Parliament Question: Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2880 ANSWEREDON- 10.03.2026 WOMEN IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS 2880.DR. GUMMATHANUJARANI: Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleasedtostate: (a)the numberof women participating inPanchayatiRaj Institutions (PRIs), State-wise; (b) the steps taken by the Government to enhance women’s participation and leadership roles inPRIs; (c)whether there are barriers facedbywomen intakingactiverolesinPRIs; (d) if so, the detailsthereofand the steps beingtakentoaddress said challenges; and (e)the initiatives undertakenfor capacitybuildingfor women representatives inPRIs? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH) (a) A statement showing State/Union Territory-wise number of Women Elected Representativesparticipating inPanchayatiRaj Institutions (PRIs) isplaced at Annexure. (b)to (e)"Panchayat”,being "Local Government", isa StateSubject andpart of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective StatePanchayati Raj Acts, subject tothe provisions of the Constitution of India. Thus, all Panchayat related work, including enhancing women’s participation and leadership roles inPanchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), comes within the purview of State Government concerned. Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-third reservation for women in PRIs 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 and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, have gone even further and have made provisions of upto50% reservation for women 1in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rulesencouraging increasedparticipation ingrassroots governance. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implementedthe Centrally SponsoredScheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. FY 2022-23 in States/ UTs with mainobjectiveofcapacitatingPRIsthroughimpartingtrainingtothe ElectedRepresentatives, including Women Elected Representatives (WERs), functionaries and other stakeholders to develop their governance capabilities for leadership roles and to function effectively. A total of 30,94,748 Women Elected Representatives were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 28th February 2026) under this scheme. Increased capacity-building training in different subject matters pertaining to Panchayats, service delivery mechanisms and leadership skills has enhanced the capacities and capabilities of WERs in undertaking their assigned tasks as elected representatives. WERs are trained on different aspects of rural governance in multiple training programmes for effective delivery of their roles and responsibilities at the grassroots level. To strengthen women’s participation in grassroots governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has mandated Mahila Sabhas before Gram Sabhas, encouraging greater involvement of women in decision-making processes. The Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (formally the United Nations Fund for Population Activities – UNFPA), is guiding Statesand UTs in transforming one Gram Panchayat perdistrict into a Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat under Theme 9 of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative aims to create inclusive, gender-sensitive governance modelsthat canbe replicated across the country. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched a comprehensive specialised training module “Championing Change-Empowering Women Leaders in Local Governance and Beyond” as a part of “Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan” for the capacity building of WERsof PRIs. The focus of the training module is to build the capacity of the WERson 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.Atotalof 1,05,966 WERs (ason 28thFebruary 2026) have been trainedon this SpecialisedModule. Further, 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 examineother issues relatedtoproxy representation.The Committee hassubmitted itsReport with recommendations to the Ministry in February 2025, and the same has been accepted by the Ministry. ***** 2Annexure Annexure referredtoinreplytopart (a)of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 2880 answered on10.03.2026on “WomeninPanchayati Raj Institutions” State& UnionTerritory-wise detailsof Women ElectedRepresentatives inPanchayati Raj Institutions Numberof Women Sl. State/UnionTerritory Elected Remarks No. Representatives 1 Andhra Pradesh 85,593 - 2 Arunachal Pradesh 3,967 - 3 Assam 14,693 - 4 Bihar 1,35,805 - 5 Chhattisgarh 98,787 - 6 Goa 745 - 7 Gujarat 69,566 - 8 Haryana 32,892 - 9 Himachal Pradesh 15,250 - 10 Jharkhand 32,014 - 11 Karnataka 49,723 This is the data of Gram Panchayats. Block and District Panchayat elections are pending since 2021. 12 Kerala 10,930 - 13 Madhya Pradesh 2,09,041 - 14 Maharashtra 14,135 Elections in 336 Block Panchayats and 32 District Panchayat are pending. Nil Tenure of 15 Manipur Panchayats ended in October 2022. Elections not held yet. 16 Meghalaya Not applicable Not covered under 17 Mizoram Not applicable Part IX of the 18 Nagaland Not applicable Constitution of India. 19 Odisha 57,001 - 20 Punjab 44,519 - 21 Rajasthan 6,358 - 22 Sikkim 655 - Nil Tenure of 23 Tamil Nadu Panchayats ended in January 2025. 3Election not held yet. 6,298 This is the data of 24 Telangana Gram Panchayats. Block and District Panchayat elections not heldyet. 25 Tripura 3,126 - 26 Uttar Pradesh 2,76,181 - 27 Uttarakhand 6,366 28 West Bengal 40,537 - 29 Andaman& Nicobar 415 - Islands 30 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 288 - andDamanandDiu Jammu & Kashmir Nil Tenure of Gram 31 Panchayats and Block Panchayat ended in January, 2024. Tenure of District Panchayats ended in February 2026. Elections not held yet. Nil Tenure of 32 Ladakh Panchayats ended in January 2024. Election not held yet. Nil Tenure of 33 Lakshadweep Panchayats ended in December, 2022. Election not held yet. Nil Tenure of 34 Puducherry Panchayats ended in July, 2011. Election not held yet. Source: Data as provided, from time to time, by the States/UTs to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. *** 4