Executive Summary:
This document is a response to questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the improvement of centrally sponsored schemes with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), strengthening the role of Panchayats in local economic development, and coordinating with State Election Commissions to strengthen democratic processes in PRIs. The response clarifies the roles of the State Governments and the Union Government, particularly the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), in these areas. The date of the response is August 19, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and State Government Jurisdiction:**
* Panchayat is a State subject as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
* State Panchayati Raj Acts govern the establishment and operation of Panchayats.
* Article 243G empowers State Legislatures to devolve power and responsibilities to Panchayats.
* State legislatures consider the 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution.
* Policies to strengthen the role of Panchayats in local economic development fall under State Government jurisdiction.
* **Convergence of Schemes and Capacity Building:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) jointly train PRI representatives and functionaries, as well as Community Based Organizations (CBOs).
* Training focuses on participatory and inclusive Panchayat Development Plans.
* Plans utilize financial and non-financial resources from various sources, including Central and State Finance Commissions Grants, Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, and Own Sources of Revenue.
* MoPR supports States/UTs in capacity building and training of PRIs for theme-based Panchayat Development Plans, revolving around the 29 subjects entrusted to the PRIs for Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
* **Implementation of Schemes:**
* Schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), National Social Assistance Programme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, etc., are implemented with active convergence mechanisms.
* PRIs are responsible for beneficiary identification, awareness generation, participatory plan preparation, approval through Gram Sabhas, implementation, and monitoring.
* **Panchayat Elections:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj sends advisories to States/UTs to hold Panchayat elections on time.
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not coordinate with State Election Commissions on matters relating to the conduct of Panchayat elections.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for legislation, implementation, and policies related to Panchayati Raj, including economic development and election timing.
* Action Required: Enact and implement State Panchayati Raj Acts, consider the 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution, and conduct timely Panchayat elections.
* **Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs):**
* Impact: Responsible for participatory planning, implementation, and monitoring of development schemes at the local level.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, prepare and implement Panchayat Development Plans, identify beneficiaries, and ensure approval through Gram Sabhas.
* **Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR):**
* Impact: Supports States/UTs through capacity building and training, sends advisories regarding timely elections.
* Action Required: Continue to provide support to States/UTs for capacity building and training of PRIs, send advisories for timely Panchayat elections to the Panchayati Raj Department of States/UTs.
* **Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):**
* Impact: Works jointly with MoPR to train PRI representatives and functionaries.
* Action Required: Continue to work jointly with MoPR to train PRI representatives and functionaries.
* **State Election Commissions:**
* Impact: Responsible for the conduct of Panchayat elections.
* Action Required: Conduct Panchayat elections in a timely manner.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government institutions at the village, intermediate, and district levels in India.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which contains provisions related to Panchayats in Part IX.
Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution: A list of 29 subjects that State legislatures can devolve to Panchayats.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The nodal ministry in the Government of India for matters relating to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Ministry of Rural Development: A ministry of the Government of India, working with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to train elected representatives.
State Election Commissions: The authorities responsible for conducting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions in each state of India.
State Panchayati Raj Acts: Laws enacted by State legislatures to establish and regulate Panchayati Raj Institutions within their respective states.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee: An Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4332
ANSWEREDON: 19.08.2025
PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS
4332.SMT.PRATIMAMONDAL:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state;
(a) the manner in which the Ministry proposes to improve the convergence of centrally
sponsored schemes with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to ensure integrated and
participatoryrural development, if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) the details of the policies to strengthen the role of Panchayats in local economic
development,includingthe promotionof rural enterprises, skilling, andlivelihoodgeneration;
and
(c) the manner in which the Ministry coordinate with State Election Commissions to
strengthen the democratic processes in Panchayati Raj Institutions, including timely conduct
of electionsandgrievance redressal?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) & (b) “Panchayat”,being “Local Government”,is a State subject andpart of State List of
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the
respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution. Article 243G of the Constitution empowers the Legislature of
a State to make provisions, by law, for the devolution of power and responsibilities upon
Panchayat at appropriate level, subject to such conditions, as may be, specified with respect
to the preparation of plans and implementation of schemes for economic development and
social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to matters included in
the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. The State legislatures are to consider the 29
subjects illustratively set out in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution of power and
responsibilities upon Panchayats. Accordingly, all matters relating to Panchayats, including
policies to strengthen the role of Panchayats in local economic development comes within
jurisdiction of the State Government.
There has been joint efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and Ministry of
Rural Development (MoRD) to impart training to the elected representatives of the
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and the functionaries of the PRIs as also the Community-
based Organisations (CBOs) for preparation of participatory and inclusive Panchayat
1DevelopmentPlansat alllevelsandtheirimplementation by convergingthe financialand non
-financial resources available under the Central and State Finance Commissions Grants,
Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the Own Sources of Revenue. The
MoPR, in particular, has been continuously supporting the States/UTs for the capacity
building and training of the PRIs and their functionaries for preparation of the theme-based
Panchayat Development Plans revolving the 29 subjects entrusted to the PRIs for
Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) by convergence of resources at
theircommandandavailable from varioussources.
The schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee, Deendayal
Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), National Social
Assistance Programme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin etc. of the MoRD are
implemented with active andeffectiveconvergence mechanism for rural development, where
the PRIs in particular are responsible for identification of beneficiaries, awareness
generation, participatory plan preparation and obtaining the approval thereof through the
Gram Sabhas,implementation andmonitoringetc.
(c) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj sends advisories to the Panchayati Raj Department of
States/UTs, from time to time, to hold the Panchayat elections on time. This Ministry does
not coordinate with State Election Commissions on the matters relating conductof Panchayat
elections.
***
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