National Study Report on Low Participation in Gram Sabha Across States/UTs Released
National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj study examines why Gram Sabhas see low public participation and recommends institutional reforms for deeper grassroots democracy.
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released a National Study Report on low participation in Gram Sabhas and said that it will work with States and Union Territories to implement the recommendations.
- The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj prepared a two-volume study to identify barriers to Gram Sabha participation and to suggest policy measures for stronger citizen engagement.
- The field assessment covered nearly 7,800 respondents across about 400 Gram Panchayats in 26 States and Union Territories, including 213 districts and PESA and women-friendly Gram Panchayats.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released a National Study Report on low participation in Gram Sabhas across States and Union Territories. The study matters for UPSC because Gram Sabha participation is a direct test of grassroots democracy, democratic decentralisation, and citizen involvement in local planning and accountability.
The study was prepared by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It examines the factors that reduce participation in Gram Sabha meetings and suggests measures to strengthen citizen engagement in local governance.
What the study says
UPSC can frame questions on the constitutional and governance importance of Gram Sabhas, the barriers to meaningful participation, and the institutional measures needed to make Panchayati Raj more inclusive, especially for women, youth, and marginalised communities.
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