Empowering village-level governance, India’s Central Government released upwards of ₹1,133 crore Friday via 15th Finance Commission grants for FY 2025-26. Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana’s PRIs and RLBs stand to gain immensely from this timely financial support.
The bulk goes to Madhya Pradesh: ₹652.55 crore as FY 2024-25’s second untied grant, cascading to 52 districts, 312 blocks, and 23,001 gram panchayats. Plus, ₹77 lakh in unlocked prior funds aids nine more local units.
Punjab receives ₹222 crore—the inaugural untied grant for 2025-26—strengthening 13,262 villages, 150 blocks, and 22 districts, crucial for agricultural heartlands.
Telangana’s allocation includes ₹256.03 crore for 2024-25’s first tranche benefiting 12,702 gram panchayats, and ₹2.33 crore from FY 2023-24’s cleared withholdings for expanded coverage.
Untied funds enable customized interventions excluding payrolls, while tied grants target sanitation excellence—ODF upkeep, waste handling (household, fecal, sludge), water supply, harvesting, and reuse. This release not only fuels immediate needs but lays the foundation for self-reliant rural communities nationwide.