In a proud moment for Odisha’s grassroots governance, the state has clinched five prestigious National Panchayat Awards 2025, announced today by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
With four Gram Panchayats shining in key themes of sustainable development and Ganjam District bagging the second-highest national honour among District Panchayats, Odisha has once again demonstrated how strong local leadership can drive real change in rural India.
The awards, under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) and Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP), recognise Panchayats for their outstanding performance in the nine themes of Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). These accolades are directly linked to the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 scores, making them a true measure of data-driven, community-led progress.
Ganjam District stole the spotlight by securing the Rank 2 Best District Panchayat award with a massive ₹3 crore cash prize. This recognition celebrates the district’s holistic excellence across governance, service delivery, and sustainable development.
Adding to the state’s glory are four outstanding Gram Panchayats that excelled in specific LSDG themes:
- Potalampur Gram Panchayat (Chatrapur Block, Ganjam District) – Rank 3 Healthy Panchayat – ₹25 lakh
- Padua Gram Panchayat (Champua Block, Kendujhar District) – Rank 3 Water-Sufficient Panchayat – ₹50 lakh (the highest among Odisha’s Gram Panchayats)
- Hatibandha Gram Panchayat (Lathikata Block, Sundargarh District) – Rank 2 Clean & Green Panchayat – ₹37.5 lakh
- Mandar Gram Panchayat (Polosara Block, Ganjam District) – Rank 2 Socially Just & Socially Secured Panchayat – ₹37.5 lakh
Together, these five winners will bring home a total of ₹4.5 crore in incentives under the Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP) scheme, part of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). The awards will be formally presented at a grand ceremony in New Delhi on 3rd June 2026.
Odisha’s success story reflects a remarkable balance between environmental stewardship, social justice, and people-centric governance. From ensuring clean water access in remote Kendujhar villages to creating healthy, inclusive communities in Ganjam, these Panchayats have turned national goals into local victories. Ganjam’s double win — both at the district and Gram levels — highlights how coordinated efforts at every tier can amplify impact.
The National Panchayat Awards 2025 have spotlighted 42 Panchayats across 17 States and Union Territories, with Karnataka leading at six awards and Andhra Pradesh and Odisha sharing second place with five each. These honours not only celebrate excellence but also motivate thousands of Panchayats nationwide to embrace transparent, participatory, and sustainable development on the path to Viksit Bharat @2047.
For the people of Odisha’s villages, today’s announcement is more than just prizes — it’s powerful validation that when Panchayats lead with vision and compassion, rural India truly thrives.
