Lok Sabha Question No. 2417 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Panchayat Development Index
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2417 ANSWERED ON 10/12/2024

## PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT INDEX

2417. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be please to state:

(a) the details of status of the Panchayat Development Index including the latest rankings of States and Union Territories.

(b) whether timelines have been set for all States/UTs to complete the drafting of respective Panchayat Development Index, if so, the details of timelines and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether timelines have been set for the integration of the Ministry's portal/dashboard to build a data ecosystem, assess the schematic progress in alignment with Local Sustainable Development Goals at Panchayat and institutional mechanisms for implementation of the Panchayat Development Index, if so, the details of timelines and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government plans to undertake any specific measures to improve the PDI of under-performing States and Union Territories; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) Ministry had launched the process of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) through Panchayati Raj Institutions by consolidating 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into 9 themes with an objective to achieve the Agenda of Sustainable Development by 2030 at the grassroots. The thematic approach simplifies and aligns global goals with local governance frameworks, making them more actionable and relevant for community-level implementation. To assess and measure the progress made at the Grassroots level Institutions in achieving localized SDGs and thereby attaining SDG 2030, the Ministry had also initiated the exercise of preparation of Panchayat Development Index (PDI) based on the performance of the Panchayats on various local indicators of development

across 9 themes of LSDGs. The ranking mechanism under the Panchayat Development Index (PDI) provides a localized approach to evaluating and grading of all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) within the State/UT without any inter-State comparison ranking States/UTs across the Country. The focus is on creating a comparative framework at sub-state levels-Block, District, and State to promote healthy competition and targeted development at the grassroots.

(b) PDI is an annual exercise. As majority of the local indicators under considerations are updated on annual basis, thus the reference period is taken as 31 st March covering the preceding year. For the PDI of 2022-23, the data as existing on March 31, 2023 has been used for preparation of PDI and since this is the first such exercise, this is baseline report for assessing the incremental progress of the Panchayats in successive years.

(c) Yes Sir. PDI portal is integrated with the eGramSwaraj application and Panchayat Nirnay Application for assisting the Panchayats in selection of focus area LSDG theme at the time of preparing the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). The data available on PDI portal is easily accessible to all States/UTs, District/Block level Administration as well as the concerned Panchayati Raj Institutions.

(d) & (e) Thematic scores, across nine themes of LSDGs, obtained in preparation of PDI and the composite PDI score of the Gram Panchayats will help to assess their progress in achieving localized SDGs. The outcome of PDI will measure the incremental progress through scores achieved by the Panchayat towards the achievement of LSDGs and the baseline data of PDI will help to set local targets & actionable points in preparation of evidence based Panchayat Development Plan for achieving the desired goals for improved performance.

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