The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organize a National Workshop of State Panchayati Raj Ministers on 3rd July 2026 in New Delhi, to deliberate on the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The Workshop will be chaired by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel. It will be attended by Panchayati Raj Ministers from States along with senior officials of the State Governments. The Workshop will deliberate on the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission for the award period 2026–31, which has recommended a devolution of ₹4.35 lakh crore to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Discussions will focus on the Operational Guidelines for implementation of the Sixteenth Finance Commission Rural Local Body (RLB) Grants, issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The deliberations will focus on the provisions of the operational guidelines governing the release and utilization of Finance Commission grants, compliance requirements, grant release procedures, institutional preparedness and mechanisms for ensuring timely and effective utilization of funds by PRIs to strengthen fiscal decentralization across the country.

In line with the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, the Workshop will place special emphasis on strengthening the financial sustainability of Panchayati Raj Institutions through enhanced Own Source Revenue (OSR) mobilization. It will also provide a platform for States and Union Territories to share best practices, discuss implementation challenges and exchange practical strategies for effective utilization of Finance Commission grants. The deliberations are expected to strengthen Centre - State collaboration and support the development of a robust implementation framework for empowering Panchayats to deliver improved governance, infrastructure, public services and inclusive rural development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

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