What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

 SET:S&T/Artificial Intelligence(AI)/30122025 

Notes on:  AI in India

Topic : AI in India  (for G S Papers) {Prepared on 30.12.2025 } 

For Study purpose only 

NB: For any doubts clarification, please refer to the recommended text books 

TOPIC : AI in India  (with questions for UPSC(CSE)(Prelims) Exams. ,2026 

Qiuestopm” : What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Ans : 

1)Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. 

2)It enables systems to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, and solve complex problems independently. 

3)AI uses datasets, algorithms, and large language models to analyse information, recognise patterns, and generate responses. 

4)Over time, these systems improve their performance, allowing them to reason, make decisions, and communicate in ways similar to humans

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Question: What is GPU ?

Ans: A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is a powerful computer chip that helps machines (i.e.,computers)think faster, process images, run AI programs, and handle complex tasks more efficiently than a regular processor.

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Question : What are the Seven Pillars of India AI Mission ?

Ans : 

1)India AI Compute Pillar : This pillar provides high-end GPUs at affordable costs. As mentioned earlier, over 38,000 GPUs have been onboarded. These GPUs are available at a subsidized rate of just Rs.65 per hour.

2)India AI Application Development Initiatives : This pillar develops AI applications for India-specific challenges. Sectors include healthcare, agriculture, climate change, governance, and assistive learning technologies. Thirty applications have been approved by July 2025. Sector-specific hackathons are organized with ministries and institutions. For example, the CyberGuard AI Hackathon helps develop AI solutions for cybersecurity.

3. AIKosh (Dataset Platform):

AIKosh develops large datasets for training AI models. It integrates data from government and non-government sources. The platform has over 5,500 datasets and 251 AI models across 20 sectors. These resources help developers focus on AI solutions instead of building basic modules. The platform has over 385,000 visits, 11,000 registered users, and 26,000 downloads by December 2025.

4) IndiaAI Foundation Models:

This pillar develops India’s own Large Multimodal Models using Indian data and languages. It ensures sovereign capability and global competitiveness in generative AI. IndiaAI received over 500 proposals. In the first and second phase, twelve startups were selected: Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, Gan AI, Avaatar AI, IIT Bombay consortium – BharatGen, Zenteiq, Gen Loop, Intellihealth, Shodh AI, Fractal Analytics, Tech Mahindra Maker’s Lab.

5) IndiaAI Future Skills:

This pillar builds AI-skilled professionals. Support is provided to 500 PhD fellows, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 undergraduates. Over 200 students received fellowships by July 2025. 73 institutes onboarding PhD students. Data and AI Labs are being set up in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Thirty-One labs have been launched with NIELIT and Industry Partners. States and UTs nominated 174 ITIs and polytechnics for labs.

6)IndiaAI Startup Financing:

This pillar provides financial support to AI startups. The IndiaAI Startups Global program launched in March 2025. It helps 10 Indian startups expand into the European market in collaboration with Station F and HEC Paris.

7)Safe and Trusted AI : 

This pillar ensures responsible AI adoption with strong governance. 13 projects have been selected and initiated through Expressions of Interest. They focus on machine unlearning, bias mitigation, privacy-preserving ML, explainability, auditing, and governance testing. An additional expression of interest was published on 9 May 2025 for partner institutions to join the IndiaAI Safety Institute.

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Question : What are the key points in AI India ?

Ans : 

1)Rs.10,300+ crore allocated over five years for IndiaAI Mission with 38,000 GPUs deployed.

2)6 million people are employed in the tech and AI ecosystem.

3)Indian Tech sector is projected to cross $280 billion in revenue this year.

4)AI could add $1.7 trillion to India’s economy by 2035.

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Question : What are the AI ecosystems at present in India ?

Ans : 

1)India’s technology sector is expanding rapidly, with annual revenues projected to cross USD 280 billion this year(2025).

2)Over 6 million people are employed in the tech and AI ecosystem.

3) India  hosts 1,800+ Global Capability Centres, including more than 500 focused on AI.

4)India has around 1.8 lakh startups, and nearly 89% of new startups launched last year used AI in their products or services.

5)On the NASSCOM AI Adoption Index, India scores 2.45 out of 4, showing that 87% of enterprises are actively using AI solutions.

6)Leading sectors in AI adoption include industrial and automotive, consumer goods and retail, banking, financial services and insurance, and healthcare. Together they contribute around 60 percent of AI’s total value.

7)About 26% of Indian companies have achieved AI maturity at scale, according to a recent BCG survey.

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What are Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) ?How they are useful ?

 What are Rare Earth Permanent Magnets ( REPMs )?How they are useful ? 

