The Panchayati Raj Training Institute, Mashobra :

The Panchayati Raj Training Institute, Mashobra was established as a Government Institute, under the Panchayati Raj Department in the year 1978, by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The Himachal Pradesh Government by the notification dated 31st July, 1978 took over the Institute under its control and also shifted the campus to a place called Mashobra in District Shimla. Before 1978 it was run as an autonomous body at a place called Salogra in district Solan of Himachal Pradesh.

The Present Office Campus of Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Training Institute  Mashobra, is located at a place called ‘Craigneno’, 3 Kilometres from the Mashobra Block Office and 18 Kilometres from the General Main Bus Stand of Shimla City. Before the year 1999 the Institute was being run in a rented private building in the main market of Mashobra.The building in which the Institute is functioning at present, was constructed during the year 1994 to 1999. The Institute was shifted to this new building in December,1999.

Extension Training Centre (ETC) :

The Panchayati Raj Training Institute, Mashobra is also recognised as an Extension Training Centre (E.T.C) under the  Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India. Being an E.T.C., it  has been receiving an annual recurring grant of Rupees  Twenty 20 Lacs and also Non recurring grants under different heads from the Ministry of Rural Development , Govt. of India.

Training activities :

The state of Himachal is divided into 12 Districts, 77 Blocks (75 Panchayat Samitis) and 3243 Gram Panchayats at present.The Panchayati Raj training Institute Mashobra has 4 districts full (i.e. Shimla, Solan, Sirmour and Kinnaur) and one Block (i.e Kaza) of district Lahaul-Spiti under its jurisdiction. Institute gives direct training to the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions e.g. Pradhans/Up-Pradhans of village(Gram) Panchayats, Member of intermediate Panchayats (Panchayat Samitis) and District Panchayats (Zila Parishads)etc. The Institute also imparts training to the officials serving PRIs. and of Panchayati Raj and  Rural Development Department, like, Panchayat Inspectors,Auditors/Panchayat Sahayaks/Panchayat Secretaries etc. 

Constitutional provisions related to Panchayati Raj, including history, 73rd amendments and Article 243. H.P. Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

HPPRTCB Society ( Himachal Pradesh Panchyati Raj Training and Capacity Building Society ) :

• To provide training to the Elected Representatives, Officials of the Panchayati Raj Intuitions, officials of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department besides officials of others departments at its headquarters and through its District Training Centres. 
• To make the way for e-governance and decentralization.
• To guide the state Government on the basis of feedback for strengthening in the Panchayati Raj System in the state. 
• To arrange exposure visits for the purpose of capacity building.
• To arrange for various studies and impact assessment having bearing on the Panchayati Raj system and effective service delivery at rural level.
•  To take assistance from the various funding agencies for Capacity Building and Training and creating necessary infrastructure for the purpose.
• To deal all other matters related to Capacity Building Training of the Elected Representatives and officials related to the Panchayati Raj system.
• To function as State level Panchayati Raj Training Institute and District Level Training Centre’s and provide the training to Elected Representatives of the three levels of PRIs as well as the officials of the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department. 
• To provide boarding and lodging facilities to the members, trainees of Panchayati Raj Department /Panchayati Raj Training Institutes/District Training Centers, the participants of the meetings, seminars and workshops of the Department of Panchayati Raj/Rural Development Department and to guest faculty members of Panchayati Raj Training Institute/District Training Centre’s of Panchayati Raj Department and other visitors to the Institute/Department of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development and in special cases to the invitees/participants of the other departments of the State/Central Govt.
• To spread knowledge of charitable principles and practices.
• To strive for providing comfortable and economical stay to the participants and other visitors who happen to visit the Department of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development/ Panchayati Raj Training Institute/District Training Centers. 
• To ensure clean and tidy maintenance of PRTI/DTC Complex to earn goodwill of the visitors.
• To render all possible help to the Panchayati Raj Training Institutes/ DTC for up-gradation of boarding, lodging and other support & infa-structure facilities.
• To undertake research work in the field of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Training methodologies.
• To undertake, where ever feasible such other activities as are incidental to or conducive to the attainment of above objectives.