**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Unstarred Question No. 1488 raised in Lok Sabha on December 9, 2025, regarding virtual Gram Sabha meetings and fund allocation to Urban Local Bodies in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry clarifies its role concerning Panchayat matters and provides allocation details for Urban Local Bodies through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. There are no action items, except to note the information provided.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Panchayat Jurisdiction:**
* Panchayat administration is a State Subject under the Constitution of India.
* State governments are responsible for setting up and operating Panchayats, as well as conducting Gram Sabha meetings and providing financial/technical support.
* **Virtual Gram Sabha Meetings:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has no proposals for conducting virtual Gram Sabha meetings nationwide.
* The Ministry has not provided financial or technical support to State Governments for virtual Gram Sabha meetings.
* **Fund Allocation for Urban Local Bodies in Tamil Nadu:**
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has provided year-wise fund allocations for Urban Local Bodies, including Vellore.
* Allocations (in Crores) are specified for Million-Plus Cities Grant, Non-Million-Plus Cities (Tied Grant), and Non-Million-Plus Cities (Untied Grant) from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
* 2021-22: 1196 Cr total (303, 535.8, 357.2)
* 2022-23: 1238 Cr total (313, 555.0, 370.0)
* 2023-24: 1309 Cr total (331, 586.8, 391.2)
* 2024-25: 1386 Cr total (350, 621.6, 414.4)
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** The State Governments are responsible for all matters relating to Panchayats.
* **Action Required:** Continue to manage and support the Panchayats and Gram Sabha meetings, including financial and technical resources.
**Urban Local Bodies (Tamil Nadu)**
* **Impact:** The data presents allocated funds which are available to these organisations.
* **Action Required:** Manage allocated funding in accordance with any related guidelines from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Key Entities Referenced
Gram Sabha: Village assembly consisting of all adult residents, playing a key role in local governance.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The central ministry responsible for matters related to Panchayats (local self-government) in India.
State Panchayati Raj Acts: State-level legislation governing the establishment and operation of Panchayats, subject to the Constitution of India.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which defines the framework for political principles, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central ministry responsible for matters related to urban housing and urban development in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.–1488
ANSWEREDON- 09.12.2025
VIRTUALGRAM SABHAMEETINGS
1488. DR.TSUMATHYALIAS THAMIZHACHITHANGAPANDIAN:
THIRUD MKATHIRANAND:
Willthe Ministerof PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased tostate:
(a) whether the union Government has any proposal for conducting virtual gram Sabha
meetingsinthe countryand if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Union Government has provided any financial and technical support to the
State Governments to conduct gram sabha meetings virtually and if so, the details thereof;
and
(c) the total funds allocated to the 25 Municipal Corporations, 145 Municipalities and 490
TownPanchayats during the last four years, year-wise,Vellore Corporation inTamil Nadu?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(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. Accordingly, Panchayats are set up
and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts, subject to the provisions of the
Constitution.As such, all matters relating to Panchayats, including conducting Gram Sabha
meetings and providing the financial & technical support for conducting Gram Sabha
meetings, comesunderthe jurisdiction of the StateGovernment concerned.
Further, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not have any proposal for conducting Virtual
Gram Sabha meetings in the country and this Ministry has not provided any financial and
technicalsupport tothe StateGovernmentsfor conductingGram Sabhameetings virtually.
(c) The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has provided the details of year-wise
allocation for Urban LocalBodies, includingVellore, during the last four years inthe State of
Tamil Nadu, asunder:-
1(Rs. inCrores)
Million-Plus Non-Million-Plu Non-Million-Plu Total
Cities Grant sCities- Tied sCities- Untied
Grant Grant
FinancialYear Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation
2021-22 303 535.8 357.2 1196
2022-23 313 555.0 370.0 1238
2023-24 331 586.8 391.2 1309
2024-25 350 621.6 414.4 1386
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