In a landmark achievement for India’s digital governance and rural empowerment initiatives, the “Meri Panchayat” mobile application has been honoured with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award.
The accolade, awarded under the Action Line Category of Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, was presented during the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7 to 11, 2025.
The “Meri Panchayat” app, developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), represents a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide in rural India, empowering over 950 million rural citizens and 25 lakh elected Panchayat representatives.
Global Recognition at WSIS+20
The WSIS+20 High-Level Event, co-organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, marked two decades of the World Summit on the Information Society, reflecting on global progress in digital development and connectivity.
Held in Geneva, Switzerland, the event brought together stakeholders from governments, international organisations, and civil society to discuss advancements in digital infrastructure and governance. On July 10, 2025, Ms. Sunita Jain, Senior Director at NIC/MoPR, received the WSIS Champion Award on behalf of the Government of India, celebrating the “Meri Panchayat” app’s contribution to fostering cultural and linguistic diversity through localised digital governance.
In India, a ceremonial event was organised in New Delhi on July 21, 2025, to commemorate this achievement.
Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh), was presented with the WSIS Champion Certificate. The event saw the participation of key dignitaries, including the Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Vivek Bharadwaj, alongside other senior officials.
During the ceremony, Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted the app’s role in advancing citizen-centric governance, stating, “Meri Panchayat enhances transparency and bridges the digital divide, enabling rural communities to actively participate in governance.”
He emphasised that digital tools like the app are pivotal in making governance more inclusive, efficient, and accountable, aligning with India’s vision of a digitally empowered rural landscape.
The “Meri Panchayat” app
The “Meri Panchayat” app, a flagship m-Governance platform, was developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Designed to serve India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats, the app caters to over 950 million rural residents and more than 25 lakh elected Panchayat representatives. It is a cornerstone of the Smart Gram Panchayat initiative, which seeks to integrate digital technologies into rural governance to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.
Key features of the app
The “Meri Panchayat” app is a comprehensive digital tool that empowers rural communities by providing real-time access to critical governance and development information. Its key features include:
Financial Transparency: The app offers real-time access to Gram Panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans, enabling citizens to monitor fund allocation and utilisation.
Information on Governance: It provides details about elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries, fostering accountability and direct communication between citizens and local leaders.
Geo-Tagged Infrastructure Data: The app includes geo-tagged details of public infrastructure and civic amenities, allowing users to track the status and location of community projects.
Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs): Citizens can access and track the progress of GPDPs, including proposal statuses, ensuring transparency in local development initiatives.
Weather Forecasting: Tailored weather updates for Panchayat-level geographies support farmers and rural communities in planning agricultural and other activities.
Grievance Redressal and Social Audit: The app features a grievance redressal system integrated with social audit tools, enabling citizens to report issues and monitor fund utilisation.
Geo-Fencing for Project Monitoring: Geo-fencing capabilities allow real-time tracking of project implementation areas, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
Multilingual Interface: Supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures inclusivity and accessibility for diverse linguistic communities in rural India.
Citizen Engagement Tools: Interactive features allow citizens to propose projects, review completed works, rate services, and access Gram Sabha decisions, fostering participatory governance.
By integrating these features, the “Meri Panchayat” app transforms Gram Panchayats into “Smart Gram Panchayats,” where technology drives efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric governance.
The Smart Gram Panchayat Projects
The Smart Gram Panchayat project, launched on February 24, 2024, at Papraur Gram Panchayat in Begusarai district, Bihar, is another milestone in India’s rural digital transformation. Inaugurated by the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, the initiative aims to leverage digital technologies to enhance connectivity and service delivery in rural areas. The project is closely aligned with the PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme, which seeks to provide affordable and accessible Wi-Fi services across rural India.Key
Highlights of the ProjectPM-WANI Implementation: The project has successfully extended PM-WANI services to all Gram Panchayats in Begusarai, making it the first district in Bihar to achieve 100 percent Wi-Fi-enabled Gram Panchayats. This ensures seamless internet access for rural communities.
Scale and Coverage: Funded under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the project covers 455 Gram Panchayats across 37 blocks in Begusarai and Rohtas districts, setting a model for scalable rural digitisation.
Sectoral Impact: The initiative enhances access to digital services in critical sectors such as health, education, and skill development, directly benefiting students, farmers, artisans, and women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
The Smart Gram Panchayat project exemplifies India’s commitment to integrating technology into rural governance, creating a model that can be replicated across the country.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at enhancing the governance capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The revamped RGSA, approved for implementation from 2022-23 to 2025-26, focuses on aligning PRIs with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through capacity building and technological integration
Funding Structure: The scheme operates on a Centre-State funding ratio of 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for Northeastern states, hill states, and Jammu & Kashmir, and 100% central funding for Union Territories.
