Nationwide Special Gram Sabhas Launch Rural Development Planning Campaign
On Gandhi Jayanti, Special Gram Sabhas were conducted across India with 2.42 lakh scheduled meetings registered on the GPDP Portal and Panchayat NIRNAY Portal. These sabhas marked the commencement of the People's Plan Campaign 2026-27, 'Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas', through which Panchayats will prepare their Panchayat Development Plans for Financial Year 2027-28. The events featured active participation from local residents, elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries, and officials, with coordination support from MY Bharat volunteers and multiple government departments.
Financial Allocation and Governance Reforms
The Sixteenth Finance Commission has recommended ₹4,35,236 crore for Rural Local Bodies for the period 2026-31, representing an increase of nearly 84% over the Fifteenth Finance Commission allocation. The annual per capita grant has risen from approximately ₹400 to nearly ₹950. Governance reforms include the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal registering over 57 lakh taxpayers and 15 lakh properties, while the Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award offers incentives of up to ₹1 crore. More than 2.5 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions have joined the AuditOnline system, and Panchayat accounts now follow the six-tier structure used by Union and State Governments.
Employment and Livelihood Initiatives
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), effective since 1 July 2026, guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to eligible rural households. The program has generated over 31.69 crore person days, provided employment to more than 2.81 crore workers from approximately 2.23 crore households, with works underway in nearly 2.31 lakh Gram Panchayats. An interim allocation of ₹93,841 crore has been made to States and Union Territories for 2026-27, enabling Gram Sabhas to decide works according to local needs through the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan.
Infrastructure and Development Achievements
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, rural tap water connections have increased from about 3.23 crore households (17%) to over 16 crore households (over 80%). The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) has constructed 12.22 crore household toilets, with over 5.25 lakh villages (89.6%) declaring themselves Open Defecation Free Plus (Model). The SVAMITVA Scheme has generated 3.33 crore property cards for 2.06 lakh villages, with about ₹1,713 crore in loans sanctioned, particularly encouraging women's recognition as property owners.
Water Conservation and Security Measures
Through Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain, more than 1.55 crore artificial recharge and storage structures have been constructed with community participation. An impact study of the first phase estimated groundwater recharge of 2.43 billion cubic metres. Revised watershed development norms have increased funding to ₹22,000 per hectare in plain areas and ₹28,000 in hilly and difficult areas, while reducing the project period from seven to five years.
Food Security and Consumer Protection
The One Nation One Ration Card system processes about 3.27 crore portability transactions monthly, while the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana provides free foodgrains to up to 81.35 crore beneficiaries, extended until 2028. The National Consumer Helpline, available in 17 languages, received 3,42,371 calls in August 2026 compared to 78,477 in August 2019, facilitating refunds of over ₹105 crore since April 2025. The e-Jagriti platform has disposed of more than 2.55 lakh of 2.81 lakh cases instituted.
Digital Land Records Modernization
Under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, 99.90% of Records of Rights and 97.4% of cadastral maps have been digitized. Citizens in 31 States and Union Territories can access land records online, with 24 states/UTs offering digitally signed records download capability, protecting owners against fraudulent mutations and facilitating credit access.
Additional Awareness Initiatives
Multiple ministries supported awareness campaigns including the Ministry of Home Affairs on new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam), Ministry of Cooperation on Digital Transformation of Cooperatives, Ministry of Women and Child Development on Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.