National Panchayati Raj Day is observed every year on 24 April to mark the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into force on 24 April 1993, granting constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The theme for 2026, “Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas”, emphasizes the role of empowered local governance in achieving holistic rural development and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The amendment established a three-tier system—Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad, with provisions for reservation (including 33% for women), 5-year tenure, and creation of State Election and Finance Commissions to ensure democratic functioning and financial decentralization.
