Parliament Question: Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATI RAJ RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2973 ANSWEREDON 18/03/2026 REVAMPED RASHTRIYAGRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN (RGSA) 2973SHRISUJEETKUMAR: Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state: (a) the objectives and key featuresof the revampedRashtriya Gram SwarajAbhiyan (RGSA) beingimplemented during the last five years; (b) the total financial outlay of the scheme along with the year-wise funds released to States andUnion Territories during the last five years; (c) whether any evaluation or review mechanism has been instituted to assess the performance of the revamped scheme andif so, the detailsthereof; and (d) the steps taken by Government to strengthen the governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under the scheme, particularly through capacity building, training and digitalenablement initiatives? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) The major objectives/features of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) are asunder: i. Develop the capacity of elected representatives of PRIs for leadership Roles to enable the GramPanchayatstofunctioneffectivelyasthe thirdtierofGovernment; ii. Strengthening Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of people's participationwithinthe Panchayatsystem. iii. Promote e-governance and other technology-driven solutions to enable good governance inPanchayatadministrative efficiency andimprovedservice deliverywith transparency andaccountability; iv. Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats according to the spirit oftheConstitution andthe PESAAct1996,etc. (b) The financial outlay of Revamped RGSA is Rs. 5911 crore for the period of 2022-23 to 2025-26, which includes the Central Share of Rs. 3700 crore and the State share of Rs. 2211 crore. The status of States/UT-wise funds released under revamped RGSAfrom FY 2022-23 to2025-26 (Ason28.02.2026)isat Annexure-I. 1(c) Yes, Sir. To assess the effectiveness and to propose the corrective measures to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions, an external evaluation of the Revamped RGSA has been undertaken through the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA). In addition, NITI Aayog has commissioned an independent assessment of RGSA to provide complementary evidence on outcomes. The evaluations indicate that the scheme’s structured, multi-layered capacity-building, combining classroom/thematic modules, exposure visits, and digital learning, hasenhanced PRI capacitiesin Panchayat operations, planning, andimplementation (including GPDP), digital governance, citizen engagement, and financial management. Post- training assessments record measurable gains in knowledge and practice, supporting more effectivelocalgovernanceandthelocalizationof SDGs. The implementation of the scheme is closely monitored through various mechanisms such as meetings, video conferences with State officials, and field visits by senior officers. The Central Empowered Committee of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), while approvinga State'sAnnualAction Plan,considersthe progress ofscheme implementationand fund utilization.States andUnion Territoriesare consistently remindedtosubmit the requisite documents, including Utilization Certificates and Auditor's Reports, in compliance with the Ministryof Financeinstructionstoregulatefund releases. (d) To strengthen the governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under the scheme, capacity building and training for elected representatives, functionaries, and other stakeholders of Panchayats are supported under different categories, viz., basic orientation and refresher training, thematic training, specialized training, Panchayat development plan training, etc. Additionally, the scheme also supports exposure visits, development of training modules and materials, etc. Under the Revamped RGSA, as of 28thFebruary 2026, a total of 1,53,15,026participantshave beentrained. Further, to enhance skills and knowledge, a major step has also been taken to build capacity and train elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayats through institutes of excellence such as IIMs/IITs under the Leadership/Management Development Program (MDP).Sofar,3381participantshavebeenprovidedtrainingunderMDP. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad, has also developed a training module on Own Source Revenue (OSR) to strengthen the financial self-reliance of Gram Panchayats. The module helps elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries understand how OSR is generated through tax and non-tax sources. So far, 1,78,405participantshavebeentrainedinOSR. Additionally, the Ministry has launched a Specialized Training Module for the capacity building of Women Elected Representatives (WER) of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The focusof thistrainingmodule istobuild the capacityof WERsacross differentaspectsof rural governance and enhance their knowledge and practical skills for the effective discharge of roles and responsibilities as elected representatives, thereby promoting women-led governance. Under the Specialised Module of WER,1,05,966WERs have beentrained so far asof 28.02.2026. In addition to training interventions, the scheme supports institutional strengthening and the creation of basic infrastructure for capacity building at the Panchayat level. This includes 2support for establishing institutional mechanisms for training and capacity building, and for creating Panchayat infrastructure such as Gram Panchayat Bhawans, computer facilities, and the co-locationofCommon ServiceCentres(CSCs)inpanchayatofficepremises, ona limited scale. During F.Y. 2025–26, construction of 1,644 Panchayat Bhawans, procurement of 19,472computers, andco-locationof 1,674CSCswere approvedunderthescheme. **** 3ANNEXURE-I Annexure referto inreplyto part(b) of theRajya SabhaUnstarredquestion no.2973to be answered on 18/03/2026 regarding Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) States/UT-wise funds released under revamped RGSA from FY 2022-23 to 2025-26 (As on28.02.2026) (Rs. incrore) S.No. State/UT 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (As on28.02.2026) Funds Funds Funds Funds Released Released Released Released 1 Andaman & Nicobar 0 0.79 2.12 1 Islands 2 Andhra Pradesh 0 0 2.52 30 3 Arunachal Pradesh 108.69 72.09 70 52 4 Assam 55.29 77.7 60 55.71 5 Bihar 33.37 25 0 35 6 Chhattisgarh 0 17.57 16.5 30 7 Dadra & Nagar 1.14 1 1 1.25 Haveli and Daman & Diu 8 Goa 0 0.89 1.35 1 9 Gujarat 0 0 0 7.5 10 Haryana 0 0 5 17.5 11 Himachal Pradesh 60.65 19.31 27.21 14 12 Jammu & Kashmir 40 65 65 50 13 Jharkhand 0 31 0 15 14 Karnataka 36 20 16.25 20 15 Kerala 30.4 10 10 18 16 Ladakh 0 1 0 0.5 17 Lakshadweep 0 0 0 0 18 Madhya Pradesh 28 32.17 40 42 19 Maharashtra 37.84 116.12 80 53 20 Manipur 8.63 9.56 0 3.55 21 Meghalaya 0 6 8 7.5 22 Mizoram 14.27 10 12 15 23 Nagaland 0 10 10 10 24 Odisha 11.4 27.33 20 55 25 Puducherry 0 0 0 0 26 Punjab 34.25 10 5 30 27 Rajasthan 0 21.72 15 10 428 Sikkim 6.01 6 7 3 29 Tamil Nadu 25.42 0 45 20 30 Telangana 0 20 0 3 31 Tripura 9.8 7.43 10 30 32 Uttar Pradesh 85.05 84.13 38.77 20.24 33 Uttarakhand 42.48 64.67 50 40 34 West Bengal 4.28 33.69 52.68 40 Sub-Total 672.97 800.17 670.4 730.75 Other Implementing 10.01 14.69 23.77 20.78 Agency Total 682.98 814.86 694.17 751.53 Funds released represent the Central Share only. For FY 2025–26, the releases comprise funds through bothSNAtill 30thJune 2025andSNA-SPARSH since 1stJuly 2025. **** 5