{"id":43742,"date":"2025-05-20T19:11:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=43742"},"modified":"2025-05-20T19:13:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:43:51","slug":"getting-micropicture-at-panchayat-level-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/20-05-2025\/getting-micropicture-at-panchayat-level-india","title":{"rendered":"Getting the \u2018Micropicture\u2019 at the Panchayat Level in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Grassroots governance in India often lacks accessible, detailed data which is difficult for panchayat leaders to assess their own communities effectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need of Micro Data in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/26-04-2025\/grassroots-governance-strengthening-panchayats\"><strong><u>Local Governance in India<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Panchayati Raj system<\/strong> and <strong>municipal bodies <\/strong>are the first point of contact between citizens and the state.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These rely on various datasets to assess needs, allocate resources, and track progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collecting raw data on <strong>households, employment, infrastructure, education, and health<\/strong> are key for:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understanding <strong>intra-village inequalities<\/strong> and social hierarchies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifying <strong>hyperlocal priorities<\/strong> that may be invisible to district or state-level planners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detailed data empower Panchayats for:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make <strong>evidence-based decisions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve <strong>public service delivery<\/strong> (e.g., water access, sanitation, schools).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor <strong>welfare program effectiveness<\/strong> more efficiently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concerns &amp; Challenges&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Usability of Data: <\/strong>Enormous datasets available through ministry portals and policies like the <strong>National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), 2012.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Despite the open data framework offered through various platforms, data formats remain unfriendly for public or even trained researchers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Localised Problems:<\/strong> The <strong>\u2018top-down\u2019 and macro-level models<\/strong> often failed to capture localised problems like caste-based exclusion, women\u2019s unpaid labour, localized water stress, or migration patterns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disconnected Data at the Grassroots: <\/strong>At the <strong>panchayat, block, and district levels, <\/strong>data is generated primarily for consumption at higher levels of governance like <strong>secretaries and departmental heads<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limited technical expertise among local representatives to interpret complex datasets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Delayed Census:<\/strong> Evidence-based policymaking in India faces significant challenges due to delays in Census operations and the inconsistent availability of time-series data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Challenges Facing Panchayats in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inadequate Financing:<\/strong> Most panchayats rely heavily on funds from higher tiers of government, with limited avenues for generating their own revenue.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study by the <strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)<\/strong> revealed that in 2022-23, the average revenue per panchayat was \u20b921.23 lakh, with only 1.1% coming from local taxes and fees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological and Digital Literacy Gaps:<\/strong> Limited technological infrastructure and low digital literacy hinder effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of progress.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Without digital tools, real-time tracking of SDG progress remains a challenge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fragmentation in Rural Governance:<\/strong> Multiple government departments operate in villages without proper coordination, leading to duplication of work and inefficient use of resources.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The lack of convergence between different schemes and departments makes holistic development difficult to achieve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Steps By Government<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/10-04-2025\/panchayat-advancement-index-pai-baseline-report\"><strong>Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Baseline Report 2022-23<\/strong><\/a>: It provides a micro-level assessment of panchayats, helping leaders make informed decisions\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is aligned with the <strong>Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The PAI can determine whether a <strong>Gram Panchayat qualifies as a \u2018Healthy Panchayat\u2019, <\/strong>pinpointing specific gaps and enabling swift corrective action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP):<\/strong> It facilitates access to government datasets, allowing users to search, merge, visualize, and download data easily.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It helps local bodies analyze trends and improve governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Open Government Data (OGD) Platform: <\/strong>It provides public access to datasets from various ministries and departments.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It enables data-driven policymaking and transparency in governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Role of Institutions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs): <\/strong>The government can leverage over <strong>4,000 institutions<\/strong> under the <strong>Unnat Bharat Abhiyan<\/strong> to maximize impact.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>\u2018hand-holding\u2019 model,<\/strong> supplemented by CSOs and institutional expertise, can complement departmental efforts and <strong>accelerate SDG attainment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological Integration:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>eGramSwaraj:<\/strong> A digital governance initiative <strong>available in 22 languages, <\/strong>enabling transparent fund management and real-time monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SVAMITVA Scheme: <\/strong>Drone surveys have been conducted in 3.17 lakh villages, issuing over 2.19 crore property cards to empower rural property owners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Micro Matters Initiative<\/strong>: It focuses on data-driven development <strong>under India&#8217;s G20 presidency<\/strong>, promoting the use of <strong>big data analytics, AI, and IoT<\/strong> to improve governance at the grassroots level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>By integrating data analytics into governance, India can empower its local institutions to create targeted policies, improve service delivery, and enhance accountability\u2014ultimately leading to stronger, more responsive local governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is investing in digital infrastructure, including optical fiber networks for villages and AI-driven data analytics. These advancements aim to improve service delivery and governance efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> How can micro-level data improve governance at the panchayat level, and what challenges might occur for effectively utilizing such data for policymaking?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/getting-the-micropicture-at-the-panchayat-level\/article69594951.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-20-May-2025.PDF.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grassroots governance in India often lacks accessible, detailed data which is difficult for panchayat leaders to assess their own communities effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43742"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43763,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43742\/revisions\/43763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}