| Launch of Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) | Introduced on April 9, 2024 by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj to assess Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and guide localised rural development strategies. |
| Modern Panchayati Raj System | Originated from ancient India, referenced in Vedas, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and Mauryan Empire. Evolved during British rule with reforms like Lord Mayo's Resolution (1870) and Lord Ripon's Reforms (1882). |
| Post-Independence Initiatives | Article 40 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (1948) advocated for Panchayats. Community Development Programme (1951) aimed at rural development but faced issues like bureaucratic red-tapism. |
| Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) | Recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block), and Zilla Parishad (district). Rajasthan first implemented it in 1959. |
| Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) | Suggested a two-tier system with Mandal Panchayats and Zilla Parishads, and reservations for SC/STs. Not widely implemented due to political and logistical constraints. |
| 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments | Enacted in 1992 under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. 73rd Amendment introduced Panchayats under Part IX, and 74th Amendment recognised urban local bodies under Part IXA. |
| Panchayat Devolution Index (PDI) | Conceptualised by V N Alok and Laveesh Bhandari (2004) to evaluate states based on functions, finances, and functionaries. Later expanded to include capacity building, accountability, and framework. |
| Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2024 | Focuses on inclusive rural development. Top-performing states: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. Challenges include financial autonomy, human resource limitations, and digital illiteracy. |
