The Minister of Panchayati Raj S. P. Singh Baghel released a report on the “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States” in Delhi. The Panchayat Devolution Index report is an evidence-based ranking of states and UTs based on six frameworks.

• The report was prepared by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and the study covered 34 states and UTs in which 172 Panchayats of 68 districts were taken as samples.
• A total of 1,594 respondents were interviewed across the states.
• The study ranked states and UTs based on their performance, as measured by a devolution index.
• The states and UTs were ranked by each of the following six dimensions– framework, functions, finances, functionaries, capacity enhancement and accountability.
•  The first five states in the ranking were, Karnataka, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh.