NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY

The nation commemorates National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on 24th April 2025, marking thirty-two years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to Panchayats as institutions of rural local self-government.

National Panchayati Raj Day 2025: Key Highlights

  • Date & Venue: To be celebrated on 24th April 2025 at Lohna Uttar Gram Panchayat, Madhubani District, Bihar.
  • Significance: Marks the first-ever institutionalization of Special Category National Panchayat Awards by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
  • Aims to promote grassroots governance excellence, particularly in climate action, self-reliance, and capacity building.

Newly Introduced Special Category National Panchayat Awards

  • Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA)
    • Objective: Recognize climate-responsive local governance
    • Encourages sustainable development practices at the panchayat level.
    • Awardees:
      • Dawwa S Gram Panchayat – Gondia, Maharashtra
      • Biradahalli Gram Panchayat – Hassan, Karnataka
      • Motipur Gram Panchayat – Samastipur, Bihar
  • Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award (ANPSA)
    • Objective: Promote Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) through enhanced Own Source Revenue (OSR).
    • Supports financial independence of panchayats.
    • Awardees:
      • Mall Gram Panchayat – Rangareddi, Telangana
      • Hatbadra Gram Panchayat – Mayurbhanj, Odisha
      • Gollapudi Gram Panchayat – Krishna, Andhra Pradesh
  • Panchayat Kshamta Nirman Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar (PKNSSP)
    • Instituted in 2023; first conferred in 2024.
    • Recognizes excellence in capacity building and training of PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions).
    • Awardees:
      • Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) – Kerala
      • State Institute for Rural Development & PR – Odisha
      • State Institute of Panchayat & Rural Development – Assam

Award Structure

  • Monetary Incentives:
    • Rank 1: ₹1 crore
    • Rank 2: ₹75 lakh
    • Rank 3: ₹50 lakh
  • Includes trophies and certificates to honor the winners.

Gender Empowerment Note

  • Among award-winning Panchayats, 3 are headed by women Sarpanches, exemplifying women-led development:
    • Motipur (Bihar)
    • Dawwa S (Maharashtra)
    • Hatbadra (Odisha)

Relevance to SDGs and National Priorities

  • Aligned with:
    • Localisation of SDGs (LSDGs).
    • National priorities like Climate Action (SDG 13), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Sustainable Communities (SDG 11).
  • Strengthens India’s commitment to decentralized governance and grassroots-led transformation.

73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 – Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

Significance

  • Added Part IX (Articles 243–243O) and Eleventh Schedule with 29 functional items.
  • Gave constitutional status to PRIs – making them justiciable.
  • Fulfilled Article 40 of DPSP: Village panchayats as self-governing units.
  • Introduced representative to participatory democracy at grassroots.
  • Enabled women’s political empowerment in rural areas.

Structural Features

  • Three-tier system: Village, Intermediate (optional for states <20 lakh population), and District level.
  • Gram Sabha (243A): Assembly of all adult voters in a panchayat.
  • Direct elections to panchayats; indirect election of chairpersons (except at village level, where states decide).

Reservation Dynamics – Article 243D

  • SC/ST: Reservation in proportion to population.
  • Women: Min. 1/3 of total seats & chairperson posts reserved.
  • OBC: States may provide reservation.
  • Exception: SC reservation not applicable in Arunachal Pradesh.

Tenure and Elections

  • Term: 5 years (243E); early dissolution allowed.
  • Fresh elections within 6 months of dissolution.
  • Minimum age: 21 years (243F).
  • Disqualification rules: same as state legislature.

Election Authority

  • State Election Commission (243K): Conducts elections to Panchayats & Municipalities.

Powers & Responsibilities (243G)

  • Planning & implementation of schemes for economic development & social justice.
  • Based on the Eleventh Schedule (29 matters).

Financial Provisions

  • Panchayat Finances (243H):
    • Power to levy & collect taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.
    • Grants-in-aid from State’s Consolidated Fund.
    • State Finance Commission every 5 years (243I).
  • Audit of Accounts (243J) by State Legislature.

Special Provisions

  • Union Territories (243L): Applicable via Presidential order.
  • Excluded Areas (243M):
    • Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram
    • Scheduled & tribal areas under 5th Schedule
    • Hill areas of Manipur (district councils)
    • Darjeeling (Gorkha Hill Council)

Judicial Bar (243O)

  • Panchayat elections cannot be challenged in court except via election petitions as per state laws.

Sources of PRI Financing

  • Grants from Centre (via Central Finance Commission – Article 280).
  • Devolution from States (via State Finance Commission – Article 243-I).
  • Loans, grants, and internal revenue generation.
  • Program-specific funding: Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) & Additional Central Assistance (ACA).

The 2025 Special Category Panchayat Awards represent a paradigm shift in recognizing and promoting innovative local governance. These awards reinforce India’s bottom-up approach to development and its vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.”

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