Guwahati: The Central government has released Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) grants during the financial year 2025–26 for rural local bodies in Assam, the Panchayati Raj Ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the release includes the second instalment of untied grants for 2024–25, amounting to Rs 219.24 crore. The funds will be allocated to all eligible rural local bodies across the state, including 27 district panchayats, 182 block panchayats, and 2,192 gram panchayats
Further, Rs 4,698 crore of the withheld portion of the first instalment of the untied grant for 2024–25 has also been released to additional eligible 26 block panchayats.
The ministry said the grants are aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and supporting developmental activities in rural Assam.
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), recommends the release of XV-FC grants to states for panchayati raj institutions and rural local bodies, which are then released by the Ministry of Finance.
The grants are recommended and disbursed in two instalments each financial year. The untied funds may be used by panchayati raj institutions and rural local bodies to address location-specific needs under the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, but cannot be spent on salaries or other establishment expenses.
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The tied grants can be used for the basic services of sanitation and maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, and this should include management and treatment of household waste, and human excreta and faecal sludge management in particular and supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
