The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organizing a National Workshop of State Panchayati Raj Ministers on July 3, 2026, in New Delhi to deliberate on the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission for the award period 2026–31. The workshop will be chaired by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, with Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel also in attendance.
Key focus of the workshop includes the Sixteenth Finance Commission's recommendation of ₹4.35 lakh crore devolution to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Discussions will center on the Operational Guidelines for implementation of the Sixteenth Finance Commission Rural Local Body (RLB) Grants issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The deliberations will cover provisions governing release and utilization of Finance Commission grants, compliance requirements, grant release procedures, institutional preparedness, and mechanisms for ensuring timely and effective utilization of funds by PRIs to strengthen fiscal decentralization across the country.
Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening financial sustainability of Panchayati Raj Institutions through enhanced Own Source Revenue (OSR) mobilization in line with the Finance Commission recommendations. The workshop will serve as a platform for States and Union Territories to share best practices, discuss implementation challenges, and exchange practical strategies for effective utilization of Finance Commission grants. The expected outcome is strengthened Centre-State collaboration and development of a robust implementation framework for empowering Panchayats to deliver improved governance, infrastructure, public services, and inclusive rural development in line with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.