Government to roll out Panchayat Advancement Index 3.0 to boost data-driven grassroots planning, assess progress
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The government is set to roll out the third iteration of the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) in May, strengthening its push for evidence-based planning at the grassroots level, said Sushil Kumar Lohani, additional secretary in the ministry of panchayati raj.PAI, first launched for 2022-23, is a composite index to assess the performance and progress of gram panchayats across India by using socio-economic indicators, identifying development gaps and supporting evidence-based planning. The introduction of PAI 3.0 for 2025-26 is expected to transform rural areas by enhancing service delivery, infrastructure and livelihoods.With about 65% of India’s population living in the rural areas, PAI could significantly improve transparency and accountability, ultimately transforming living standards and accelerating inclusive growth across almost 665,000 villages.The updated index builds on earlier versions that have already been adopted by several states as a core planning tool.
With 266,999 panchayats nationwide, PAI 3.0 is designed to enable local bodies to identify and prioritize key areas while formulating their gram panchayat development plans."The initiative enables panchayats to take ownership of their progress, making development more participatory, targeted and accountable. By benchmarking performance, ranking frameworks enhance credibility and drive more informed and focused planning,” said Dr Prashant Chauhan, head of the department of social work and development studies at Amity University.The 15th Finance Commission (2021-26) recommended a provision of about ₹2.36 trillion for rural local bodies, including gram, block and district panchayats.
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