Policy Update
Karthik Ramesh
Background
The Gram Manchitra portal is a Geographic Information System (GIS) based web platform developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India. Launched in 2023, it aims to empower rural governance and planning by providing a platform to visualize, plan, and monitor developmental works at the Gram Panchayat level using spatial data and advanced analytical tools.
Designed as a web portal, it can be accessed at https://grammanchitra.gov.in/gm4MVC to obtain panchayat specific details across the country relating to all potential aspects of development. Real time information from data on ongoing construction work within the panchayat with their status of completion, to the latest GDP figures of the gram panchayat is available in a single portal for easy access of development related information at the block level.
The portal functions on the basis of a comprehensive framework called Bharatmaps. Developed by the NIC, this includes administrative boundaries down to the Gram Panchayat levels, base infrastructure layers mapped at 1:10,000 scale, and a repository of 3.5 million assets across critical sectors such as education, healthcare, public distribution, banking, and postal services. The Gram Manchitra application is built on this robust foundation.
The need for such an application emerges from the lack of pragmatic panchayat level planning due to outdated information, inconsistencies and information scattered across various ministries. Since local self governance is often left out in the larger planning financially and digitally, large scale projects find difficult expression in percolating down to every single village. Its importance emerges from the context of a large proportion of the country still living in rural areas. In a step towards self-sufficiency at the village level, the portal aims to empower panchayats with the tools required to assimilate information and chart their own growth.
Functioning
The application is a key part of the e‑Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP), which operates under the broader umbrella of the Digital India Programme. This scheme aims to digitally transform Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by integrating technology into grassroots governance and planning processes. It aims to provide a decision support system for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
The first layer of the portal involves navigating to the specific panchayat and accessing an overall summary of the panchayat information which includes aspects of digital mapping of villages, the contact information of the administrative officials as well as basic information from the Census.
Source: PiB, Delhi
The next layer of data are tools which are bisected into general and panchayat specific information. General tools include information on the elevation profile of the panchayat, measurement tool, mapping and navigation while the panchayat specific information includes further details such as the resource envelope and a detailed query builder.
Gram Manchitra Query Builder for Information on Primary Schools
Source: https://grammanchitra.gov.in/gm4MVC#
Further, the ministry has launched mActionSoft, a mobile based solution to designed to capture photos with geo-tags for the works which have assets as output. This is executed in three stages viz. (i) before the start of the work (ii) during the work and (iii) on completion of work. This enhances the visualization of developmental works.
Performance
The application has achieved widespread adoption and success across all Indian states and union territories. By FY 2024–25, it has reached several notable milestones:
- Development Planning: Around 2.44 lakh Gram Panchayats have prepared and uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), promoting data-driven and participatory local planning.
- Financial Accountability: Approximately 2.06 lakh Panchayats have carried out online transactions using 15th Finance Commission funds, boosting transparency and effective use of resources.
- Grassroots Participation: About 2.32 lakh Gram Panchayats have held Gram Sabha meetings, encouraging inclusive and active citizen engagement in local governance.
In assessing the efficacy of the scheme and utilisation of E-Panchayat tools, village panchayats with facilities of online payments and subsequent utilisation would serve as a good proxy for digital literacy. According to PiB, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh top the list with over 75% of their gram panchayats possessing the facility.
Impact
Unfortunately, the application itself does not map out its usage, and neither does it mandate use by targets or otherwise by PRIs and their officials. Hence measuring its effectiveness is difficult in terms of concrete values. However the scheme has garnered attention, albeit not sufficiently as best practices for local self governance and digital governance spheres.
The scheme has poised India for global fame in planning for the global south, as the application was featured in the World Bank Land Conference 2025 in a dedicated technical session titled “Establishing the Land Foundation for Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management,” where the interface was presented as a tool for climate-responsive infrastructure planning, disaster mitigation, and rural development.
This way, the Gram Manchitra interface as a part of SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) represents the convergence of digital innovation, grassroots empowerment, and sustainable governance.
Emerging Issues
While the scheme and the portal itself is well rounded, in certain aspects, it defeats its own goals in certain cases such as:
1. Limited Awareness and Capacity Among PRI Officials
PRIs are often unaware of the existence of the portal. There are no data points to measure the usage of the portal. Officials are often inept with digital literacy or the necessary hardware in order to utilise the portal completely hindering its full potential.
2. Data Quality and Coverage Issues
While the portal is aimed at ensuring the availability of real time data, many sections in the portal remain inconsistent. Many of the scheme details are empty and not uniform even within a selected panchayat. Often, village borders are not accurate. These inconsistencies hinder efficient planning and undermines the purpose of the portal.
3. Duplication and Overlap with Other GIS Platforms
Platforms such as Geo/ BhuvanMGNREGA, made in collaboration with ISRO offer similar geospatial features and baseline details of a district, in essence duplication of the portal without clear mandates on how the PRIs are supposed to be utilising them.
4. Resistance to Change
Traditional governance practices often resist the adoption of modern, technology-driven solutions, slowing the integration of digital tools like Gram Manchitra.
5. Limited Community Participation
While the application encourages participatory governance, active engagement from local communities remains absent/inconsistent.
The Way Forward
The application ideally should help Panchayats move from reactive planning to proactive, data-informed choices. The portal however, still faces technical glitches, and it is often unclear who exactly is supposed to use it and how.
Some appreciable efforts are ongoing to address these challenges such as the BharatNet project under the Digital India initiative, implemented by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which is being rolled out in phases to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country. So far, 2.17 lakh GPs have been made service-ready under the project. As of June 30, 2021, the scope of BharatNet has been expanded to cover all inhabited villages.
Some other steps that could be taken in this direction to enhance the efficiency of the portal are:
- Capacity Building of Gram Panchayat Staff
- Regular digital literacy training programs should be conducted to enhance the skills of Panchayat functionaries.
- Support tools such as simplified user manuals, video tutorials, and real-time in-app assistance can help make the platform’s features more accessible and user-friendly.
- Infrastructure Strengthening
- Accelerate the rollout of BharatNet to ensure reliable internet connectivity, especially in remote and underserved areas.
- Provide necessary hardware (e.g., computers) and technical support to enable smooth and consistent use of Gram Manchitra.
- Community Engagement and Participation
- Launch awareness campaigns to inform villagers about the platform and its benefits.
- Encourage active participation in Gram Sabha meetings to ensure local development plans reflect grassroots needs and priorities.
References
Gram Manchitra. (n.d.). Gram Manchitra portal. Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://grammanchitra.gov.in/gm4MVC#
National Informatics Centre. (2025, January). Gram Manchitra: Transforming rural India with geospatial technology (pp. 28–30). Informatics Magazine. https://informatics.nic.in/uploads/pdfs/51ebda15_28_30_egov_grammanchitra_jan_25.pdf
Press Information Bureau. (2024, July 30). Gram Manchitra: GIS-based decision support system for Gram Panchayats. Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2039084
ETGovernment. (2024, May 5). India to showcase SVAMITVA and Gram Manchitra at World Bank Land Conference in Washington DC. The Economic Times. https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/india-to-showcase-svamitva-and-gram-manchitra-at-world-bank-land-conference-in-washington-dc/120886643
About the Contributor: Karthik Ramesh is a Research Intern at IMPRI and is currently pursuing a B.Sc in Economics from Symbiosis School of Economics, Pune.
Acknowledgement: The author extends his sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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