Ans : Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) are amongst the strongest types of permanent magnets and are used extensively in technologies requiring compact and high-performance magnetic components. 

Their high magnetic strength and stability make them integral to:- i)Electric vehicle motors 

ii)Wind turbine generators 

iii)Consumer and industrial electronics 

iov)Aerospace and defence systems 

v)Precision sensors and actuators 

What are the abilities of REPMs ? 

Ans : The ability of REPMs to deliver strong magnetic performance at small sizes makes them essential for advanced engineering applications. As India expands manufacturing across priority sectors such as clean energy, advanced mobility and defence, establishing a reliable domestic supply of high-performance magnets becomes increasingly important for long-term competitiveness and supply-chain resilience

What is Mission Mausam ?

 

What is Mission Mausam, ?

Anms: It is the  central sector scheme "Mission Mausam" which aims to significantly enhance the country’s weather and climate observations, understanding, modelling, and forecasting, resulting in improved, more useful, accurate, and timely services. The objective is to strengthen various components of Earth System observations to realize an Earth System approach, providing accurate predictions and an early warning system for seamless weather and climate services to all.

Key objectives include:

• • Developing cutting-edge weather surveillance technologies and systems.
  • Implementing higher-resolution atmospheric observations with improved temporal and spatial sampling and coverage.
  • Deploying next-generation radars, wind profilers, and satellites equipped with advanced instrument payloads.
  • Implementing advanced high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
  • Enhancing our understanding of weather and climate processes and improving prediction capabilities.
  • Developing advanced Earth system models and data-driven methods, including the use of AI/ML.
  • Creating technologies and protocols for effective weather management.
  • Establishing a state-of-the-art Decision Support System (DSS) and a dissemination system for last-mile connectivity.
  • Strengthening capacity building and research collaborations.

The implementation of Mission Mausam is expected to enhance weather forecasting capabilities at higher spatial and temporal resolutions, improve the prediction of extreme weather events, and strengthen last-mile connectivity to support the ‘Early Warning for All’ initiative. Under Mission Mausam, state-of-the-art High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems were established at IITM and NCMRWF, along with the installation of several Doppler weather radars and other in-situ observational networks. These advancements have strengthened the country’s weather monitoring infrastructure and improved prediction models, enabling forecasts at a spatial resolution of nearly 6 km. Consequently, the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts have improved significantly.

 

What are the key points about India's NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION ?

 What are the key points about India's Nuclear Energy Mission ?

Ans : 

1)India's Nuclear Energy Missionm was announced in Union Budget 2025-26

2)It allocates Rs.20,000 crore to drive design, development, and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

3)Target: At least five indigenously designed SMRs to be operational by 2033, strengthening India’s clean energy roadmap.

4)Initiatives by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC):

• 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR‑200)

• 55 Mwe (Megawatt electrical) SMR‑55

• Up to 5 MWth (Megawatt thermal) High‑temperature gas‑cooled reactor for hydrogen generation.

5)Strategic aim: Position India as a leader in advanced nuclear technologies while ensuring sustainable energy security.

Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill (SHANTI BILL) 2025 (with questions ) FOR UPSC CIVIL SERVICES PERSONAL INTERVIEWS 2025

 SET:S&T:AE:’SHANTI BILL,2025 /17122025/ 

NOTES ON SHANTI BILL, 2025 (for G S Papers) {Prepared on 17.12.2025 } 

For Study purpose only 

NB: For any doubts clarification, please refer to the recommended text books 

TOPIC :S&T:AE: SHANTI BILL, 2025 (with questions for 

UPSC(CSE)(Prelims) Exams. ,2026 

Question: Expand SHANTI BILL ?

Ans: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025

Question: SHANTI Bill ,2025 relating to which aspect ?

Ans : A Bill  named as  the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025,  was introduced in Parliament on 15.12.2025 , marking a major step towards updating India’s legal framework governing nuclear energy. 

Question: The proposed SHANTI Bill 2025 replaces which Acts?

Ans : The proposed legislation seeks to repeal (i)the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and(ii) the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, and replace them with a single, comprehensive law aligned with India’s present and future energy requirements.

Question: What are the Objects and Reasons for SHANTI Bill,2025 ?

Ans : 

(1)According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill, sustained research and development have enabled India to achieve self-reliance across the nuclear fuel cycle and to operate its nuclear power programme in a responsible manner. With this experience in place, the government sees scope to significantly enhance nuclear installed capacity to support clean energy security and provide reliable round-the-clock power for emerging needs such as data centres and future-ready applications.

