Paperman Media (New Delhi)- The Union Government has released Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) Tied and Untied grants during Financial Year 2025-26 for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttarakhand. The releases cover regular installments as well as withheld portions pertaining to various financial years. The total amount released aggregates to Rs.1,536.14 crores, aimed at further strengthening rural local governance across these States.
Background
In terms of the Operational Guidelines for implementation of Fifteenth Finance Commission Grants to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the Government of India, through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), recommends release of XV-FC grants to States for Rural Local Bodies, which are thereafter released by the Ministry of Finance. The allocated grants are recommended and released in two installments in a financial year. The recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission covered a six-year period up to 31st March 2026.
The Untied grants are utilized by Panchayati Raj Institutions/Rural Local Bodies for location-specific felt needs under the twenty-nine subjects enshrined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment costs.
The Tied grants can be used for the basic services of: (a) sanitation and maintenance of ODF status, including management and treatment of household waste, and human excreta and fecal sludge management in particular; and (b) supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
