Lok Sabha Question No. 2880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2880

ANSWERED ON- 10.03.2026

## WOMENINPANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## 2880. DR. GUMMA THANUJA RANI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) the number of women participating in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), State-wise;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to enhance women's participation and leadership roles in PRIs;

(c) whether there are barriers faced by women in taking active roles in PRIs;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to address said challenges; and

(e) the initiatives undertaken for capacity building for women representatives in PRIs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH)

(a) A statement showing State/Union Territory-wise number of Women Elected Representatives participating in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is placed at Annexure .

(b) to (e) "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, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of India. Thus, all Panchayat related work, including enhancing women's participation and leadership roles inPanchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), comes within the purview of State Government concerned.

Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-third reservation for women in PRIs 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 upto 50% reservation for women

in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rulesencouraging increased participation in grassroots governance.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. FY 2022-23 in States/ UTs with main objective of capacitating PRIs through imparting training to the Elected Representatives, including Women Elected Representatives (WERs), functionaries and other stakeholders to develop their governance capabilities for leadership roles and to function effectively. A total of 30,94,748 Women Elected Representatives were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 28th February 2026) under this scheme. Increased capacity-building training in different subject matters pertaining to Panchayats, service delivery mechanisms and leadership skills has enhanced the capacities and capabilities of WERs in undertaking their assigned tasks as elected representatives. WERs 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 of Panchayati Raj has mandated Mahila Sabhas before Gram Sabhas, encouraging greater involvement of women in decision-making processes. The Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (formally the United Nations Fund for Population Activities -UNFPA), is 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.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched a comprehensive specialised training module 'Championing Change-Empowering Women Leaders in Local Governance and Beyond' as a part of 'Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan' for the capacity building of WERsof PRIs. The focus of the training module is to build the capacity of the WERson 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 1,05,966 WERs (as on 28th February 2026) have been trained on this Specialised Module.

Further, 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 .

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Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2880 answered

on 10.03.2026 on 'Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions'

## State & Union Territory-wise details of Women Elected Representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions

|   Sl. No. | State/Union Territory   | Number of Women Elected Representatives   | Remarks                                                                                             |
|-----------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh          | 85,593                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|         2 | Arunachal Pradesh       | 3,967                                     | -                                                                                                   |
|         3 | Assam                   | 14,693                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|         4 | Bihar                   | 1,35,805                                  | -                                                                                                   |
|         5 | Chhattisgarh            | 98,787                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|         6 | Goa                     | 745                                       | -                                                                                                   |
|         7 | Gujarat                 | 69,566                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|         8 | Haryana                 | 32,892                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|         9 | Himachal Pradesh        | 15,250                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|        10 | Jharkhand               | 32,014                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|        11 | Karnataka               | 49,723                                    | This is the data of Gram Panchayats. Block and District Panchayat elections are pending since 2021. |
|        12 | Kerala                  | 10,930                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|        13 | Madhya Pradesh          | 2,09,041                                  | -                                                                                                   |
|        14 | Maharashtra             | 14,135                                    | Elections in 336 Block Panchayats and 32 District Panchayat are pending.                            |
|        15 | Manipur                 | Nil                                       | Tenure of Panchayats ended in October 2022. Elections not held yet.                                 |
|        16 | Meghalaya               | Not applicable                            | Not covered under                                                                                   |
|        17 | Mizoram                 | Not applicable                            | Part IX of the                                                                                      |
|        18 | Nagaland                | Not applicable                            | Constitution of India.                                                                              |
|        19 | Odisha                  | 57,001                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|        20 | Punjab                  | 44,519                                    | -                                                                                                   |
|        21 | Rajasthan               | 6,358                                     | -                                                                                                   |
|        22 | Sikkim                  | 655                                       | -                                                                                                   |
|        23 | Tamil Nadu              | Nil                                       | Tenure of Panchayats ended in January 2025.                                                         |

|    |                                       |          | Election not held yet.                                                                                                                              |
|----|---------------------------------------|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24 | Telangana                             | 6,298    | This is the data of Gram Panchayats. Block and District Panchayat elections not held yet.                                                           |
| 25 | Tripura                               | 3,126    | -                                                                                                                                                   |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh                         | 2,76,181 | -                                                                                                                                                   |
| 27 | Uttarakhand                           | 6,366    |                                                                                                                                                     |
| 28 | West Bengal                           | 40,537   | -                                                                                                                                                   |
| 29 | Andaman &Nicobar Islands              | 415      | -                                                                                                                                                   |
| 30 | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 288      | -                                                                                                                                                   |
| 31 | Jammu &Kashmir                        | Nil      | Tenure of Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayat ended in January, 2024. Tenure of District Panchayats ended in February 2026. Elections not held yet. |
| 32 | Ladakh                                | Nil      | Tenure of Panchayats ended in January 2024. Election not held yet.                                                                                  |
| 33 | Lakshadweep                           | Nil      | Tenure of Panchayats ended in December, 2022. Election not held yet. of                                                                             |
| 34 | Puducherry                            | Nil      | Tenure Panchayats ended in July, 2011. Election not held yet.                                                                                       |

Source: Data as provided, from time to time, by the States/UTs to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

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