Assam's rural local bodies get over ₹299 crore in Fifteenth Finance Commission grants
The Union Government released over ₹299 crore of Fifteenth Finance Commission untied grants to Assam's rural local bodies, including three Autonomous District Councils, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj said on 8 March 2026.
Summary
The Union Government released Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) grants for 2025–26 to rural local bodies in Assam, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj announced on 8 March 2026. This comprises ₹256.60 crore as the second instalment of untied grants for all eligible 27 District Panchayats, 182 Block Panchayats, 2,192 Gram Panchayats and three Autonomous District Councils — the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council — plus ₹42.70 crore of the withheld first instalment released to the three councils. Grants are recommended by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and released by the Ministry of Finance in two instalments a year. Untied grants may be spent on location-specific needs under the 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, but not on salaries or establishment costs; tied grants are for sanitation and ODF maintenance and for drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling. Article 243G lets state legislatures give panchayats powers for schemes including those on matters in the Eleventh Schedule.
Key facts
- Date
- 8 March 2026 (announcement)
- Total
- Over ₹299 crore: ₹256.60 crore (2nd untied instalment) + ₹42.70 crore (withheld 1st instalment)
- Recipients
- 27 District Panchayats, 182 Block Panchayats, 2,192 Gram Panchayats, 3 ADCs (BTC, KAAC, DHAC)
- Untied grants
- 29 Eleventh Schedule subjects; not for salaries/establishment
- Tied grants
- Sanitation/ODF; drinking water, rainwater harvesting, recycling
- Article 243G
- Powers of panchayats; links to Eleventh Schedule matters
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which of the following Autonomous District Councils of Assam received Fifteenth Finance Commission grants announced on 8 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Bodoland Territorial Council
The three ADCs were the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council; the others listed are in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
How much was released to Assam's rural local bodies as the second instalment of XV-FC untied grants for 2025–26?
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Correct answer: A — ₹256.60 crore
₹256.60 crore was the second untied instalment; another ₹42.70 crore of the withheld first instalment went to three ADCs, taking the total over ₹299 crore.
Consider the following statements: 1. Article 243G of the Constitution allows a State Legislature to endow Panchayats with powers for schemes, including those on matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. 2. Fifteenth Finance Commission untied grants to rural local bodies can be used for salaries and other establishment costs. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Article 243G covers devolution to Panchayats including Eleventh Schedule matters, but XV-FC untied grants are for location-specific needs under the 29 Eleventh Schedule subjects and exclude salaries and establishment costs.