Tag: 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.”

Tag: NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY

NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY

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