Uttar Pradesh Receives ₹1598.80 Crores; Andhra Pradesh Gets ₹446.49 Crores for Rural Development

In a significant step toward empowering rural governance, the Union Government has released the second installment of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for the financial year 2024–25. Uttar Pradesh has received ₹1598.80 crores for all its eligible 75 District Panchayats, 826 Block Panchayats, and 57,691 Gram Panchayats. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh has been allocated ₹420.99 crores, along with a withheld amount of ₹25.49 crores from the first installment, benefiting 13 District Panchayats, 650 Block Panchayats, and 13,097 Gram Panchayats.

The funds, classified as Untied Grants, aim to address location-specific needs across 29 subjects outlined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. These grants exclude salaries and establishment costs, focusing instead on developmental priorities like sanitation, waste management, and water supply. Additionally, Tied Grants support essential services, including maintaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and recycling.

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The initiative, driven by the Ministries of Panchayati Raj and Jal Shakti, channels grants directly to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). This approach strengthens grassroots democracy, fosters self-reliance, and aligns with the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.’ By empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), the government envisions villages actively shaping India’s transformation into a developed nation.

This strategic move not only advances local governance but also reinforces inclusive development, ensuring every village contributes to the nation’s prosperity.