The 2024 index published by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, based on a study by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) reveals the state of the third tier of government in India, Panchayats. The study analysed how each state has performed in the devolution of powers and responsibilities to the local bodies.
The 2024 index has seen Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu topping while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recording the biggest improvement. The IIPA studied 172 panchayats across 68 districts on the basis of six parameters: framework, functions, finances, functionaries, capacity building and accountability. The IIPA developed a Panchayat Devolution Index (PDI) that scores states on a scale of 0 to 100. While the national average score over the past decade has risen from 39.92 to 43.89, there have been some shortcomings as well.
How States Performed
In the latest index, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand scored the lowest while Manipur, Arunachal and Haryana have seen the biggest decline in the past decade. In terms of average rural population per Panchayat, West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar had the most densely populated panchayats. While most Panchayats have a 50% quota for women, there are several states and union territories that fall short of the reservation threshold. These states include Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Tripura. However, 21 states and union territories are either at or above the reservation threshold, with Odisha having the highest proportion of women Panchayat representatives (about 61.51% ). The IIPA study stated that since there is no stipulated reservation for scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST) and other backward classes (OBS), Punjab still has the highest proportion of SC representatives, Chhattisgarh has the highest share of ST representatives while Bihar has the highest number of OBC representatives.
Many independent studies have found that inconsistency in funding and infrastructure at the Panchayat level are the biggest challenges faced by local bodies. In 2023-24, the state government allocated ₹47 crore to Panchayats, but only around Rs.10 crore was released as of November 2023.
