action Required:* Continue to oversee the data collection, validation, and analysis processes for PAI 2.0, providing support and guidance to States/UTs and Gram Panchayats.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government organizations at the village or rural level in India.
Panchayat Advancement Index: A multi-domain and multi-sectoral index used to measure the overall holistic development, performance progress of Gram Panchayats.
Gram Panchayat: The basic village governing institution in India.
Sustainable Development Goals: A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".
Sustainable Development Agenda 2030: A plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The ministry in the Government of India responsible for matters relating to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Prof.S.P. SINGH BAGHEL: Minister of State for Panchayati Raj.
States/UTs: Refers to the States and Union Territories of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 234
ANSWEREDON 22/07/2025
PANCHAYATADVANCEMENTINDEX
234. SHRIVISHNU DAYALRAM:
SMT.ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
SHRICHANDAN CHAUHAN:
SHRIDAMODAR AGRAWAL:
SHRISURESHKUMAR KASHYAP:
DR. MANNALALRAWAT:
SHRIPRADEEPKUMAR SINGH:
SMT.APARAJITASARANGI:
SHRIGODAM NAGESH:
SHRIJAGDAMBIKAPAL:
SHRIKHAGEN MURMU:
Willthe Ministerof PANCHAYATIRAJ bepleasedtostate:
(a) whether the evidence-based planning tools are being used to empower panchayats
through Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 thereby transforming rural
governance;
(b) the manner in which PAI 2.0 is transforming the rural governance by empowering
panchayatsthroughevidence-basedplanningtools;
(c) whether there are anysignificant difference between PAI 1.0 andPAI 2.0 which have
furtherimprovedtheutility, effectivenessandaccuracyofthe mechanism;
(d) ifso, thedetailsthereof;and
(e) the mannerinwhich PAI2.0ispromotingtransparency,participatoryandaccountable
government at the grass root level and is strengthening India's commitment to the
SustainableDevelopmentGoals (SDGs)?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE FORPANCHAYATI RAJ
(Prof.S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) to (e) The Ministry has led the process of the Localization of Sustainable
Development Goals (LSDGs) through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by aggregating the
117 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into 9 themes in line with India’s commitment to
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This initiative aims to achieve the
Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030 at the grassroots level.This thematic approach
simplifies the alignment of global goals with local governance structures, making them more
relevantandactionable for implementationat the local leveli.e at Panchayatlevel.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) indicates the current saturation level of
LSDGs in Gram Panchayat and also measures the incremental progress made by Gram
Panchayat in achieving localized SDGs and, consequently, attaining SDG 2030. The
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) is a multi-domain and multi-sectoral index that is
intended to be used to measure the overall holistic development, performance & progress of
Gram Panchayats.
One of the purposes of the PAI isto identify the development gaps across 9themes of
LSDGs of the Gram Panchayats through the thematic scores and to enable Panchayat to
undertake evidence based planning at grassroots level by setting local targets of development
and action points, prioritizing Sankalp in themes for preparation of Thematic Gram
PanchayatDevelopment Plan.
The exercise of PAI FY 2023-24, i.e. PAI 2.0, was launched recently in the month of
May 2025.The data collectionprocess for PAI 2.0is currentlyin progress. The compilation of
the PAI Score & Theme Score will be done only after the validated data submitted by the
State/UT. The thematic & composite PAI2.0 (FY2023-24) scores support in assessing the
incremental progress of the Gram Panchayat from baseline PAI 1.0 (FY2022-23); identify the
critical gaps in 9 themes & pave the way for evidence-based planning & strengthen the
delivery of rural governance.
The transition from PAI 1.0 toPAI 2.0reflectsa focused refinement of the framework,
with a more relevant and representative set of local indicators and data points to improve
usability and also to enhance the efficiency of Gram Panchayat operations by simplifying
workflows and enabling automatic data standardization from different National Portals. The
PAI Portalhas also been enhanced byproviding anintegrated data entry form & imposing soft
validation checksat the levelof entryof data toensure accurate & qualitydata entry. Based on
feedback received from the concerned Ministries/Departments, Government of India;
participating States/UTS & the committee on rationalization of Indicators and data points of
PAI, there is a 70.93 % and 71.04% reduction in the data points & indicators, respectively, in
PAI 2.0 comparedto PAI1.0.
****
2