🏡 PANCHAYAT ADVANCEMENT INDEX: Grassroots Measuring the Sky

Theme & Tags:
🌱 Local Governance, Rural Development, SDG Localisation
📘 Category: Constitution | GS Paper 2

🌿 Opening Whisper

When the smallest house in the village begins to mirror the stars, true development begins.

🏠 Key Highlights

• What Is PAI?
  • Launched in 2025 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • Evaluates 2.16 lakh panchayats across 9 SDG-aligned themes
  • Score scale: 0 to 100
  • Purpose: Foster transparency, comparative benchmarking, and evidence-based planning
• Performance Categories:
  • Achiever (90–100): None yet
  • Front Runner (75–90): 699 panchayats
  • Performer (60–75): 77,298
  • Aspirant (40–60): 1,32,392
  • Beginner (<40): Majorly from Chhattisgarh
• Top Performing States:
  • Gujarat: 346 Front Runners
  • Telangana: 270 Front Runners
• Data Coverage & Integrity:
  • 2.55 lakh gram panchayats surveyed
  • 2.16 lakh validated from 29 States/UTs
  • Assessed using 435 local indicators (mandatory + optional)
• Nine Core Themes:
  1. Poverty-Free & Enhanced Livelihoods
  2. Healthy Panchayat
  3. Child-Friendly Panchayat
  4. Water-Sufficient Panchayat
  5. Clean & Green Panchayat
  6. Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
  7. Socially Just & Secure Panchayat
  8. Good Governance
  9. Women-Friendly Panchayat
• Broader Vision:
  • Complements the SDG India Index
  • Empowers localisation of SDGs
  • Aids in gap identification, performance mapping, and policy formulation

📚 GS Mains Mapping

• GS Paper 2
  • Local Self-Government
  • Decentralisation of Power
  • SDG Localisation & Policy Implementation
  • Panchayati Raj Institutions & Planning
  • Role of Evidence-Based Governance

✍️ A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk

If the path to progress begins at the door of a humble gram panchayat, then let the whole world bow at that threshold.

🪶 Closing Whisper

Even the smallest gram sabha holds the might to measure a nation’s dreams.