(2)The proposed bill is closely linked to India’s long-term energy and climate goals. The Statement outlines the country’s roadmap for decarbonisation by 2070 and a target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047. To meet these objectives, the Bill emphasises the need to harness indigenous nuclear resources more fully and enable active participation of both public and private sectors, while also positioning India as a contributor to the global nuclear energy ecosystem.

(3)At the operational level, the Bill lays down provisions for licensing and safety authorisation for specified persons involved in the production or use of nuclear energy, along with clear grounds for suspension or cancellation. It seeks to bring under regulation the use of nuclear and radiation technologies in areas such as healthcare, food and agriculture, industry and research, while exempting research, development and innovation activities from licensing requirements.

(4)The Bill also proposes a revised and pragmatic civil liability framework for nuclear damage, confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and strengthens mechanisms related to safety, security, safeguards, quality assurance and emergency preparedness.

Question: According to the SHANTI Bill, 2025 which institutions will be created ?

Ans:

 It provides for the creation of new institutional arrangements, including an (i)Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council, designation of Claims Commissioners, and

(ii) a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for cases involving severe nuclear damage,

(iii) with the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity acting as the appellate authority.

By introducing the Bill, the government has signalled its intent to modernise nuclear governance in line with India’s energy transition, technological progress and international obligations. 

The proposed legislation seeks to balance expansion of nuclear energy with safety, accountability and public interest, placing nuclear power within the broader national effort towards energy security and a lower-carbon future.

Gist of bill : 

1) SHANTI Bill is introduced in Lok Sabha which aims to incentivise private sector participation, both Indian and foreign, into nuclear power production.

2) It does this by replacing India’s existing laws — 

(i)the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and 

(ii)the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010, — with the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025.

Change proposed are :-

1)The Bill  creates an atomic energy regulatory structure that is answerable to Parliament, 

2)removes the Nuclear Power Corporation of India’s monopoly over operating nuclear plants, and 

3)restricts the instances under which nuclear power plant operators can claim compensation from suppliers of equipment in case of an accident. 

4) It also buffers operators by introducing limits on the extent of their liability, in case of violating the laws under the Act, based on the size of the plants they operate, and limits the maximum penalty on them to Rs.1 crore even in the case of a “severe breach”.

5)“The Bill proposes a revised and pragmatic civil liability framework for nuclear damage, confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and strengthens mechanisms related to safety, security, safeguards, quality assurance and emergency preparedness,” 

6)Privatising the nuclear power sector, which currently makes up 1.5% of India’s installed power capacity, and 3% of the electricity produced, has been on the government’s agenda in recent years to boost clean energy production, improve grid stability, and move towards its 2070 net-zero (zero net-carbon emissions) targets.

7)This includes 

i)scaling-up installed nuclear power to 100 GW, up from the current 8.8 GW, by 2047; 

ii)a Rs.20,000 crore Nuclear mission launched in the Union Budget (2025-26) to develop ‘small modular reactors’(SMRs); and a slew of customised 220 MW pressurised heavy water reactors(BSMRs).

8)“The Bill gives hope for large-scale innovation in nuclear technology through amendments in patent laws, aligns with global liability conventions, and proposes the expansion of nuclear energy projects through private sector participation. It is opined that any  explanation regarding the CNLD Act of 2010 seemed inadequate to foreign and domestic suppliers and vendors.

Question : What are schemes for Rural Local Bodies development ?

NOTES ON GRAMA PANCHAYATS (for G S 

Papers) {Prepared on 10.12.2025 } 

For Study purpose only 

NB: For any doubts clarification, please refer to the recommended text books 

TOPIC : GRAM PANCHAYTS (with questions 

for 

UPSC(CSE)(Prelims) Exams. ,2026 

Introduction: 

1)Panchayat, being “Local Government”, is a State subject and part of the State list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. 

2)Thus, the primary responsibility of providing dedicated office infrastructure for Gram Panchayats and internet connectivity in Panchayats lies with States/UTs. 

3)The Gram Panchayat (GP) Bhawan functions as the office for Panchayats to carry out its various administrative functions. 

4)The States/ UTs have to ensure the Gram Panchayat Bhawan is functional, with provisions such as public seating, space for Gram Sabha meetings, information walls, multifunctional rooms etc. to support effective governance and community use. 

Question:What is RGSA ? 

Ans: Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the Ministry supplements the efforts of States/UTs including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in building Panchayat infrastructure and computers and peripherals, at a limited scale, with particular focus on the North Eastern States. Further, Ministry with its limited resources under RGSA, attempted a saturation approach for supporting Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computerization. 

