Gandhinagar, April 9 -- Gujarat has once again reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots development and sustainable governance, emerging as the top-performing state in the first-ever Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2022-23, released by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

The index, which evaluates over 2.16 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) across 29 states, places Gujarat at the forefront with 346 panchayats ranked as 'Front Runners'--the highest in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently prioritised rural development, aiming to transform villages into clean, modern, and inclusive spaces while ensuring that growth reaches every citizen. This vision took shape during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, laying the foundatio...