New Delhi: Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 for the 2023–24 fiscal year. Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, highlighted the index as a critical evidence-based tool designed to improve planning, performance monitoring, and accountability across more than 2.5 lakh panchayats nationwide.
The index provides a comprehensive report card for each Gram Panchayat, measuring progress across sectors such as health, sanitation, infrastructure, and women’s empowerment. By anchoring the framework in the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of India aims to track grassroots progress toward global 2030 targets. This updated version of the index features a rationalized set of 150 indicators and 230 data points, a substantial reduction from the previous version to ensure sharper focus and better usability at the local level.
Odisha has emerged as a major participant and strong performer in this nationwide exercise. All 6,794 Gram Panchayats and Traditional Local Bodies in Odisha’s 30 districts and 312 blocks were onboarded and submitted validated data. The State achieved a wide distribution of performance across the five grading categories, with 555 panchayats reaching Grade A as Front Runners and 4,566 panchayats classified as Grade B Performers. Notably, 1,627 panchayats were identified as Grade C Aspirants.
The specific data for Odisha showcases excellence in several key thematic areas. The Gram Panchayat of Pochilima, located in the Hinjilicut block of Ganjam district, was recognized as the best performing GP in the state with an overall PAI 2.0 score of 83.27, earning a Grade A rating. Additionally, various panchayats across Odisha achieved the highest possible rating of Grade A+ in specific themes. For instance, Sohapur in Ganjam scored 97.22 in the Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods theme, while Raipur in Ganjam and Tarapur in Jagatsinghapur achieved top marks in the Healthy Panchayat and Child Friendly Panchayat categories, respectively.
Other thematic leaders in the state include Padua in Kendujhar for Water Sufficiency, Hatibandha in Sundargarh for Clean and Green initiatives, and Bhatakumarada in Ganjam for Self-sufficient Infrastructure. The index also highlighted strong performance in Socially Secured, Good Governance, and Women Friendly themes by panchayats such as Mandar, Turumu, and Gudipadar.
Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, an IAS of 1995 Batch in Odisha Cadre emphasized that the index serves as a catalyst for transparent and inclusive governance. In Odisha and across the participating 33 States and Union Territories, PAI scores are being used to prioritize low-performing themes and identify Beacon Panchayats that can serve as learning centers for others. The integration of mandatory Gram Sabha validation and real-time dashboards ensures that this data remains a living resource for local development and policy formulation.