National Panchayati Raj Day 2025: India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 every year to mark the foundation of the Panchayati Raj System — a landmark law which granted constitutional status to its institutions. This law enabled local governments or Gram Panchayats to govern themselves and make decisions on the development of their districts.
It is being commemorated today, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, marking the thirty-second anniversary of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.’
The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992, which officially took effect on April 24, 1993, granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), marking an important milestone in the history of political authority decentralisation at the grassroots level.
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It was in reaction to the need for democracy, which was led by a committee headed by Balwantrai Mehta to accomplish this goal.
Furthermore, the system of governance of India’s villages is also reflected in one of Mahatma Gandhi’s major beliefs, with him frequently advocating for the establishment of a Panchayati Raj system. On it, Gandhi stated, with the quote referred to from a 1946 issue of the Harijan magazine.
Independence must mean that of the people of India, not of those who are today ruling over them… Independence must begin at the bottom. Thus, every village will be a republic or panchayat having full powers. It follows, therefore, that every village has to be self-sustained and capable of managing its affairs even to the extent of defending itself against the whole world
This year, National Panchayati Raj Day 2025 will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lohna Uttar Gramme Panchayat, Jhanjharpur Block, Madhubani District, Bihar.
National Panchayati Raj Day programme in Madhubani, Bihar. https://t.co/cM06fBSkvY
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2025
It is being marked as a major national programme with a “whole-of-government” approach, with the participation of six Union ministries. The Prime Minister will address Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Gramme Sabhas across the country, in addition to presenting the Special Category National Panchayat Awards 2025.
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