MoPR Launches Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, SAMARTH Portal & Model OSR Rules to Strengthen PRIs

Key facts

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal, and Model Own Source Revenue (OSR) Rules on July 27, 2026.
• The Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme aims to enable Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats to convert local assets into revenue-generating projects through PPP, CSR, and bank finance, with NABARD and HUDCO as institutional partners.
• The programme proposes 350 projects over four years, with eligibility criteria of minimum own source revenue of Rs 50 lakh for Gram Panchayats and Rs 1 crore for Block Panchayats, and at least three years of remaining tenure.
• The SAMARTH Panchayat Portal is a national digital platform for end-to-end management of Panchayat own source revenue, including digital taxpayer registration, demand generation, online payments, and real-time monitoring.
• Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have been onboarded on the SAMARTH Portal, with over 51 lakh taxpayers registered, demand notices worth Rs 95 crore generated, and over Rs 27 crore collected.
• The Model OSR Rules provide an advisory framework for states to assess, collect, and manage Panchayat revenues including property tax, user charges, and fees.