New Delhi: Odisha has emerged as a national leader in grassroots governance, securing multiple accolades at the National Panchayat Awards between 2023 and 2025. Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh detailed these achievements in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on 11th February 2026, highlighting the state’s progress in localization of Sustainable Development Goals and digital transparency.
In the 2025 award cycle, Odisha continued its winning streak with Hatbadra Gram Panchayat in Mayurbhanj district securing the second rank in the Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award category. Led by a woman Sarpanch, Hatbadra was recognized for its exceptional efforts in augmenting own source revenue and promoting financial self-reliance, earning a financial incentive of Rs. 75 lakh. Additionally, the State Institute for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR) of Odisha was honored with the second prize in the Panchayat Kshamta Nirman Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar for its excellence in capacity building and training of panchayat representatives.
The state’s performance in 2023 and 2024 was equally significant. During the 2023 awards, Ganjam District Panchayat was crowned the best in India, receiving a top prize of Rs. 5 crore. In the same year, Hinjilicut Block Panchayat was named the best Block Panchayat in the country with an award of Rs. 2 crore. Several Gram Panchayats also excelled in thematic categories, including Kanchura for health, Syasan Ambagam for clean and green initiatives, and Kulada for social security.
The 2024 awards saw further recognition for Odisha, with Koraput District Panchayat being ranked as the second-best in the country. In Ganjam district, Keluapalli was honored as a Healthy Panchayat, while Sahapur was recognized for its self-sufficient infrastructure. The state also performed well in special categories, with Kendrikela winning second place in the Carbon Neutral category and Ankuli and Kasira being recognized for their contributions to energy self-reliance.
To support these efforts, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released approximately Rs. 112 crore to Odisha under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) since 2022. This funding has facilitated the training of over 7.5 lakh participants, including elected representatives and officials. On the digital front, all 6,794 Gram Panchayats in Odisha have successfully integrated with the eGramSwaraj and Public Financial Management System (PFMS) platforms, ensuring real-time payments and transparent governance.