Source: DD News
Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the first Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) report for 2022–23, with Gujarat and Telangana topping the rankings.
About Panchayat Advancement Index Report (PAI):
- What is it?
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- A multi-sectoral, composite index that assesses the holistic progress and performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across India.
- Designed to evaluate localised achievements on nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.
- Launched by: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
- Objective:
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- To enable data-driven governance at the panchayat level.
- To help stakeholders identify development gaps and promote evidence-based policy interventions in rural India.
- Criteria and Indicators Used
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- Based on 435 unique indicators (331 mandatory + 104 optional).
- Drawn from 566 unique data points aligned with the National Indicator Framework (NIF).
- Data collected and validated from 2,16,285 panchayats; validation pending for 11,712 GPs from 5 states/UTs.
- Nine Key Thematic Areas:
Highlights of 2022–23 Panchayat Advancement Index Report:
- Front Runners (699 Panchayats): Gujarat (346) and Telangana (270) had the highest number of panchayats scoring between 75 and 90, showing strong performance in SDG-aligned rural governance.
- Performers (77,298 Panchayats): Panchayats in Gujarat (13,781), Maharashtra (12,242), and Telangana (10,099) fell in the 60–75 range, reflecting above-average progress with scope for further improvement.
- Aspirants (1,32,392 Panchayats): A large number of panchayats in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh scored between 40–60, indicating the need for targeted developmental efforts.
- Achiever Category (90+ Score): No panchayat was able to attain the top-tier “Achiever” status, underscoring the need for comprehensive rural transformation across India.
