The Meri Panchayat mobile application has gained global recognition by winning the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. This prestigious honour was presented under the category of Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity and Local Content. The award was conferred during the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 held in Geneva, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and partners. The app exemplifies India’s strides in digital governance, especially in rural areas.
Background of the WSIS Prizes 2025
The WSIS Prizes are international awards recognising outstanding projects that advance inclusive information societies. The 2025 event marked 20 years since the original WSIS summit. It brought together global stakeholders to assess progress in digital inclusion and address emerging challenges. The event was co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, with support from UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD.
About the Meri Panchayat App
Meri Panchayat is a mobile governance platform designed for India’s Panchayats. It serves over 25 lakh elected representatives and nearly 950 million rural residents across 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats. Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the app aims to transform rural governance through digital tools.
Key Features of Meri Panchayat
The app provides real-time access to Panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans. Users can view details of elected representatives and officials. It offers information on local infrastructure and civic services. Citizens can track Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and project proposals. The app integrates weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level. It also includes social audit tools, fund utilisation data, and grievance redressal with geo-tagging and geo-fencing.
Promoting Participatory Democracy
Meri Panchayat allows citizens to propose new projects and review completed works. It provides access to Gram Sabha agendas and decisions. The multilingual interface supports over 12 Indian languages, ensuring inclusiveness. These features strengthen transparency, civic engagement, and participatory democracy at the grassroots.
Government Recognition and Impact
The award was received by Ms Sunita Jain, Senior Director at NIC, on behalf of the Government of India. Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, praised the app’s role in advancing citizen-centric governance. Officials brought into light the importance of leveraging digital tools to bridge information gaps and enhance transparency in rural governance.
Significance for Digital Governance
Meri Panchayat exemplifies how technology can empower rural communities. It supports decentralisation and effective local self-government. The app sets a benchmark for digital inclusion in governance and promotes cultural and linguistic diversity. It reflects India’s commitment to building smart villages and inclusive information societies.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss the role of digital governance in strengthening participatory democracy in rural India with suitable examples.
- Critically examine the impact of mobile applications like Meri Panchayat on transparency and accountability in local governance.
- Explain the significance of multilingual digital platforms in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion in India’s governance system.
- With suitable examples, discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing e-governance initiatives in rural areas of developing countries.
