The Ministry of Panchayati Raj provided details on the implementation of the eGramSwaraj portal in Scheduled Tribe-dominated areas under the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). The Ministry facilitates digital governance through the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project, including eGramSwaraj and AuditOnline, and has developed 10 PESA Indicators to assess implementation, one of which specifically relates to uploading Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) of PESA Gram Sabhas on the eGramSwaraj portal.
State-wise implementation data shows that across 10 states, there are 23,721 total PESA panchayats covering 65,684 villages, with 23,514 approved PESA main plans. Andhra Pradesh has 609 PESA panchayats covering 1,613 villages, Chhattisgarh has 5,552 panchayats covering 9,891 villages, Gujarat has 2,889 panchayats covering 4,701 villages, Himachal Pradesh has 178 panchayats covering 1,533 villages, Jharkhand has 2,066 panchayats covering 17,240 villages, Madhya Pradesh has 5,197 panchayats covering 7,710 villages, Maharashtra has 2,918 panchayats covering 4,317 villages, Odisha has 1,390 panchayats covering 11,668 villages, Rajasthan has 1,608 panchayats covering 5,690 villages, and Telangana has 1,314 panchayats covering 1,321 villages.
The Ministry has initiated GPDP integration of PESA within the GPDP framework and launched a dedicated PESA-GPDP Portal to facilitate preparation, implementation, and monitoring of Gram Panchayat Development Plans in Scheduled Areas. For Plan Year 2026-27, PESA has been included as a separate theme in the eGramSwaraj Portal with 42 activities, and it is mandatory for Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule Areas to take up at least one activity under the PESA theme while preparing their GPDP plan.
Challenges in rural and tribal areas include inadequate digital infrastructure, intermittent internet connectivity, and limited technical capacity affecting digital governance adoption. The Ministry provides continuous technical support, undertakes periodic reviews, and upgrades applications based on stakeholder feedback. Internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats is being strengthened through the BharatNet project implemented by the Department of Telecommunications.
Under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme since 2022-23, the Ministry provides Capacity Building & Training support. From 2022-23 to 2026-27 (as of 10.07.2026), 1,87,238 Panchayat representatives and officials have been trained in PESA States to strengthen digital governance and other digital platforms.
This information was provided by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 21st July 2026.