Ministry of Panchayati Raj Releases Panchayat Development Index 2.0 to Assess Grassroots Governance on National Panchayati Raj Day

Ministry of Panchayati Raj Releases Panchayat Development Index 2.0 to Assess Grassroots Governance on National Panchayati Raj Day

Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 report on National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April 2026) to assess grassroots governance performance across rural India.

More on the News

¨    PAI 2.0 serves as a nationwide report card for over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, with a high participation rate of 97.30% (2,59,867 Panchayats across 33 States/UTs), significantly improving from 80.79% in version 1.0.

¨  Based on composite scores, 3,635 Panchayats are classified as Front Runners, while 1,18,824 (45.72%) fall under the Performer category.

¨ The report highlights strong outcomes in themes like Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods and Healthy Panchayats, reflecting progress in rural development indicators.

¨   The initiative strengthens transparency, accountability, and data-driven governance through mandatory Gram Sabha validation and real-time monitoring systems.

Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0

¨  Launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the PAI is the world’s first nationwide framework to measure the progress of Rural Local Government Institutions (Gram Panchayats (GPs)/Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs)) using objective and verifiable indicators.

¨ It is aligned with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), adapting global SDGs into locally relevant governance themes.

¨  PAI 2.0 evaluates Panchayats using 150 indicators and 230 data points, significantly reduced from 516 indicators and 794 data points in version 1.0, ensuring better usability and sharper focus.

¨     The framework is aligned with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) and uses a 0–100 scoring system based on multi-level data collection, validation by line departments, and mandatory Gram Sabha verification.

¨   PAI is widely used for evidence-based planning, Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), resource allocation, and incentivisation, and is linked with initiatives like National Panchayat Awards and creation of Panchayat Learning Centres/Beacon Panchayats.