Lok Sabha Question No. 2550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATIRAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2550

ANSWERED ON- 05.08.2025

## RESERVATION FORWOMENINPANCHAYATIRAJ INSTITUTIONS

## 2550. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government intends to implement 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in all states and Union Territories;
- (b) if so, the details of the proposed amendments or policy measures to achieve this, along with the timeline for such implementation, State and district-wise;
- (c) whether any States have already implemented 50% reservation for women in local Governance, and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the total number of women currently serving as elected representatives in Gram Panchayats, Block Panchayats, and Zila Parishads, State and district-wise; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering additional measures such as financial incentives, mentoring programs or awareness campaigns to encourage greater women's participation in local Governance and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (c) Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat and total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats. However, 21 States and 2 Union Territories have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules.

Similarly, Article 243T of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality, and also mandates the reservation of the offices of Chairpersons in the Municipalities, in such manner as the State Legislature may, by law, determine. As per the information furnished by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 17 States and 2 Union Territories have given 50% reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies.

The details of the States and Union Territories which have made provisions for 50% reservation of seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities are as under-

|                   | Panchayats                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Municipalities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| States            | (i) Andhra Pradesh, (ii) Assam, (iii) Bihar, (iv) Chhattisgarh, (v) Gujarat, (vi) Haryana, (vii) Himachal Pradesh, (viii) Jharkhand, (ix) Karnataka, (x) Kerala, (xi) Madhya Pradesh, (xii) Maharashtra, (xiii) Odisha, (xiv) Punjab, (xv) Rajasthan, (xvi) Sikkim, (xvii) Tamil Nadu, (xviii) Telangana, (xix) Tripura, (xx) Uttarakhand and (xxi) West Bengal. | (i) Andhra Pradesh, (ii) Assam, (iii) Bihar, (iv) Chhattisgarh, (v) Gujarat, (vi) Himachal Pradesh, (vii) Jharkhand, (viii) Karnataka, (ix) Kerala, (x) Madhya Pradesh, (xi) Maharashtra, (xii) Odisha, (xiii) Punjab, (xiv) Sikkim, (xv) Tamil Nadu, (xvi) Telangana and (xvii) Tripura. |
| Union Territories | (i) Lakshadweep and (ii) Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | (i) Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu and (ii) Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

(d) A statement showing total number of Women Elected Representatives in PRIs across States and Union Territories is placed in Annexure . Panchayat-wise details of Elected Representatives /Women Elected Representatives are not maintained in the Ministry.

(e) The Ministry is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. FY 2022-23 in States/ UTs with main objective of capacitating Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) through imparting training to the Elected Representatives (ERs), including Women Elected Representatives (WERs), functionaries and other stakeholders to develop their governance capabilities for leadership roles and to function effectively. A total of 25,13,543 WERs were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 202526 (till 24 th July 2025). Increased capacity-building training in different subject matters pertaining to Panchayats, service delivery mechanisms and leadership skills has enhanced the capacities and capabilities of Women Panchayat Members in undertaking their assigned tasks as ERs. Women Panchayat Members are trained on different aspects of rural governance in multiple training programmes for effective delivery of their roles and responsibilities at the grassroots level.

To strengthen women's participation in grassroots governance, the Ministry has mandated Mahila Sabhas before Gram Sabhas, encouraging greater involvement of women in decisionmaking processes. In addition, a dedicated training module has been introduced to further develop the leadership, communication, and decision-making skills of WERs, supporting effective women-led governance. The Ministry is also guiding States and UTs in transforming one Gram Panchayat per district into a Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat under Theme 9 of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative aims to create inclusive, gender-sensitive governance models that can be replicated across the country.

Further, the Ministry has launched a comprehensive Specialised Training Module for assisting the States/UTs in building capacities of Women Panchayat Members to strengthen

their leadership and managerial, communication and negotiation skills for effective delivery of good governance. The focus of the training module is designed to address the key challenges faced by the Women Panchayat Members in delivering their roles and responsibilities; enhance their knowledge and skills on different aspects of governance, and equip them to drive local development.

***

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2550 answered on 05.08.2025

## State-wise list of Women serving as Elected Representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions

|   Sl. No. | Category   | State/UT          | Number of Elected Representatives (ERs)   | Numberof Women Elected Representatives (WERs)   | Remarks                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------|------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | State      | Andhra Pradesh    | 154414                                    | 85593                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         2 | State      | Arunachal Pradesh | 8568                                      | 2820                                            |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         3 | State      | Assam             | 24509                                     | Not available                                   | The compilation of the exact count of WERs is under process                                                                                                         |
|         4 | State      | Bihar             | 247658                                    | 110964                                          |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         5 | State      | Chhattisgarh      | 174926                                    | 98787                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         6 | State      | Goa               | 1555                                      | 709                                             |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         7 | State      | Gujarat           | 103397                                    | 54164                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         8 | State      | Haryana           | 71455                                     | 32892                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|         9 | State      | Himachal Pradesh  | 30578                                     | 15250                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        10 | State      | Jharkhand         | 56808                                     | 32014                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        11 | State      | Karnataka         | 93801                                     | 49554                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        12 | State      | Kerala            | 18365                                     | 10055                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        13 | State      | Madhya Pradesh    | 395553                                    | 204131                                          |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        14 | State      | Maharashtra       | 28248                                     | 14135                                           | 27933 Gram Panchayats, 2 Block Panchayats&2 District Panchayats are functioning. Elections in remaining Block and District Panchayat are pending due to court case. |
|        15 | State      | Manipur           | Nil                                       | Nil                                             | Panchayats dissolved in Oct, 2022. Elections Not held yet.                                                                                                          |
|        16 | State      | Meghalaya         | N/A                                       | N/A                                             | Notcoveredunder Part IX of the Constitution                                                                                                                         |
|        17 | State      | Mizoram           | N/A                                       | N/A                                             |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        18 | State      | Nagaland          | N/A                                       | N/A                                             |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        19 | State      | Odisha            | 106353                                    | 57001                                           |                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        20 | State      | Punjab            | Nil                                       | Nil                                             | Gram Panchayat election conducted.                                                                                                                                  |

|    |                 |                                       |        |        | Block and District Panchayat Elections are under process             |
|----|-----------------|---------------------------------------|--------|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21 | State           | Rajasthan                             | 11590  | 6358   |                                                                      |
| 22 | State           | Sikkim                                | 1273   | 655    |                                                                      |
| 23 | State           | Tamil Nadu                            | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayat body dissolved in December 2024. Election not held yet.    |
| 24 | State           | Telangana                             | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayats have been dissolved in May, 2024. Election not held yet   |
| 25 | State           | Tripura                               | 6909   | 3126   |                                                                      |
| 26 | State           | Uttar Pradesh                         | 677382 | 276181 |                                                                      |
| 27 | State           | Uttarakhand                           | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayat Election under process                                     |
| 28 | State           | West Bengal                           | 74424  | 40537  |                                                                      |
| 29 | Union Territory | Andaman& Nicobar Island               | 861    | 415    |                                                                      |
| 30 | Union Territory | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 462    | 263    |                                                                      |
| 31 | Union Territory | Jammu &Kashmir                        | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayats have been dissolved in Dec.,2023. Election not held yet.  |
| 32 | Union Territory | Ladakh                                | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayats have been dissolved in Dec.,2023. Election not held yet.  |
| 33 | Union Territory | Lakshadweep                           | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayats have been dissolved in Dec.,2022. Election not held yet.  |
| 34 | Union Territory | Puducherry                            | Nil    | Nil    | Panchayats have been dissolved in July, 2011. Election not held yet. |

***