- Why in news
- On 2 October 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti), over 2.42 lakh Special Gram Sabhas were held across India. They launched the People's Plan Campaign 2026-27, 'Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas', for Panchayat plans of 2027-28.
- What it is
- The People's Plan Campaign is a yearly drive led by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Gram Panchayats prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) with citizen participation through the Gram Sabha. The plans bring together local needs and funds from many schemes and are uploaded on the eGramSwaraj portal.
- Who leads it
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj leads the campaign, with 21 Union Ministries and Departments as partners.
- Since when
- The campaign has been rolled out in all States and UTs since 2018, to enable evidence-based, holistic and participatory plans.
- Plan upload and assessment tools
- Over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats upload GPDPs on the eGramSwaraj portal. The Panchayat Advancement Index helps each GP identify achievements and gaps.
- Capacity building
- Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, the Ministry supports training and capacity building across nine themes of local development.
- Finance Commission grants
- The Sixteenth Finance Commission recommended ₹4,35,236 crore for Rural Local Bodies for 2026-31, about 84 per cent more than the Fifteenth.
- Nodal ministry
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj facilitates the Gram Sabha discussions with other Ministries and Departments in a Whole-of-Government approach.
- Panchayat Advancement Index
- The index lets Panchayats see achievements and gaps in local development areas. It gives the Gram Sabha a basis to set priorities and take a Sankalp for the year.
- Schemes on the agenda
- Schemes highlighted include Jal Jeevan Mission, SBM (Grameen), One Nation One Ration Card, DILRMP and the VB-G RAM G employment guarantee of 125 days.
- Constitutional basis of planning
- Article 243G empowers State legislatures to give Panchayats powers to prepare plans for economic development and social justice, covering the Eleventh Schedule subjects.
Don’t confuse with Gram Sabha vs Gram Panchayat: The Gram Sabha is the body of all registered voters in the village (Article 243A). The Gram Panchayat is the elected executive body that carries out its decisions.
Don’t confuse with GPDP vs Panchayat Advancement Index: The GPDP is the plan a Panchayat prepares. The Panchayat Advancement Index is a tool that scores Panchayats on development themes to show gaps.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Brings citizens into local planning through the Gram Sabha and strengthens participatory democracy.
- Links funds from many schemes into one local plan and helps localise the SDGs.
- Gives citizens a direct voice in local planning and brings many schemes together at the village level.
- Evidence-based plans using the Panchayat Advancement Index can target local gaps better.
Problems
- Weak capacity and staff at many Gram Panchayats limit plan quality.
- Dependence on Finance Commission grants, with low own-source revenue, limits real local choice.
- Weak capacity and low Own Source Revenue limit Panchayats' ability to plan and fund their own priorities.
- Gram Sabha participation is often thin, and plans can turn into lists of scheme-tied works.
Way forward
- Raise own-source revenue and devolve funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayats.
- Build training and data skills so plans rest on evidence and Gram Sabha input.
- Build Panchayat capacity and raise Own Source Revenue, with more untied funds.
- Make Gram Sabhas more inclusive, including women and marginalised groups, and track plan implementation on eGramSwaraj.
Put in your answer
Finance Commission grants: The Sixteenth Finance Commission's rural local body grant is ₹4,35,236 crore for 2026-31, about 84 per cent above the Fifteenth.
SVAMITVA: 3.33 crore property cards have been generated for 2.06 lakh villages, supporting property rights and credit access.
73rd Amendment: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992) gave Panchayats constitutional status and added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.
eGramSwaraj: Portal on which more than 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats upload their plans, an example of digital governance in local bodies.
73rd Constitutional Amendment: Gave Panchayats constitutional status and Article 243G planning powers, the legal basis for GPDPs.
- 2018Mains GS2 · Q15Assess Panchayat importance and sources of financing beyond government grants.
- 2016Mains GS2 · Q11Discuss relationship between government effectiveness and people's participation in India.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q13Highlight challenges faced by local institutions in functionality today.
- 2015Mains GS2 · Q3Critically discuss whether Panchayats and Samitis are effective governance instruments.
- 2012Prelims Q1What powers does Gram Sabha have under PESA in Scheduled Areas?
- 2015Prelims Q85What is the fundamental object of the Panchayati Raj system?
- 2026Prelims Q74Which statements about Revamped RGSA's period, objective, and funding share are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Issue already on file; People's Plan Campaign 2026-27 started with 2.42 lakh Special Gram Sabhas. Useful update, but question odds are low.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.