**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1521 on December 9, 2025, regarding the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). It outlines the government's efforts to provide infrastructure and digital resources to Gram Panchayats, including details on the number of Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computers approved under the RGSA scheme, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It also speaks to transparency measures via digital platforms, and citizen services programs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Infrastructure:**
* The primary responsibility for providing dedicated office infrastructure and internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats lies with the States/UTs, as Panchayat is a State subject.
* **Gram Panchayat Bhawans:**
* The Gram Panchayat (GP) Bhawan functions as the office for Panchayats. States/UTs are responsible for ensuring these Bhawans are functional with provisions for public seating, Gram Sabha meetings, etc.
* Under RGSA, the Ministry supplements the efforts of States/UTs in building Panchayat infrastructure, especially in the North Eastern States.
* RGSA focuses on approving GP Bhawans for Panchayats with populations over 3,000 lacking their own buildings.
* 13,342 Gram Panchayat Bhawans have been approved under RGSA to different States/UTs, including 1273 for Uttar Pradesh and 500 for Bihar.
* **Computerization and Digital Infrastructure:**
* 55,587 computers have been approved under RGSA, including 3145 for Uttar Pradesh and 4,267 for Bihar.
* District-wise details of approved Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computers are not maintained centrally.
* All Gram Panchayats access internet services through private providers or BharatNet.
* 2.18 lakh GPs/Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) have been made service-ready for providing high-speed internet services under the BharatNet project.
* The Amended BharatNet Programme, approved on 04.08.2023, aims to improve digital connectivity by upgrading existing networks and creating new ones in remaining Gram Panchayats.
* As of the document date, certain States/UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, report no Gram Panchayats without computers.
* **e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP):**
* The Ministry is implementing e-Panchayat MMP under RGSA to improve service delivery, transparency, and administrative efficiency.
* The eGramSwaraj application facilitates digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online payments.
* Integration of eGramSwaraj with PFMS enables real-time payments to vendors.
* Integration with GeM allows Panchayats to procure goods and services through the eGramSwaraj platform.
* 'AuditOnline' has been developed for online audits of Panchayat accounts.
* **Transparency Initiatives:**
* All Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh are on-boarded on eGramSwaraj.
* 58562 Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh have prepared and uploaded their Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) on eGramSwaraj.
* Applications like Meri Panchayat and Panchayat NIRNAY aim to improve transparency in Panchayat Governance.
* **Citizen's Charter:**
* The Model Panchayat Citizens' Charter aligns local actions with SDGs.
* The campaign "Meri Panchayat, Mera Adhikaar Jan Sevaayein Hamaare Dwaar" reinforced these efforts.
* 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats have uploaded their Citizens' Charters, offering 954 services, including 33 services in Uttar Pradesh.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing dedicated office infrastructure and internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats. The Ministry supplements these efforts under RGSA.
* **Action Required:** Ensure Gram Panchayat Bhawans are functional and equipped to support effective governance.
**Stakeholder: Gram Panchayats**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of infrastructure development, computerization, and digital initiatives under RGSA and BharatNet projects.
* **Action Required:** Utilize eGramSwaraj and other digital platforms for planning, accounting, monitoring, and online service delivery. Prepare and upload Panchayat Development Plans (PDP) on eGramSwaraj.
**Stakeholder: Citizens**
* **Impact:** Improved service delivery, transparency, and access to information regarding Panchayat activities.
* **Action Required:** Engage with Panchayats through citizen's charters and other transparency initiatives.
**Stakeholder: Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing BharatNet project and providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in a phased manner.
* **Action Required:** Upgrading existing networks and creating new ones to improve digital connectivity for Panchayats.
Key Entities Referenced
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at supplementing the efforts of States/UTs in building Panchayat infrastructure and improving governance and service delivery.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The Indian government ministry responsible for implementing the RGSA scheme and addressing matters related to Panchayati Raj institutions.
Gram Panchayat (GP): The basic village-level governing body, responsible for providing local governance and services.
e-GramSwaraj: An application developed under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) to e-enable Panchayats and improve service delivery, transparency, and administrative efficiency.
BharatNet: A project implemented by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1521
ANSWEREDON 09/12/2025
RASHTRIYAGRAM SWARAJABHIYAN
1521.SHRIATULGARG:
SHRIRAJESH VERMA:
SMT.SHAMBHAVI:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Gram Panchayats and the details of parameters or criteria
prescribed for providing dedicated office infrastructure and internet connectivity to
these Gram Panchayats, with State and district-wise information including Uttar
PradeshandBihar;
(b) the details and number of computers sanctioned for empowering the Gram Panchayats
digitally in Uttar Pradesh and the States where 100 percent digital saturation has been
achieved,with Stateanddistrict-wise information;
(c) the future plan outlined by the Government to provide infrastructural and digital
resources to the remaining Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh, including timelines, funding
sources andtargeteddistricts where facilities are still lacking;and
(d) the role of the said initiatives in enhancing service delivery and administrative
efficiency to Panchayats under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) in Uttar
Pradesh, with State-wise details on how digital tools, connectivity and office
infrastructure have improvedgovernance andoutreach?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a)& (c)Panchayat, being “LocalGovernment”,isa Statesubject andpart of the Statelist of
the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Thus the primary responsibility of
providing dedicated office infrastructure for Gram Panchayats and internet connectivity in
Panchayats lies with States/UTs. The Gram Panchayat (GP) Bhawan functions as the office
for Panchayats to carry out its various administrative functions. The States/ UTs have to
ensure the Gram Panchayat Bhawan is functional, with provisions such as public seating,
space for Gram Sabha meetings, information walls, multifunctional rooms etc. to support
effective governance and community use. However, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme
of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the Ministry supplements the efforts of
States/UTs including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in building Panchayat infrastructure and
1computers and peripherals, at a limited scale, with particular focus on the North Eastern
States. Further, Ministry with its limited resources under RGSA, attempted saturation
approach for supporting Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computerization. With regard to
Gram Panchayat Bhawans, the focus was on approving GP Bhawan for Panchayats having a
population of over 3,000 but lacking their own building. Under the scheme of RGSA,
construction of 13342 Gram Panchayat Bhawans has been approved to different States/UTs
including 1273 and 500 Gram Panchayat Bhawans to the State of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,
respectively. Similarly, procurement of 55,587 computers has been approved under the
scheme including 3145 and 4,267 Computers to the State of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,
respectively. The State/UT-wise detailsof Gram Panchayat Bhawans andcomputersapproved
underRGSAisAnnexed.District-wise informationisnot maintainedcentrally.
