The Union government has recently announced the release of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Untied Grants for Rural Local Bodies in Mizoram and Tripura for the financial year 2025–26. This move is aimed at providing financial assistance to support the development and welfare activities of local governing bodies in these states.
In Mizoram, a total of Rs 14.2761 crore has been allocated to 827 eligible village councils as part of the 2023–24 grants. Meanwhile, Tripura has received Rs 29.75 crore for 606 eligible Gram Panchayats, 35 Block Panchayats, 8 Zilla Parishads, along with all 587 Village Committees and 40 Block Advisory Committees of the state. This funding will be provided in the form of the first installment of Untied Grants for the financial year 2025–26.
The grants, recommended by the Government of India through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti, are released in two installments each financial year. They are intended to be used by Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) / Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for location-specific needs as per the Twenty-Nine (29) Subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, the funds cannot be used for salaries and other establishment costs.
Additionally, the statement clarified that Tied Grants can be utilized for specific purposes such as sanitation and maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, including waste management and treatment, as well as the supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.
Overall, the release of the XV FC Untied Grants is expected to bolster the development efforts of rural local bodies in Mizoram and Tripura, enabling them to address the unique needs and challenges faced by their communities.
