Driving Digital Panchayats

Context:

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched multiple digital initiatives, including SabhaSaar (AI-based meeting summariser), and reported significant progress under the SVAMITVA Scheme and eGramSwaraj Portal.

Digital Governance at the Grassroots

Key Initiatives in Digital Transformation

SabhaSaar: AI for Governance
- Objective: Provides real-time structured summaries of Gram Sabha meetings.
- Features: Linked with Bhashini (National Language Translation Mission) supporting 14 Indian languages.
- Impact: Reduces manual delays in documentation, enhances transparency, and allows Panchayat officials to focus on service delivery.
SVAMITVA Scheme: Property Rights and Mapping
- Achievements: As of August 2025, 63 crore property cards issued in 1.73 lakh villages; drone survey completed in 3.23 lakh villages.
- Significance: Provides legal ownership, facilitates loans, improves tax collection, and reduces land disputes.
- Global Model:Recognised as a citizen-centric governance model using drones and digital mapping.
BharatNet: Digital Backbone of Villages
- Coverage: Over 26 lakh villages (out of 6.44 lakh) connected to internet through 3G/4G by June 2025.
- Implementation: Provides FTTH connections (13 lakh commissioned) enabling e-education, e-health, and e-governance.
- Relevance: Core infrastructure for Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Integrated Digital Platforms for Panchayats

eGramSwaraj Portal
- Functions: Brings together planning, accounting, progress monitoring, and online payments.
- Achievements FY 2024-25:54 lakh GPs uploaded GPDPs; 2.41 lakh GPs completed 15th FC online transactions.
- Impact: Promotes transparency, decentralised planning, and accountability.
Meri Panchayat App
- Features: Provides citizens access to Panchayat budgets, plans, weather forecasts, and grievance redressal.
- Reach: Serves 2.65 lakh GPs, 25 lakh elected representatives, and nearly 95 crore rural residents.
- Contribution: Strengthens SDGs by promoting digital inclusion and citizen empowerment.
Panchayat NIRNAY Portal
- Purpose: Monitors Gram Sabha meetings, notifies agendas, and ensures wider citizen participation.
- Impact: Replaces paper-based processes with transparent, real-time records.
Gram Manchitra GIS Application
- Utility: Uses spatial technology for developmental planning, asset mapping, and project tracking.
- Advantage: Provides data-driven decision-making capacity at village level.

Recognition and Rewards

National Awards for e-Governance (2025): Introduced grassroots category for Panchayats.
Winners: Rohini GP (Maharashtra – Gold), West Majlishpur GP (Tripura – Silver), Jury awards to Palsana GP (Gujarat) and Suakati GP (Odisha).
Incentives: ?10 lakh for Gold, ?5 lakh for Silver for further service delivery improvements.

Strengths of Digital Panchayats

Enhances transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
Reduces dependency on intermediaries through direct digital access.
Integrates planning, monitoring, and service delivery on one platform.
Supports the SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Challenges in Implementation

Digital divide persists in remote and tribal areas despite BharatNet expansion.
Capacity gaps among Panchayat officials in using advanced digital tools.
Data security, privacy, and digital literacy of rural citizens remain concerns.
Resistance to change from traditional manual processes.

Way Forward

Strengthen last-mile connectivity and ensure reliable broadband under BharatNet.
Expand capacity-building programmes for Panchayat representatives and staff.
Enforce strong cybersecurity protocols for citizen data protection.
Promote inclusive participation by integrating women, youth, and marginalised groups in digital governance.
Periodic impact assessments to align platforms with local needs and global benchmarks.