National Panchayat Awards 2025

Current Context: The National Panchayat Awards 2025 were announced by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on May 9, 2026, recognizing excellence in grassroots governance.

• A total of 42 Panchayats across 17 States/UTs were awarded, with Karnataka leading (6 awards), followed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (5 each).
• Awards were given under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) for 34 Gram Panchayats and Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP) for 8 Panchayats.
• Notable winners include Sepahijala (Tripura) and Ganjam (Odisha) as best District Panchayats, Harippad (Kerala) as best Block Panchayat, and New Napam (Assam) as best Gram Panchayat.
• Themes covered poverty‑free livelihoods, health, sanitation, women‑friendly governance, clean & green initiatives, and child‑friendly Panchayats.
• Cash prizes ranged from ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore, with Sepahijala District Panchayat receiving the top award.
• The awards are linked to Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0, aligned with localized SDGs, promoting holistic rural development.

Question:

Q.1 Which district was recognized as one of the best District Panchayats in the National Panchayat Awards 2025?
a) Malappuram
b) Ganjam
c) Mysuru
d) Prayagraj

Answer: b) Ganjam and Sepahijala in Tripura were recognized among the best District Panchayats.