**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 230 in Lok Sabha regarding the representation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, answered on December 16, 2025. The document outlines the government's position on women's representation, the reservation policies in place, and the capacity building and training programs undertaken for elected women representatives, highlighting that data is current as of November 25th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Women's Representation:**
* Panchayats are a State subject, and State Governments are responsible for reviewing the status of women's representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* Article 243D of the Constitution mandates at least one-third reservation for women in Panchayats.
* 21 States and 2 Union Territories have provisions for 50% reservation for women.
* As of November 25, 2025, 49.75% of elected representatives are women, exceeding the minimum 33% reservation.
* **Capacity Building and Training:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) to provide Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) for Elected Representatives and other stakeholders.
* 27,32,762 Women Elected Representatives were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 25th November 2025) under the RGSA scheme.
* The "Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan" training module focuses on building capacity of Women Elected Representatives, enhancing knowledge, practical skills, and leadership abilities.
* 44,143 Women Elected Representatives (as on 25th November 2025) were trained on these modules.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for Panchayati Raj Acts and reviewing women's representation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor policies related to women's representation and empowerment in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
**Stakeholder: Elected Women Representatives**
* **Impact:** Benefit from capacity building and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs to enhance their skills and knowledge in rural governance.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Panchayati Raj**
* **Impact:** Oversees and supports capacity building programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor the RGSA scheme and the "Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan" training module.
**Stakeholder: Panchayati Raj Institutions**
* **Impact:** Improved governance through better-trained and empowered women representatives.
* **Action Required:** Support and facilitate the participation of women representatives in training and decision-making processes.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government institutions in rural India, subject of the starred question.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, specifically Article 243D which mandates reservation for women in Panchayats.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The Indian government ministry responsible for matters relating to Panchayati Raj institutions, answering the question.
Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A centrally sponsored scheme for capacity building and training of elected representatives of Panchayats.
Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan: A specialized training module for capacity building of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO– *230
ANSWEREDON- 16.12.2025
REPRESENTATION OFWOMEN IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS
*230. SMT.POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government hasreviewed the status of women’srepresentation in Panchayati
Raj Institutions inthe country;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether the Government has undertaken any capacity building and leadership training
programmesfor electedwomen representativesinPanchayatiRaj Institutions; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH)
(a)to(d) AStatement islaidon the Tableof the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 230 ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025 REGARDING “REPRESENTATION OF
WOMEN IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS”.
(a) & (b) "Panchayat, being "Local Government", is a State Subject and part of the
State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and
operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. All Panchayat related work,
including reviewing the status of women’s representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions,
comeswithin the purviewof State Government.
Article 243D of the Constitution of India 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 each level’. However, 21
States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal and 2
Union Territories (UTs) namely, Lakshadweep andDadra & Nagar Haveli andDaman & Diu,
have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in
Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules encouraging
increasedparticipation ingrassroots governance.
At present, as per information available with the Ministry, out of 24,24,108 elected
representatives as on 25.11.2025, 12,06,013 (49.75%) are women elected representatives.
This number as mentioned is beyond the minimum 33% reservation due to some States
havinguptoeven 50% reservation for women inPanchayatiRaj Institutions andsince women
elected representatives are also elected from open seats. The number of elected
representatives is dynamic in nature which changes with conduct of fresh elections in the
Panchayati Raj Institutions from time totime.
(c)& (d) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. financial year2022-23
with the major objective of Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected
Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats across all States/UTs for
improvingPanchayatGovernance.Under the scheme of RGSA, Ministry providessupportfor
CB&T of elected representatives, functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats in
different categories viz.basic orientationand refresher training,thematic training, specialized
training, panchayat development plan training etc. A total of 27,32,762 Women Elected
Representatives were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 25thNovember 2025)
underthe scheme.
Further, this year the Ministry has launched a comprehensive specialized training
module as a part of “Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan” for the capacity building of
Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The focus of the training
module is to build the capacity of the Women Elected Representatives on different aspects of
rural governance, enhance the knowledge & practical skills for effective delivery of roles &
responsibilities as elected representatives and also to develop the leadership, communication,
managerial & decision making skills for effective women led governance. A total of 44,143
WomenElectedRepresentatives (ason25thNovember 2025) were trainedonthese modules.
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