Lok Sabha Question No. 1825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Status of Women Representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1825

ANSWERED ON- 10.02.2026

## STATUS OF WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## †1825. SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the status of women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country regarding their capacity and leadership;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is providing capacity building and leadership training to women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) "Panchayat, being "Local Government", is a State Subject and part of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. All Panchayat related work, including reviewing the status of women's representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions, comes within the purview of State Government.

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 at each level'. However, 21 States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal and 2 Union Territories (UTs) namely, Lakshadweep and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rulesencouraging increased women's participation in the grassroots governance.

At present, as per information available with the Ministry, out of 24,41,781 elected representatives, 12,14,885 (49.75%) are women elected representatives as on date. This

number is beyond the stipulated minimum 33% reservation as there are States having upto even 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and since women elected representatives are also elected from open seats. The number of elected representatives is dynamic in nature which changes with conduct of fresh elections in the Panchayati Raj Institutions from time to time.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. financial year 2022-23 with the major objective of Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats across all States/UTs for improving Panchayat Governance. Under the scheme of RGSA, Ministry provides support for CB&T of elected representatives, functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats in different categories viz. basic orientation and refresher training, thematic training, specialized training, panchayat development plan training etc. Total 28,60,585 Women Elected Representatives were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 31 st December 2025) under the scheme.

Further, Ministry has launched a comprehensive specialized training module as a part of 'Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan' for the capacity building of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The focus of the training module is to build the capacity of the Women Elected Representatives on different aspects of rural governance, enhance the knowledge & practical skills for effective delivery of roles & responsibilities as elected representatives and also to develop the leadership, communication, managerial & decision making skills for effective women led governance. A total of 64,863 Women Elected Representatives (as on 31st December 2025) have been trained on this specialized Module.

On the direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj constituted an Advisory Committee in September 2023 to examine the issue of Women Pradhans being represented by the male members of their families and also examine other issues related to proxy representation. The Committee has submitted its Report with recommendations to the Ministry in February 2025, and the same has been accepted by the Ministry.

The Advisory Committee recommended that the State Governments take necessary measures, including legal safeguards, capacity-building, social audits and penal provisions to eliminate proxy leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and ensure real empowerment, autonomy and accountability of elected women representatives. Owing to the importance of this matter and its impact on women's leadership in PRls, this Ministry has also constituted a Task Force on 17th April 2025 to ensure practical execution on the issues of Women Pradhans.

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