**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Panchayati Raj's response to Unstarred Question No. 1825 regarding the status of women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions, answered on February 10, 2026. It outlines the constitutional provisions for women's representation, initiatives taken to promote capacity building and leadership training, and measures to address proxy representation. The deadline mentioned is 31st December 2025 related to training numbers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Constitutional Provisions and State Government Authority:**
* Panchayat affairs fall under the State List, giving State Governments authority over related matters, including the review of women's representation.
* Article 243D of the Constitution mandates at least one-third reservation for women in Panchayats.
* **Increased Reservation:**
* 21 States and 2 Union Territories have provisions for 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* **Women Representation Statistics:**
* As of the date of the document, 12,14,885 (49.75%) out of 24,41,781 elected representatives are women.
* **Capacity Building and Training Initiatives:**
* The Ministry implemented the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 31st December 2025) for Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of elected representatives.
* A total of 28,60,585 women representatives were trained under RGSA.
* The Ministry launched "Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan," a specialized training module for women representatives.
* A total of 64,863 Women Elected Representatives were trained on this specialized Module as on 31st December 2025.
* **Addressing Proxy Representation:**
* An Advisory Committee was formed in September 2023, upon the direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, to examine issues related to proxy representation by male family members.
* The Advisory Committee's report, accepted by the Ministry in February 2025, recommended legal safeguards, capacity-building, social audits, and penal provisions to eliminate proxy leadership.
* A Task Force was constituted on April 17th, 2025, to ensure practical execution on issues of Women Pradhans.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** State Governments
* **Impact:** Responsible for Panchayat affairs, including reviewing women's representation and implementing measures to address proxy representation.
* **Action Required:** Implement Advisory Committee recommendations, including legal safeguards, capacity-building, social audits, and penal provisions.
**Stakeholder:** Women Elected Representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of capacity building and training initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs to enhance their knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Panchayati Raj
* **Impact:** Oversight and implementation of schemes and measures related to women's representation and empowerment in PRIs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support capacity building programs and monitor the implementation of measures to address proxy representation.
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government institutions at the village, intermediate, and district levels in India.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The central government ministry responsible for overseeing Panchayati Raj Institutions.
State Panchayati Raj Acts: State laws that establish and regulate the operation of Panchayati Raj Institutions within each state.
Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats
Article 243D of the Constitution of India: Constitutional provision that mandates reservation for women in Panchayats.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO 1825
ANSWEREDON- 10.02.2026
STATUS OFWOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS
†1825.SHRIUJJWALRAMANSINGH:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a)whether the Government hasreviewed the status of women representativesinPanchayati
Raj Institutions inthe country regardingtheircapacityandleadership;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c)whether the Government isproviding capacitybuildingandleadership trainingtowomen
representativesinPanchayati Raj Institutions; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) "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, comes within
the purviewof StateGovernment.
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/Rulesencouraging
increasedwomen’sparticipationin the grassroots governance.
At present, as per information available with the Ministry, out of 24,41,781 elected
representatives, 12,14,885 (49.75%) are women elected representatives as on date. This
1number is beyond the stipulated minimum 33% reservation as there are States having upto
even 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and since 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.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. financial year 2022-23 with the
major objective of Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected Representatives,
Functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats across all States/UTs for improving
Panchayat Governance. Under the scheme of RGSA, Ministry provides support for CB&T of
elected representatives, functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats in different
categories viz. basic orientation and refresher training,thematic training, specialized training,
panchayat development plan training etc. Total 28,60,585 Women Elected Representatives
were trainedfrom FY2022-23 toFY2025-26 (ason 31stDecember2025) underthe scheme.
Further, 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 ledgovernance. Atotalof 64,863 Women Elected
Representatives(ason31st December 2025) have beentrainedonthisspecializedModule.
On the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
constituted an Advisory Committee in September 2023 to examine the issue of Women
Pradhans being represented by the male members of their families and also examine other
issues related to proxy representation. The Committee has submitted its Report with
recommendations to the Ministry in February 2025, and the same has been accepted by the
Ministry.
The Advisory Committee recommended that the State Governments take necessary
measures, including legal safeguards, capacity-building, social audits and penal provisions to
eliminate proxy leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and ensure real
empowerment, autonomy and accountability of elected women representatives. Owing to the
importanceof thismatter anditsimpactonwomen'sleadership inPRls,thisMinistry hasalso
constituted a Task Force on 17th April 2025 to ensure practical execution on the issues of
WomenPradhans.
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