Ministry of Panchayati Raj releases Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report

Key facts

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report for FY 2023–24 on National Panchayati Raj Day, celebrated on 24th April 2026.
• PAI 2.0 recorded a national participation of 97.30 per cent, with 2,59,867 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across 33 States and Union Territories submitting validated data.
• Based on composite scores, 3,635 GPs are categorized as Front Runners and 1,18,824 GPs (approximately 45.72% of participating GPs/Traditional Local Bodies) are placed in the Performer category.
• Under the theme Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods in Panchayats, 3,313 GPs/Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) achieved the A+ grade.
• Under the theme Healthy Panchayats, 1,015 GPs/TLBs attained the A+ grade.
• PAI 2.0 evaluates GPs against 150 indicators and 230 data points across nine thematic areas under the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
• The nine LSDG thematic areas include Poverty, Health, Child Welfare, Water, Environment, Infrastructure, Social Justice, Good Governance, and Women’s Empowerment.
• The index classifies GPs into five performance categories: Achiever (A+: 90 and above), Front Runner (A: 75 to below 90), Performer (B: 60 to below 75), Aspirant (C: 40 to below 60), and Beginner (D: below 40).
• West Bengal has not on-boarded in the PAI 2.0 exercise.