The Indian government has just released its first batch of untied grants under the Fifteenth Finance Commission, totalling ₹1,091.47 crore. The money is aimed at boosting rural local bodies in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh for the 2025‑26 financial year.
How much has each state received?
- West Bengal got ₹680.71 crore on October 6. The grant covers 3,224 Gram Panchayats, 335 Block Panchayats and 21 Zilla Parishads.
- Andhra Pradesh received ₹410.76 crore for 13 District Panchayats, 650 Block Panchayats and 13,092 of the state’s 13,327 eligible Gram Panchayats.
In the past year, West Bengal has already taken in ₹4,181.23 crore, split roughly 50‑50 between untied and tied grants. These funds help local councils deliver essential services and strengthen grassroots governance.
What can the money fund?
The untied grants let Panchayati Raj bodies spend on local needs across 29 constitutional subjects—except salaries and basic establishment costs. Tied grants focus on sanitation, waste management, drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and maintaining Open Defecation‑Free (ODF) status.
Tech‑driven tools roll out as well
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is pushing digital solutions to make governance more transparent.
- SabhaSaar – an AI tool that records and summarizes Gram Sabha meetings.
- SVAMITVA – digital land‑mapping for clear property rights.
- eGramSwaraj – a one‑stop online platform for planning, accounting and monitoring.
- Gram Manchitra – a geo‑spatial planning map.
These platforms let citizens see and influence local decision‑making, making local governments more effective and accountable.
Source: ianslive
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