The Union Government has disbursed over Rs. 284 crore as the first installment of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Untied Grants for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Mizoram, Odisha, and Tripura for the financial year 2025–26.
This significant allocation, announced by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), aims to strengthen rural governance and address location-specific developmental needs in these states.
Mizoram has received Rs. 14.2761 crore for 827 eligible Village Councils, based on the 2023–24 grant cycle. Odisha has been allocated a substantial Rs. 240.8149 crore to support 6,085 Gram Panchayats and 63 Block Panchayats. Meanwhile, Tripura has been granted Rs. 29.75 crore to empower 606 Gram Panchayats, 35 Block Panchayats, 8 Zilla Parishads, 587 Village Committees, and 40 Block Advisory Committees.
The XV FC Grants, recommended by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, are released in two installments annually. These funds are divided into Untied and Tied Grants. Untied Grants enable RLBs and PRIs to address local priorities under the 29 subjects outlined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding salaries and establishment costs. Tied Grants are designated for critical services, including sanitation, maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, household waste management, fecal sludge treatment, drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.
This financial support underscores the Union Government’s commitment to empowering rural local bodies to drive grassroots development, improve sanitation, and ensure sustainable water management. By providing these funds, the government aims to enhance the quality of life in rural areas, fostering self-reliance and effective governance at the local level.
