Panchayats were mentioned in Article 40 of the Constitution after it came into effect, and Article 246 gave the state legislature the authority to enact laws on any topic pertaining to local self-government. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 established the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), which was given the mandate to develop rural areas throughout the nation.
The 24th of April has been declared National Panchayati Raj Day. The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution was passed on this day in 1992, and it is celebrated annually. The 24th of April 1993 saw the act go into force. On April 24, 2010, former prime minister Manmohan Singh announced the inaugural National Panchayati Raj Day. On National Panchayati Raj Day, people commemorate the beginning of decentralised government.
A committee devoted to the study of the nation's Panchayati Raj's development was established in 1957. Balwantrai Mehta was the committee's chairman. A decentralised, three-tiered Panchayati Raj system, with Gramme Panchayats at the village level, Panchayat Samitis at the block level, and Zila Parishads at the district level, was suggested by the committee in its report.
In order to ensure inclusive development, effective service delivery, and social justice, the Panchayati Raj system aims to empower, enable, and establish accountable Panchayati Raj institutions.
Every year on April 24, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj observes National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD). This event offers a chance to have direct conversations with Panchayat representatives across the nation and to acknowledge their accomplishments in order to further inspire and empower them.
Panchayats are recognised as "Institutions of self-government" by the Indian Constitution. In India, there are over 2.6 lakh Panchayats across all three tiers. The goal of these Panchayats is to promote the socioeconomic advancement of local government units at the village, block, and district levels.
In addition, National Panchayati Raj Day 2021 presents a special opportunity to honour Panchayats for their outstanding contributions to the creation of an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
National Panchayati Raj Day does not have a specific theme, but each year the Ministry of Panchayati Raj recognises the nation's top-performing Panchayats for their efforts to enhance the quality of life for rural residents by awarding them. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gramme Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP), Child-friendly Gramme Panchayat Award (CFGPA), Gramme Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award, and e-Panchayat Puraskar (awarded to States/UTs only) are just a few of the categories under which awards are given.
To meet the needs of local government, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was established in May 2004 and handles all issues pertaining to Panchayati Raj and its institutions.
