Wednesday, 30 Apr, 2025
Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in grassroots development, topping the list with 346 Gram Panchayats recognized as 'Front Runners' under the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) for 2022–23.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) serves as a comprehensive metric to evaluate grassroots progress, drawing on 435 unique local indicators- 331 mandatory and 104 optional, spanning 566 distinct data points.
In a significant move to align global sustainability targets with grassroots governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has unveiled the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), a groundbreaking framework designed to assess the development of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country. The index evaluates Panchayats on nine key themes rooted in the Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), including areas such as poverty alleviation, health, child welfare, water management, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, social justice, governance, and gender inclusivity. By translating global aspirations into actionable local metrics, the PAI aims to empower village-level institutions to chart their own path toward inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) serves as a comprehensive metric to evaluate grassroots progress, drawing on 435 unique local indicators- 331 mandatory and 104 optional, spanning 566 distinct data points. These indicators are mapped across nine thematic areas of the Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs), closely aligned with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). This alignment underscores India’s commitment to fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda through a participatory, bottom-up approach. Based on their PAI and thematic scores, Gram Panchayats are categorized into five performance tiers: Achievers (90 and above), Front Runners (75 to below 90), Performers (60 to below 75), Aspirants (40 to below 60), and Beginners (below 40), offering a clear benchmark for progress and targeted development interventions.
Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in grassroots development, topping the list with 346 Gram Panchayats recognized as 'Front Runners' under the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) for 2022–23, closely followed by Telangana with 270. The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana also reported the highest number of Panchayats in the 'Performer' category, with 13,781, 12,242, and 10,099 respectively. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh registered 7,912 and 6,593 Performers. On the other end of the spectrum, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh accounted for a substantial number of 'Aspirant' Panchayats highlighting regions that require intensified developmental focus.
Source: Ministry of Panchayati Raj
According to the latest PAI data, of the 2,55,699 Gram Panchayats across India, 2,16,285 submitted validated data. Of these, only 699 (0.3 percent) were classified as 'Front Runners', 77,298 (35.8 percent) as 'Performers', and 1,32,392 (61.2 percent) fell under the 'Aspirant' category, while 5,896 (2.7 percent) were tagged as 'Beginners'. Notably, no Panchayat has yet achieved the top 'Achiever' status, and no inter-state comparison has been formally undertaken at this stage.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) has been introduced as a comprehensive tool to evaluate the progress of grassroots institutions in meeting localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ultimately contributing to India's broader commitment to the SDG 2030 Agenda. As a multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional index, the PAI serves as a barometer for the holistic development and performance of Gram Panchayats, drawing on a range of socio-economic indicators to assess the well-being of rural communities. A key objective of the index is to pinpoint development gaps across various LSDG themes, enabling Panchayats to engage in data-driven, evidence-based planning tailored to local needs and priorities.
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) not only functions as a performance assessment tool but also fosters a spirit of healthy competition among Gram Panchayats. By leveraging comprehensive data collection, the index lays the groundwork for evidence-based planning, empowering Panchayats to identify development shortfalls, define clear objectives, and optimize resource allocation. This, in turn, enhances the effectiveness of local governance. Importantly, the PAI also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers across the board from State Governments to Members of Parliament, providing critical insights into grassroots progress and enabling more responsive and targeted policy interventions.
Sanyukta Samaddar, a former NITI Aayog Advisor (SDGs) and architect of SDG India Index and currently posted as Principal Secretary (Civil Defence) in the Government of Uttar Pradesh said, “The PAI is a logical fruition of India’s first sub-national measure of SDGs which was launched by Niti Aayog way back in 2018 (the SDG India Index)… (It) has since then become a powerful policy tool to trigger action.” She described the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) as “a much-awaited step in India’s SDG localisation journey,” emphasizing that it will play a pivotal role in accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals at the grassroots level, particularly within Gram Panchayats.
