Recently, Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal was launched.

About Panchayat Advancement Index

• It is a Multi-domain and multi-sectoral index that is intended to be used to assess the overall holistic development, performance & progress of panchayats. 
• Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with NITI Aayog, MoSPI, UN agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA), and NGOs.
• Aligned with Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
• This first-of-its-kind initiative provides a data-driven framework to assess and advance the development of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India.

Performance Categories

• Based on their PAI scores, Panchayats are classified into five categories:
  • Achiever: Score of 90 and above
  • Front Runner: Score of 75 to below 90
  • Performer: Score of 60 to below 75
  • Aspirant: Score of 40 to below 60
  • Beginner: Score below 40

Why the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Introduced?

• Localize SDGs: Introduced to align Gram Panchayats with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, ensuring grassroots-level implementation.
• Evidence-Based Planning: Facilitates data-driven assessment to identify development gaps and formulate targeted rural development strategies.
• Strengthen Governance: Enhances decentralized governance by aligning Panchayat activities with SDG targets, promoting transparency and accountability.
• Policy Tool: Acts as a key metric to fast-track SDG localization, building on NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index for inclusive rural progress.

Features of PAI 2.0 Portal

• Reduced Indicators: From 516 (PAI 1.0) to 147 (72% reduction) for sharper focus and better data quality.
• Streamlined Data Points: From 794 to 227 for improved efficiency and clarity.
• Auto-Integration: Integrates data from national portals to reduce manual reporting burden.
• Enhanced Dashboards: Improved visualization and usability for better monitoring and analysis.
• Data Validation: Robust mechanisms to ensure accuracy and reliability of data entered by Panchayats.
• User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies data entry and tracking for ground functionaries.

Significance of Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Portal

• Strengthens Decentralized Governance: The PAI Portal empowers over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats to assess performance across nine LSDG-aligned themes, promoting transparent and accountable local governance as mandated by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
• Facilitates SDG Localization: Aligns rural development with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a multi-dimensional framework, enhancing India’s readiness for global reporting (e.g., VNRs) with SDG data availability rising from 55% to 95% in five years.
• Drives Evidence-Based Planning: Provides a robust data management platform to identify development gaps, track progress, and formulate targeted policies, ensuring equitable and holistic rural growth.
• Promotes Transparency and Accountability: Encourages public display of PAI scorecards at GP Bhawans, fostering community participation and accountability in local governance through accessible, user-friendly dashboards.
• Fosters Healthy Competition: The grading framework motivates Panchayats to improve performance, creating a culture of healthy competition and continuous improvement, while serving as a national benchmark for rural development.
• Technological Advancements in PAI 2.0: Features reduced indicators (147 from 516), auto-integration of data from national portals, and enhanced dashboards, improving efficiency, data quality, and usability for grassroots functionaries.