Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Launched

On 9th April 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj introduced the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) to assess the development of over 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across India, based on nine localised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Points

PAI Overview: It is a composite index measuring panchayats on themes like poverty alleviation, health, child welfare, water sufficiency, cleanliness, infrastructure, social justice, governance, and gender inclusion.
Performance Categories: Panchayats are classified as Achiever (90+), Front Runner (75–90), Performer (60–75), Aspirant (40–60), and Beginner (below 40).
Top States: Gujarat leads with 346 Front Runners, followed by Telangana with 270.
High Performer Counts: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the most Performers.
Development Gaps: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh have a larger share of Aspirant panchayats, indicating areas needing attention.