Srinagar, May 9: Jammu and Kashmir has secured a place in the National Panchayat Awards 2025, with Wagoora Gram Panchayat in Budgam district being selected for the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar under the “Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat” category.
The awards, announced by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Friday, recognise outstanding Panchayats across the country for achievements in governance, sustainable development and grassroots service delivery.
Wagoora Panchayat, falling under B.K. Pora block in Budgam district, secured the third rank in its category and will receive a cash award of Rs 25 lakh.
The category recognises Panchayats for initiatives related to social justice, welfare delivery and inclusive development.
A total of 42 Panchayats from 17 States and Union Territories have been selected for the National Panchayat Awards 2025. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 3.
The awards are conferred under two categories — the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP), which recognises Gram Panchayats across nine Sustainable Development Goal-linked themes, and the Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP), which honours the best-performing Panchayats at district, block and gram levels.
Officials said the awards are aimed at promoting participatory governance, sustainable rural development and improved service delivery at the grassroots level.
The Ministry said the revamped awards framework, aligned with the localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), evaluates Panchayats on parameters such as poverty reduction, health, sanitation, water management, women empowerment, governance and infrastructure development.
The awards are given under the Incentivisation of Panchayats component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
Karnataka emerged as the top-performing state with six awards, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with five awards each.
