Abstract

The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India form the cornerstone of decentralized governance and have played a pivotal role in rural development between 2018 and 2025. These grassroots institutions have been instrumental in implementing government schemes promoting participatory governance and ensuring accountability in local development processes. This paper explores how PRIs contributed to rural development during this period with a focus on poverty alleviation women’s empowerment infrastructure creation education health and environmental sustainability. It also highlights the challenges faced by PRIs such as political interference financial constraints lack of capacity building and uneven participation. By examining case studies and policy frameworks the paper argues that PRIs are essential for achieving inclusive and sustainable rural development provided they are empowered with adequate resources autonomy and community engagement.