Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States Report- 2024

Why in News?

• Union Minister S.P. Singh Baghel released the report "Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States: An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking, 2024" in New Delhi.
  • This report provides ranking of States and Union Territories on the status of devolution to panchayats based on their overall score.
  • It assesses the status of devolution of powers and resources by the State/UT Governments to their Panchayati Raj Institutions as per the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992.

Key Points:

• This report provides information on the progress of decentralisation in the States and Union Territories of the country.
• The report evaluates six important dimensions of panchayats:

1. Framework

2. Functions

3. Finance

4. Functionalities

5. Capacity Building

6. Accountability

• Devolution to rural local bodies has increased from 39.9% to 43.9% between 2013-14 and 2021-22.
• The report also assessed how autonomous panchayats are in taking independent decisions and implementing them.
• Ranking of states:
  • Top state: Karnataka
  • Second place: Kerala
  • Third place: Tamil Nadu
• Medium scoring states: Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha

Top 10 states/UTs in the devolution index: