Bhubaneswar: The Centre has released the XV Finance Commission grants for rural local bodies in Odisha for 2025–26 financial year.
It includes the second instalment of Untied Grants amounting to Rs 342.5964 crore for 20 eligible district panchayats (zilla parishads), 296 eligible block panchayats (panchayat samitis), and 6,734 eligible gram panchayats in the State. Additionally, Rs 101.7815 crore of the withheld portion of the first instalment for FY 2025–26 has also been released to 20 eligible zilla parishads, 233 eligible panchayat aamitis, and 649 eligible gram panchayats, an official release said.
The XV Finance Commission grants are recommended jointly by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation) and are disbursed by the Ministry of Finance in two installments each financial year. These grants aim to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and rural local bodies to address local developmental needs under the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding salaries and establishment costs.