All Gram Panchayats are accessing internet services either through private service providers
or via the BharatNet project. As a result, all GPs are using e-GramSwaraj portal for carrying
out a wide range of functions and activities. Further, to attain the vision of Digital India, the
BharatNet project is being implemented by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in a
phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in the country. So
far, 2.18 lakh GPs/ Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) have been made service-ready for
providing high-speed internet services under the BharatNet project. Additionally, to improve
digital connectivity, the Amended BharatNet Programme was approved by the Cabinet on
04.08.2023for the upgradationof the existing network of BharatNet Phase-IandPhase-IIand
the creationof a network in the remainingGram Panchayats.
(b) Under the scheme of RGSA, procurement of 3,145 computers was approved for the State
of Uttar Pradesh. So far, the State/ UTs of Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andaman
& Nicobar Island, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and Ladakh have reported that
there are no Gram Panchayats are without computers.
(d) Ministry is implementing the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project(MMP) underRGSAfor
e-enablement of Panchayats to improve service delivery, transparency, and administrative
efficiency. The eGramSwaraj application, developed as part of the e-Panchayat MMP, has
facilitated digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online payments at Panchayat level.
The integration of eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS)
enables real-time payments to vendors and service providers, ensuring seamless fund flow
and reducing delays. Additionally, the Ministry has integrated eGramSwaraj with the
Government eMarketplace (GeM) tobring transparency at Panchayatlevel procurement.This
integration allows Panchayats to procure goods and services through GeM via the
eGramSwaraj platform. Further, an application of ‘AuditOnline’ has been developed for
online audits of Panchayat accounts and their financial management. All the Panchayats of
the State of Uttar Pradesh are on-boarded on eGramSwaraj. Out of 58,596 Panchayats in the
State of Uttar Pradesh, 58562 Panchayats have prepared and uploaded their Panchayat
DevelopmentPlan(PDP) oneGramSwarajportal.
Other applications developed by the Ministry like Meri Panchayat has endeavored to bring
transparency in Panchayat Governance by making information on planning, activities and
progress of works in Panchayat accessible to public. Similarly, Panchayat NIRNAY is an
online application which aims to bring transparency and better management in conduct of
Gram SabhasbyPanchayats.
2The Ministry has introduced the Model Panchayat Citizens' Charter, aligning local actions
with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This framework guides Panchayats in
delivering services in a time bound manner while addressing citizens' grievances effectively.
The campaign "Meri Panchayat, Mera Adhikaar – Jan Sevaayein Hamaare Dwaar,"
conductedin2021,reinforcedthese efforts.Sofar, 2.15lakhGram Panchayatshave uploaded
theirCitizens’ Charters, offering 954 services, including33 services of Uttar Pradesh.
****
3Annexure
Annexure refer to in reply to Part (a) & (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No.1521 to beanswered on09/12/2025regardingRashtriya GramSwarajAbhiyan
State/UT-wisedetails of GramPanchayat(GP)Bhawansandcomputers approved
underRGSA
Sl. No. of GPBhawan No. of computer
N State/UTs approved approved
o.
1 Andaman& Nicobar Islands 2 0
2 Andhra Pradesh 617 1,922
3 Arunachal Pradesh 1,339 1,936
4 Assam 610 2,055
5 Bihar 500 4,267
6 Chhattisgarh 334 6,496
7 Dadra & Nagar Haveli andDaman& Diu 17 4
8 Goa 1 25
9 Gujarat 412 43
10 Haryana 892 1,363
11 HimachalPradesh 343 334
12 Jammu & Kashmir 1,000 1,318
13 Jharkhand 0 2,306
14 Karnataka 258 0
15 Kerala 7 200
16 Ladakh 3 127
17 Lakshadweep 0 0
18 Madhya Pradesh 50 289
19 Maharashtra 1,376 1,625
20 Manipur 43 141
21 Meghalaya 36 1,677
22 Mizoram 368 591
23 Nagaland 183 739
24 Odisha 500 350
25 Puducherry 0 0
26 Punjab 759 8,334
27 Rajasthan 43 1,554
28 Sikkim 27 235
29 Tamil Nadu 146 1,594
30 Telangana 856 3,452
31 Tripura 131 493
32 Uttar Pradesh 1,273 3,145
33 Uttarakhand 1,012 7,260
34 West Bengal 204 1,712
Total 13,342 55,587
4