Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S. P. Singh Baghel will commence the National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) festivities in New Delhi on Friday, spreading Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Panchayats and local bodies. This day, observed annually on April 24, commemorates the enactment of the significant 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, granting constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India. This year marks 33 years since this pivotal moment in India’s democratic journey.
At Vigyan Bhawan, an event will feature the release of a Report on Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)-2.0 and three books on ‘Meri Panchayat Meri Dharohar’. The Ministry’s ‘Panchayat Dharohar Initiative’ will unveil three illustrated publications on rural heritage, including a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tripura, a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tirupati, and ‘Uttarkashi: Saumya Kashi: The Soul of Himalayan Heritage’.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has planned widespread celebrations of National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) at various levels across the country, with Gram Panchayats conducting Gram Sabha meetings to reinforce participatory democracy at the grassroots. This day serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the role of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in propelling progress towards Viksit Bharat, as stated in an official statement.
In the previous year, PM Modi oversaw the distribution of property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme in January 2025, granting legal ownership documents to 65 lakh rural citizens in a single day. This initiative covered over 50,000 villages in 10 States and 2 Union Territories, bringing the total number of property cards distributed under SVAMITVA to 2.25 crore. The ceremony saw the participation of Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and representatives from 237 Districts.
