XV Finance Commission Grants Released for Assam | 21 Jan 2026

Why in News? 

The Union Government has released ₹213.9 crore to Assam under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) Grants to strengthen Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) for the financial year 2025–26.

Key Points: 

• Aim of Grant:The funds aim to enhance grassroots governance and improve the delivery of basic civic services in rural areas. 
• Coverage: The grants were allocated for all 2,401 eligible rural local bodies (RLBs) across the state covering 2,192 Gram Panchayats, 182 Block Panchayats and 27 Zilla Parishads  
  • The Ministry of Finance disbursed the funds based on recommendations from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 
• Purpose of XV Finance Commission Grants:Under the XV Finance Commission framework, grants are provided in two instalments annually and are categorised into: 
  • Untied Grants – enabling PRIs to address location-specific developmental needs under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. 
  • Tied Grants – earmarked for sanitation, solid and liquid waste management, drinking water supply, and maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. 
• Significance:The release reinforces the Centre’s commitment to fiscal decentralisation, local self-governance, and rural infrastructure development, strengthening the role of PRIs as institutions of democratic grassroots planning.