E-Governance and Digital Literacy: RGSA emphasises e-governance, digital literacy, and the localisation of SHGs through convergence with other government schemes, fostering a tech-enabled governance ecosystem.
Technology Integration: The scheme leverages emerging technologies for interactive training, standardised capacity-building programs, and enhanced leadership roles for PRI representatives.
By equipping PRIs with the tools and skills needed for effective governance, RGSA plays a pivotal role in supporting initiatives like the Smart Gram Panchayat project and the “Meri Panchayat” app.
PM-WANI: Democratizing Internet Access in Rural India
Launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecom (DoT), the PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme is a cornerstone of India’s digital inclusion strategy. Designed to establish a robust digital communication infrastructure, PM-WANI promotes public Wi-Fi hotspots to provide affordable internet access, particularly in rural and remote areas. The scheme aligns with the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP), enabling any entity to set up Wi-Fi hotspots.
Public Data Offices (PDOs): PDOs are responsible for establishing, maintaining, and operating Wi-Fi hotspots, procuring bandwidth from telecom or internet service providers to deliver last-mile connectivity to users.
Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs): PDOAs facilitate PDOs by providing services such as authorisation, billing, and accounting, ensuring seamless service delivery.
App Providers: These entities develop PM-WANI-compliant applications that enable users to register, discover, and access Wi-Fi hotspots while ensuring user authentication.
Central Registry: Managed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), the Central Registry maintains records of PDOs, PDOAs, and App Providers, ensuring a cohesive ecosystem.
Digital Inclusion: The scheme promotes entrepreneurship and digital inclusion by enabling local entities to set up Wi-Fi hotspots.
Complementary to BharatNet: PM-WANI complements the BharatNet project, which aims to connect rural India through high-speed broadband.
Significance of the WSIS Champion Award
The WSIS Champion Award 2025 for the “Meri Panchayat” app is a testament to India’s leadership in leveraging technology for inclusive governance. The award, under the category of Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, recognises the app’s multilingual interface and its ability to deliver localised governance solutions. By supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures that rural citizens from diverse linguistic backgrounds can access governance services, reinforcing cultural inclusivity.
The global recognition highlights India’s progress in bridging the digital divide, a critical challenge in achieving equitable development. The app’s features, such as real-time financial transparency, grievance redressal, and citizen engagement tools, align with the WSIS Action Lines’ focus on using ICTs to promote sustainable development and cultural diversity. This accolade positions India’s digital village governance model as a global benchmark, demonstrating how technology can empower marginalised communities and strengthen local self-governance.
Impact on Rural IndiaThe “Meri Panchayat” app and the broader Smart Gram Panchayat project have far-reaching implications for rural India. By providing access to digital services in sectors like health, education, and skill development, the initiative empowers students, farmers, artisans, and women’s SHGs to participate in the digital economy. The app’s grievance redressal and social audit tools foster accountability, ensuring that public funds are utilised effectively for community development. The geo-tagging and geo-fencing features enhance project monitoring, reducing inefficiencies and ensuring timely implementation of development plans.
Moreover, the project’s focus on sustainability through a robust O&M framework ensures that the benefits of digitisation are long-lasting. By bridging the rural-urban divide, the initiative empowers rural citizens to engage actively in governance, propose projects, and access critical information, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and agency.
The WSIS Champion Award 2025 for the “Meri Panchayat” app marks a defining moment in India’s journey toward digital empowerment and inclusive governance. By integrating advanced digital tools into rural governance, the app has transformed Gram Panchayats into “Smart Gram Panchayats,” where transparency, accountability, and citizen participation are at the forefront. Supported by initiatives like the Smart Gram Panchayat project, RGSA, and PM-WANI, the app exemplifies India’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable development.
As FRajiv Ranjan Singh aptly stated, “Digital tools are key to bridging the knowledge divide.” The “Meri Panchayat” app not only enhances citizen-centric governance but also sets a global standard for inclusive, transparent, and participatory governance. Moving forward, India’s focus on scaling these innovations, ensuring their sustainability, and replicating them across the country will further strengthen its digital ecosystem. The success of “Meri Panchayat” is a beacon of hope for rural communities worldwide, demonstrating that technology can be a powerful enabler of equitable development and grassroots empowerment.