Gram Panchayat Bhavans :

With regard to Gram Panchayat Bhawans, the focus was on approving GP Bhawan for Panchayats having a population of over 3,000 but lacking their own building. Under the scheme of RGSA, construction of 13342 Gram Panchayat Bhawans has been approved to different States/UTs including 1273 and 500 Gram Panchayat Bhawans to the State of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. Similarly, procurement of 55,587 computers has been approved under the scheme including 3145 and 4,267 Computers to the State of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. The State/UT-wise details of Gram Panchayat Bhawans and computers approved under RGSA is given below. District-wise information is not maintained centrally. 

Internet: 

All Gram Panchayats are accessing internet services either through private service providers or via the BharatNet project. As a result, all GPs are using e-GramSwaraj portal for carrying out a wide range of functions and activities. Further, to attain the vision of Digital India, the BharatNet project is being implemented by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in the country. So far, 2.18 lakh GPs/ Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) have been made service-ready for providing high-speed internet services under the BharatNet project. Additionally, to improve digital connectivity, the Amended BharatNet Programme was approved by the Cabinet on 04.08.2023 for the upgradation of the existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II and the creation of a network in the remaining Gram Panchayats. 

Under the scheme of RGSA, procurement of 3,145 computers was approved for the State of Uttar Pradesh. So far, the State/ UTs of Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and Ladakh have reported that there are no Gram Panchayats are without computers. 

e-Panchayat Mission: 

Ministry is implementing the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) under RGSA for e-enablement of Panchayats to improve service delivery, transparency, and administrative efficiency. The eGramSwaraj application, developed as part of the e-Panchayat MMP, has facilitated digital planning, accounting, monitoring, and online payments at Panchayat level. The integration of eGramSwaraj with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) enables real-time payments to vendors and service providers, ensuring seamless fund flow and reducing delays. Additionally, the Ministry has integrated eGramSwaraj with the Government eMarketplace (GeM) to bring transparency at Panchayat level procurement. This integration allows Panchayats to procure goods and services through GeM via the eGramSwaraj platform. Further, an application of ‘AuditOnline’ has been developed for online audits of Panchayat accounts and their financial

management. All the Panchayats of the State of Uttar Pradesh are on-boarded on eGramSwaraj. Out of 58,596 Panchayats in the State of Uttar Pradesh, 58562 Panchayats have prepared and uploaded their Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) on eGramSwaraj portal. 

Other applications developed by the Ministry like Meri Panchayat has endeavored to bring transparency in Panchayat Governance by making information on planning, activities and progress of works in Panchayat accessible to public. Similarly, Panchayat NIRNAY is an online application which aims to bring transparency and better management in conduct of Gram Sabhas by Panchayats. 

Model Panchayat Citizens' Charter and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs): 

The Ministry has introduced the Model Panchayat Citizens' Charter, aligning local actions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This framework guides Panchayats in delivering services in a time bound manner while addressing citizens' grievances effectively. The campaign "Meri Panchayat, Mera Adhikaar – Jan Sevaayein Hamaare Dwaar," conducted in 2021, reinforced these efforts. So far, 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats have uploaded their Citizens’ Charters, offering 954 services, including 33 services of Uttar Pradesh. 

Question: What is SWAMITA in Uttar Pradesh ? 

Ans: Under SVAMITVA Scheme, in Uttar Pradesh, drone survey has been completed in 90,573 targeted abadi villages and 1.08 crore property cards have been prepared in 70,958 villages which are linked to State’s revenue records . Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not maintain district-wise data of property cards linked to central financial platforms to ensure access to formal credit. The Government has assessed the technical accuracy of the boundaries of property parcels created under the SVAMITVA Scheme. Survey of India (SoI) carries out the drone-based large-scale mapping (LSM) using survey grade drones and CORS network to ensure positional accuracy of upto 5 cms for the abadi properties. Local error correction is undertaken through a ground verification process with the involvement of Gram Panchayat representatives, property owners, and revenue officials. Parcel boundary lines are validated on ground and corrections, if any, are incorporated before finalization of the property maps and issuance of property cards. 

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has no plans to create a National Rural Property Database by integrating SVAMITVA data with other Central registries

Question : What are schemes for Rural Local Bodies development ? 

Ans: 

Schemes/Initiatives

Objectives

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)  Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a central component of the RGSA scheme  Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats  (MMP-ePanchayat), a central component of the RGSA scheme,

To strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through capacity building and training of the Elected Representatives (ERs) and their functionaries, and providing infrastructural support like construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawan and computerization.  To promote healthy competition among PRIs by recognising and rewarding best-performing Panchayats for their achievements in service delivery, public welfare, and recently—their progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  To fund various e-governance projects to develop digital solutions to promote digitalization of Panchayats, bringing efficiency, accountability, and transparency to the functioning of PRIs and contributing to their overall transformation.

