Ministry of Panchayati Raj Hosts National Meet of Women Elected Representatives in New Delhi
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organise a National Conference of Women Elected Representatives (WERs) from Panchayats on 11 March 2026 in New Delhi . The event is being held under the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan , marking one year since the programme’s launch. The conference will bring together around 700 participants , including women Panchayat representatives from across India, officials from various ministries and representatives of international organisations such as the United Nations.
Promoting Women-Led Governance
The conference aims to highlight achievements in women-led grassroots governance and encourage greater participation of women in rural decision-making. Key dignitaries expected to attend include Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Annapurna Devi, S. P. Singh Baghel and Raksha Nikhil Khadse.
Senior officials from the ministry will also participate in discussions aimed at strengthening leadership, participation and governance capacity among women representatives in rural local bodies.
Recognition and Best Practice Sharing
A major highlight of the conference will be the recognition of Beacon Women Panchayat Leaders , nominated by state and union territory governments for their contributions to rural governance.
The ministry will release a compendium of best practices showcasing examples of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats , documenting successful initiatives led by women leaders. Additionally, programmes related to women’s safety will be launched under the Nirbhaya Fund framework.
Technical Sessions on Leadership
The conference agenda includes two technical sessions focused on strengthening women’s participation in local governance. The first session will examine leadership roles and decision-making responsibilities of women in Panchayats , while the second will discuss strategies for building Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats .
These discussions are intended to identify practical solutions for improving inclusivity, strengthening service delivery and promoting gender-responsive governance at the village level.
Capacity Building Initiatives
Under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan , the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has trained over 7.18 lakh Women Elected Representatives during 2025–26 . In addition, 1.21 lakh women leaders , including master trainers, have received training through the programme “Championing Change: Empowering Women Leaders in Local Governance and Beyond.”
The ministry has also identified 744 Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats across 32 states and union territories , which are monitored through dashboards tracking indicators such as governance participation, education, health, economic opportunities and safety.
Exam-Focused Points
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The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan was launched on 4 March 2025 .
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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj oversees policies related to rural local governance.
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The Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan supports training of elected representatives.
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Gram Panchayats represent the lowest level of the Panchayati Raj system in India.
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Over 7.18 lakh women representatives were trained
Month: Current Affairs - March 13, 2026
Category: Polity & Governance