Karnataka tops the Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States report

The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, unveiled the 2024 “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence Based Ranking” report in a function in New Delhi on 13 February 2024.

The report assesses the status of devolution of powers and resources by the State/Union Territories government to the Panchayati Raj Institutions as per the provision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendments 1992. 

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992 inserted the 11th schedule in the constitution and mentions the powers and functions of the Panchayati Raj Institution.

The State / Union Territories government were expected to grant them power as per the provisions of the 11th schedule.

Importance of the report 

The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in 2005-06 introduced Panchayats Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) to 

• Provide an incentive to the States/Union Territories to empower the panchayats;
• Provide an incentive to the Panchayats to put in place robust accountability systems to make their functioning transparent and efficient.

The central government provides funds under the scheme to the State/Union Territories as per their performance in the Devolution Index formulated by an independent institution. 

Who has prepared the latest Report ?

The Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence Based Ranking” 2024 report has been prepared by the Indian institute of Public Administration (IIPA),New Delhi for the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

The first report was unveiled in 2006-07 and it was prepared by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).

States /Union Territories covered in the Report 

All the states and the Union Territories has been covered in the report except:

• Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland where the 73rd amendment is not applicable:
• National Capital Territory of Delhi as panchayats were suspended in 1990:
• Union Territory of Chandigarh as there are no panchayats.

Dimensions and Indicators of the Devolution Index of Panchayats

The index uses 6 dimensions and 25 sub indicators to rank the State and the Union Territories under the Devolution Index of Panchayats.

The Dimensions are : Framework;Functions, Finance,Functionaries,;Capacity enhancement and Accountability.

Ranking of the State/Union Territories on the Index 

Based on the six dimensions and 25 sub indicators, State/Union Territories have been ranked. Following are the top 10 State/Union Territories ranked on the Devolution Index.

Other states which had a score of above 50 were Telangana(55.1), Andhra Pradesh (54.43), Himachal Pradesh (53.17), Madhya Pradesh(50.94), and Odisha (50.03).  

About IIPA

The Indian institute of Public Administration (IIPA) is an autonomous academic institution of national eminence for training and in the field of Public Administration.

The Indian Institute of Public Administration was set up by the government of India in 1954 on the recommendation of Prof. Paul H. Appleby report.

IIPA is a body registered under the Societies Act of 1860.

President: Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankar 

Headquarters : New Delhi