Central Sector Scheme of Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA)

To provide Record of Rights to households owning residential properties in villages through drone-based surveys. Property cards are issued with the broader aim of reducing disputes and ensuring clear land ownership.

Recent Major Initiatives 

Enablement of Panchayats to Mobilize Own Sources of Revenue

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is actively working in collaboration with the States to augment OSR generation in PRIs by facilitating the formulation of relevant rules. The Ministry has developed the Samarth digital application for tax demand generation and collection at the PRI level and is collaborating with Institutions like IIM on capacity-building modules.

Leadership/  Management  Development  Programme (MDP) for Panchayati Raj Intuitions (PRIs)

The Leadership/ Management Development Programme (MDP) for Elected Representativeness and officials of Panchayats with the institute of Excellence such as Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), etc. has been started with the major objective of honing the essential leadership skills, including but not limited to communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution, thereby nurturing effective leadership qualities of the Panchayats.

Long-Term Domestic Training Programmes for higher Learning of Panchayat Officials

Ministry of Panchayat Raj has taken initiative for the “Funding for Long-Term Domestic Training Programmes” for upto one year of duration for officials of PRIs and Panchayati Raj Department in the States/UTs under the State component of RGSA. The move aims at ensuring that the officials receive advanced, sector-specific training from Institutes of Excellence which will upgrade their skill set for better service delivery at the grassroots.

Residential Foundation Training Programme up to 45 days under RGSA for the Newly Recruited Functionaries of PRIs:

Ministry is supporting Residential Foundation Training Programme at State/UT level for up to 45 days for the newly recruited functionaries of PRIs, including Block Development Officers, Panchayat Development Officers, Panchayat Secretaries, Village Extension Officers, Accountants, Tax Collectors, Rozgar Sahayaks, Panchayat Engineering Cadre officials, Gram Sevaks/Sevikas and other officials recruited specifically for serving in the PRIs.

Centre of Excellence on PESA  (For PESA States such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana)

Towards strengthening the local self-governance in tribal areas and effective implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA-1996), Centre of Excellence on PESA has been established in the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarakantak, Madhya Pradesh under the aegis of Ministry of Panchayati Raj for capacity building of tribal leaders, preservation & promotion of customary law and practices and strengthening institutional support and research.

Model Youth Gram Sabha

To foster awareness and participation among the youth in grassroots democracy and the Panchayati Raj system by simulating the functioning of Gram Sabhas within educational institutions, the initiative has been launched encouraging the school students to participate and learn the functioning of the rural local governance and instil democratic values of inclusivity and equity, and build leadership and critical thinking skills. It also seeks to enhance awareness about local governance and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby empowering students to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Meri Panchayat Application	Meri Panchayat App is a Mobile Governance (m-Governance) App developed to make information, aggregated from different portals of this Ministry pertaining to functioning of Gram Panchayats, easily accessible to public.
Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting	The Gram Panchayat level weather forecasting initiative, developed in collaboration between with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), provides Gram Panchayats with weather forecast on temperature, rainfall, wind speed, cloud cover, humidity with a five-day weather forecast and hourly updates.
eGramSwaraj-BHASHIN I integration	This integration allows eGramSwaraj to provide services in 22 scheduled languages of India through Bhashini’s AI-powered translation, making local-language accessibility a reality for users across India.
SabhaSaar	To make Gram Sabha documentation faster, easier, and in a structured format, an AI-enabled application-"SabhaSaar" has been developed and launched on 14.08.2025 to automatically generate Minutes of Meetings (MoM) from audio and video recordings of Gram Sabha meetings.

Citizen Charter and Service Delivery by PRIs

Citizen Charter, has since been extended to the Gram Panchayat with the prime emphasis on ease of living. In 2021, the Model Citizen Charter was launched to standardize service delivery across Panchayats by setting clear service standards, time limits, grievance redress mechanisms, and citizen scrutiny.

Question: 15th Finance Commission for Rural Local Bodies :

Ans: 

The Union Government has released funds to the States under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (15th FC) grants for the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) during the financial year 2024-2025 and 2025-26 to the eligible gram panchayats, block panchayats, and district panchayats in the States. 

The grants under the 15th FC are released to the RLBs based on the Grant Transfer Certificate (GTC) submitted by the States &the fulfillment of all the mandatory eligibility conditions by the RLBs and the States as stipulated in the Operational Guidelines for implementation of the 15thFinance Commission Rural Local Body grants issued by the Finance Ministry