The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organised 2.42 lakh special gram sabhas across India on Gandhi Jayanti to launch the People’s Plan Campaign 2026-27, titled “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas”. These village assemblies brought together local residents, elected representatives, panchayat officials and government functionaries to discuss key government schemes and to start preparing Panchayat Development Plans for the financial year 2027-28.
The gram sabhas provided a platform for citizens to participate directly in discussions on major government initiatives spanning employment, drinking water, sanitation, food security, land rights, consumer protection and women’s economic empowerment. Multiple government ministries and departments coordinated the exercise to present their reforms and achievements to village communities.
Key facts
- 2.42 lakh special gram sabhas held on Gandhi Jayanti across India
- Sixteenth Finance Commission recommended ₹4,35,236 crore for rural local bodies for 2026-31, an 84 per cent increase over the previous commission
- Annual per capita grant to panchayats rising from ₹400 to ₹950
- Jal Jeevan Mission expanded rural tap water connections from 3.23 crore households (17 per cent) to over 16 crore (80 per cent)
- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to eligible rural households
- 12.22 crore household toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
- 3.33 crore property cards generated under SVAMITVA Scheme across 2.06 lakh villages
- 1.55 crore artificial recharge and water storage structures constructed through Catch the Rain initiative
- 21 government ministries and departments participated in the campaign
What the gram sabhas covered
During these village assemblies, government departments presented updates on seven major areas of rural development. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj highlighted increased central funding for panchayats and efforts to boost local revenue generation. The Department of Rural Development showcased the new employment guarantee scheme launched on 1 July 2026, which promises 125 days of paid work annually to eligible rural households through digital payments and face authentication.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation reported progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has extended tap water connections to over 80 per cent of rural households, and the Swachh Bharat Mission, under which nearly 90 per cent of villages have been declared Open Defecation Free Plus. The Department of Water Resources presented the Catch the Rain initiative, which has constructed over 1.5 crore structures for groundwater recharge with community involvement.
Food security discussions focused on the One Nation One Ration Card scheme, enabling beneficiaries to access rations anywhere in India, and the extension of free foodgrains to 81.35 crore people through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana until 2028. The Department of Consumer Affairs highlighted the National Consumer Helpline, now available in 17 languages and handling significantly higher call volumes than in previous years.
The Department of Land Resources presented progress in digitising land records, with 99.90 per cent of ownership records and 97.4 per cent of cadastral maps now digital across most states, allowing citizens secure online access to land documents and credit facilities.
Supporting reforms in panchayat governance
The gram sabhas underscored recent changes to strengthen village self-governance. Panchayat accounting systems now follow the six-tier structure used by the Union and state governments. The SAMARTH Panchayat Portal has registered over 57 lakh taxpayers and 15 lakh properties, supporting local revenue generation. Over 2.5 lakh panchayati raj institutions have adopted the AuditOnline system for transparent financial management.
The SVAMITVA Scheme, which generates property cards for village residents, has issued 3.33 crore cards across 2.06 lakh villages, enabling property owners to access formal credit. Loans amounting to ₹1,713 crore have been sanctioned to beneficiaries holding these cards, and the scheme has encouraged recognition of women as property owners.
What this means for you
If you live in a village, the gram sabhas signal increased government investment in local services and infrastructure. Your panchayat will now have larger central grants to spend on local priorities that your gram sabha decides. If you are seeking work, the employment guarantee scheme launched this year can provide up to 125 days of paid employment annually. Access to tap water, sanitation facilities, land records and ration portability have all expanded significantly under the schemes discussed.
As your panchayat prepares its development plan for 2027-28, the discussions held in these gram sabhas will inform which projects and services your village prioritises. The platform also allowed you to raise local concerns directly with officials and elected representatives.
What happens next
Panchayats will now use inputs from the gram sabhas to prepare evidence-based development plans for 2027-28 under the People’s Plan Campaign. These plans will be uploaded on the eGramSwaraj portal and will guide panchayat spending and project selection for the coming year. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will continue coordinating with 21 government departments to support panchayat planning and implementation across nine themes of local development.