Panchayati Raj Day - Panchayati Raj Diwas

Every year on April 24, Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated to commemorate the passing of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Indian Constitution. This day also celebrates democratic self-governance. Panchayati Raj Day is an occasion to acknowledge the efforts and work of the Panchayats in India.

Some of the work that Panchayats do includes welfare activities, social justice, and the development of local areas. In this article, we have shared further information about Panchayati Raj Day, its history and its significance.

Panchayati Raj Day 2023

This year will mark the 14th edition of Panchayati Raj Day. On this day, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India organizes events that acknowledge the efforts of Panchayats throughout the country. National Panchayati Raj Day promotes the idea of decentralized democratic governance.

Panchayats are a crucial part of governance in India and are responsible for delivering justice on the grass-root level. Check out the brief overview of Panchayat Raj Day here.

What is a Panchayat?

• 'Panchayats' are institutions of self-government recognized by the Constitution of India.
• India has about 2.51 lakh Panchayats divided into three tiers: Gram Panchayats (2.39 lakhs), Block Panchayats (6904), and District Panchayats (589).
• These institutions play a significant role in the effective and efficient implementation of flagship schemes in rural India.
• Panchayati Raj Day, held on April 24 every year, celebrates the Panchayats of India.

National Panchayati Raj Day - History

The history of Panchayati Raj Day can be traced back to 1993, when the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 came into effect. Here are the details about why this Act was passed and how it contributed to the establishment of Panchayat Raj Day.

• Although Panchayats had been in existence in India since time immemorial, these institutions were not able to acquire the status and trust as a viable and responsive people's body.
• Some of the reasons for this were the absence of regular elections, insufficient representation of women and the weaker sections of society, lack of resources, etc.
• To remedy this, the 73rd Constitutional Act vested constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions of India.
• The Act came into effect on 24th April 1993 and changed the power equations of these institutions.

Accordingly, the Government decided to celebrate April 24 as National Panchayati Raj Day to mark the defining moment of the decentralization of power in the history of India. The first Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated on April 24, 2010. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj anchors the commemoration of Panchayati Raj Day every year.

Panchayati Raj Day - Significance

National Panchayati Raj Day provides the country's leaders with an opportunity to hold dialogues with Panchayat representatives from all over the country. The unique occasion of Panchayat Raj Day recognizes the work done by Panchayats towards the socio-economic development at the grass-root level (village, block, and district level).

The institutions are also felicitated for their work towards building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. On Panchayati Raj Day, the best-performing Panchayats are given the following awards:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP)
• Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP)
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award
• e-Panchayat Puraskar
• Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA)

How is Panchayati Raj Day Celebrated?

April 24 marks the National Panchayati Raj Day in India. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj conducts various events and discussions on this day.

• On National Panchayati Raj Day 2021, PM Narendra Modi launched SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) nationwide.
• PM Narendra Modi electronically distributed property cards/ titleholders to more than 4 lakh property holders of nearly 5000 villages under the SVAMITVA scheme. House owners of 1308 villages of Haryana were amongst the recipients of the property cards.
• Around 74,000 Panchayats participated in the 2021 Panchayati Awards on National Panchayati Raj Day.
• On National Panchayati Raj Day 2015, PM Narendra Modi emphasized women's representation in Panchayats.

Award Distribution on National Panchayati Raj Day

On National Panchayati Raj Day 2021, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Singh presented the Panchayat Award 2021. Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Department bagged 17 awards, while Chattisgarh received 12 awards. The distribution of awards on Panchayati Raj Day 2021 was as follows:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar - 224 Panchayats
• Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar - 30 Gram Panchayats
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award - 29 Gram Panchayats
• Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award - 30 Gram Panchayats
• e-Panchayat Puraskar - 12 States

FAQs on Panchayati Raj Day

Q1. When is Panchayati Raj Day celebrated?

Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on April 24 each year to acknowledge the efforts of Panchayats throughout the country and commemorate the passing of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Indian Constitution. National Panchayati Raj Day was first celebrated in 2010.

Q2. When was the first Panchayati Raj Day celebrated?

The first Panchayati Raj Diwas was celebrated in 2010. The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution of India came into effect on April 24, 1993. Therefore, to commemorate the day, April 24 was designated as National Panchayati Raj Day in India.

Q3. What is the theme of Panchayati Raj Day 2023?

The Panchayati Raj Day theme 2023 is not declared yet. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj announces a new theme on Panchatai Raj Day every year. This day celebrates the Panchayats of India, which offer social justice and welfare on the grass-root level.

Q4. Who declared Panchayati Raj Day?

Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh declared April 24 as Panchayati Raj Day in 2010. This day commemorates the date on which the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution of India came into effect.

Q5. Why do we celebrate Panchayati Raj Day?

Panchayats are an important institution in India that delivers justice at the grass-root level. Panchayati Raj Day honors the institution of Panchayats and acknowledges their effort. It also commemorates the date on which the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution of India came into effect.