PANCHAYAT LEARNING CENTRES
Why In News?
Panchayat Learning Centres (PLCs) are in the news because on March 10, 2026, Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) informed the Lok Sabha that 1,152 Gram Panchayats have now been officially developed as PLCs across India under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
Key Information & Facts
- Definition: PLCs are "Beacon" or well-performing Gram Panchayats selected to serve as immersion-based training sites where other panchayat leaders can learn through real-world demonstrations.
- Selection Criteria: They are chosen based on success stories, exemplary work in identified LSDG themes, or high rankings in the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI).
- Primary Objective: To facilitate peer learning and experiential training for Elected Representatives (ERs) through exposure visits and "face-to-face" field classes.
- Activities Offered:
- Demonstrations of effective Gram Sabha functioning and committee meetings.
- Practical training on preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).
- Showcasing "Low Cost/No Cost" activities and local livelihood initiatives.
- Infrastructure Support: Under the Revamped RGSA, support is provided for digital libraries, computers, and setting up training venues at these sites.
- Governance Structure: Each PLC is typically headed by the local Sarpanch (Chairman) and assisted by a Resource Person or Young Fellow (Vice Chairman) and the GP Secretary (Convenor).
- Implementation Agency: The overall supervision and monitoring are managed by the State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs).
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