New Delhi, June 6: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will release the Report of the Committee on Datasets for State Finance Commissions at an event in New Delhi on June 8, 2026. The report will be unveiled by V. Anantha nageswaran Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, in the presence of vivek Bharadwaj Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and manish gupta Associate Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).
The event will bring together senior government officials, researchers, and representatives from policy and research institutions. Following the release, the Chief Economic Advisor will deliver a keynote address on the role of data-driven policymaking and evidence-based fiscal governance in strengthening local self-government and promoting inclusive development.
The report marks an important step in the Government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal decentralisation in India. State Finance Commissions, constituted under Article 243-I of the Constitution, are responsible for reviewing the financial position of Panchayati Raj Institutions and recommending the principles for the distribution of financial resources to local governments.
Recognising the need for reliable and comprehensive data to support these functions, the Ministry constituted the Committee on Datasets for State Finance Commissions. The move followed concerns raised during the Finance Commissions’ Conclave on “Devolution to Development” in November 2024, where difficulties in accessing data across departments and agencies were identified as a major challenge affecting the quality and timeliness of State Finance Commission recommendations.
The report provides a comprehensive framework of the datasets required by State Finance Commissions and outlines measures to improve data availability, standardisation, interoperability, and institutional capacity. It is expected to serve as a valuable resource for state governments, State Finance Commissions, constitutional bodies, researchers, and policymakers working to strengthen local public finance and deepen democratic decentralisation in India.
