New Delhi : Panchayats from the Northeast registered a strong presence in the National Panchayat Awards 2025 announced by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim securing national recognition across multiple categories for excellence in grassroots governance and rural development.

A total of 42 panchayats from 17 states and Union Territories have been selected for this year’s awards, which recognise outstanding performance in areas such as sustainable development, sanitation, infrastructure, public service delivery and local governance. The awards ceremony will be held in New Delhi on June 3.

Assam emerged as one of the top performers from the region, bagging three national honours. New Napam Gaon Panchayat was named the country’s Best Gram Panchayat under the Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar 2025 and will receive a cash award of Rs 1.5 crore.

In another major achievement for the state, Jumarmur Gaon Panchayat secured second place in the Clean and Green Panchayat category under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar 2025, while Hoogrijan Gaon Panchayat was awarded second rank in the Self-Sufficient Infrastructure category.

Tripura also recorded a strong performance, with Sepahijala being adjudged the country’s Best District Panchayat and winning the top prize of Rs 5 crore.

Among the thematic category winners from the state, Kanchanbari secured first place in the Healthy Panchayat category, while Baikunthapur received recognition in the Women-Friendly Panchayat category.

From Mizoram, Kawrthah North won first prize in the Clean and Green Panchayat category, while Gyalshing Omchung from Sikkim secured third place in the Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods category.

The Ministry said the awards are aimed at encouraging and incentivising panchayats for exemplary work in local governance, sustainability, community participation and inclusive rural development under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

The strong showing by Northeastern states in this year’s awards has been viewed as a significant boost for grassroots governance initiatives and rural transformation efforts across the region.