Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0

Context

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has recently unveiled the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 report for the financial year 2023–24, providing an assessment of grassroots governance across the country.

About the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0

1. PAI 2.0 evaluates over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats using:
   1. 150 indicators
   2. 230 data points
   3. 9 key development themes linked to Sustainable Development Goals
2. Based on overall scores, Panchayats are grouped into five categories:
   1. Achiever (A+)
   2. Front Runner (A)
   3. Performer (B)
   4. Aspirant (C)
   5. Beginner (D)
3. Participation reached a high level:
   97. Around 97.3% Panchayats submitted data
   98. Covering 33 States and UTs
4. Performance highlights show:
   1. 3,635 Panchayats in the Front Runner category
   2. Over 1.18 lakh in the Performer category
5. Strong results were seen in key areas like:
   1. Poverty reduction and livelihood generation
   2. Health, sanitation, and nutrition awareness
6. Top achievers include:
   1. 3,313 Panchayats scoring A+ in livelihood-related outcomes
   2. 1,015 Panchayats excelling in health-related indicators
7. The index acts as a planning and monitoring tool by:
   1. Helping states identify priority areas
   2. Supporting Gram Panchayat Development Plans
   3. Promoting best-performing Panchayats as models
8. Key improvements in PAI 2.0 include:
   1. Single unified data entry system
   2. Mandatory Gram Sabha validation
   3. Real-time dashboards and better data accuracy checks
   4. Integration with central government data portals
9. The initiative supports transparent, data-driven governance and aims to strengthen grassroots institutions under the vision of “Viksit Gram Panchayats.”