New Delhi | July 29, 2026: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, has significantly strengthened grassroots governance and the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) in Chhattisgarh through the implementation of the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). The centrally sponsored scheme, operational since FY 2022-23, focuses on enhancing the institutional and administrative capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through extensive training, digital governance, and infrastructure development.
The information was shared by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2026.
RGSA Aims to Strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions
Although Panchayats fall under the State List of the Constitution of India, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing the revamped RGSA across States and Union Territories to improve the governance capabilities of Gram Panchayats and other local bodies.
The primary objective of the scheme is to build the leadership and governance skills of Elected Representatives (ERs), Panchayat Functionaries, and other stakeholders through structured Capacity Building and Training (CB&T) programmes. These programmes include:
- General orientation and refresher training
- Thematic training
- Specialized training
- Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) training
- State-specific priority training programmes
The scheme also provides limited financial support for strengthening Panchayat infrastructure, including Gram Panchayat Bhawans, computer facilities, Panchayat Learning Centres (PLCs), and the co-location of Common Service Centres (CSCs).
More Than 6.16 Lakh Representatives Trained in Chhattisgarh
Since the launch of the revamped RGSA, Chhattisgarh has witnessed large-scale capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The number of Elected Representatives and Panchayat Functionaries trained under the scheme is as follows:Financial YearParticipants Trained2022-231,21,0992023-241,63,2922024-2590,5592025-261,82,7052026-27(as on July 10, 2026)58,987
Overall, over 6.16 lakh participants have received training under the scheme in Chhattisgarh, according to the Training Management Portal.
Digital Governance Receives Major Boost
The RGSA has also accelerated the adoption of digital governance across Gram Panchayats in the state.
Key achievements include:
- 1,111 computers supplied to Gram Panchayats.
- Additional buildings constructed for CSC Co-location in 130 Gram Panchayats since FY 2022-23.
- 1,197 participants trained on various digital governance platforms.
These initiatives are expected to improve transparency, efficiency, and public service delivery at the village level.
Nine Thematic SDG Areas for Local Development
To simplify the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots, the Ministry has grouped the 17 SDGs into nine thematic categories:
- Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihood Panchayat
- Healthy Panchayat
- Child-Friendly Panchayat
- Water-Sufficient Panchayat
- Clean & Green Panchayat
- Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
- Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat
- Panchayat with Good Governance
- Women-Friendly Panchayat
These themes help Gram Panchayats prepare Thematic Panchayat Development Plans (PDPs) while ensuring better coordination among various government departments.
Thousands Trained on Sustainable Development Goals
To strengthen the implementation of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) in Chhattisgarh, the Ministry has conducted specialized thematic training programmes.
Since FY 2022-23, the state has trained:
- 2,168 participants under Healthy Panchayat
- 2,475 participants under Clean & Green Panchayat
- 1,350 participants under Women-Friendly Panchayat
The training focuses on improving healthcare, sanitation, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and inclusive rural development.
Panchayat Advancement Index Measures Progress
To assess the implementation of LSDGs at the grassroots level, the Ministry has introduced the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)—a comprehensive assessment framework that evaluates the performance of Gram Panchayats across all nine thematic areas.
In addition, Panchayats are being integrated with the Samarth Panchayat Portal to improve the monitoring of Own Source Revenue (OSR) and strengthen local financial management.
GPDP Upload Performance Remains Strong
The Ministry also highlighted the strong performance of Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) preparation and uploading across the state.Financial YearTotal Gram PanchayatsGPDPs Uploaded2022-2311,65911,6522023-2411,65611,6302024-2511,71311,5762025-2611,69311,651
The consistently high upload rate reflects the increasing adoption of structured local development planning across Gram Panchayats.
Strengthening Grassroots Democracy
The Ministry stated that the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has substantially strengthened Panchayati Raj Institutions in Chhattisgarh through capacity building, digital transformation, Panchayat Development Planning, and Localization of Sustainable Development Goals.
By equipping local representatives with modern governance skills and encouraging participatory planning, the initiative is playing a crucial role in building stronger, transparent, digitally empowered, and sustainable rural local governments, thereby contributing to India’s broader vision of inclusive rural development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
