The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), launched in 2015 and restructured in 2022-23, has channelled over ₹8,000 crore to build capacity in gram panchayats across India. The scheme focuses on training elected representatives, improving e-governance, and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. It aligns panchayat functioning with theme-based governance covering 9 national priority themes and supports Panchayat Raj institutions in states and Union Territories.

RGSA is the central government's flagship programme for strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as mandated under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992). The 73rd Amendment created the constitutional framework for rural local self-governance — establishing gram panchayats, gram sabhas, and 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution. RGSA operationalises this framework by funding capacity building, infrastructure, and digital tools for panchayats.

The scheme was originally launched in 2015 and was restructured and re-approved for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26 with a total outlay. It works across a three-tier panchayat system — gram, intermediate, and district — and emphasises thematic clustering of 17 SDGs into 9 national priority themes such as poverty-free village, healthy village, child-friendly village, and water-sufficient village.

For NABARD aspirants, the rural governance angle is critical: panchayats are the grassroots delivery unit for most rural credit and agricultural welfare schemes, including PM Kisan, MGNREGS, and watershed development. For UPSC aspirants, the connection to Part IX of the Constitution, the Eleventh Schedule's 29 subjects, and the Panchayati Raj Ministry's annual reporting are standard testing zones. The restructured RGSA also introduced performance-based grants to incentivise better-performing panchayats, a mechanism the examiner frequently tests.