PESA Mahotsav 2025: Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Host Two-Day Event in Visakhapatnam on December 23–24

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organise a two-day national celebration titled “PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka” on December 23 and 24, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to commemorate the enactment of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).

PESA Day is observed annually on December 24, marking the anniversary of the landmark legislation that empowers tribal self-governance in Scheduled Areas.

Inauguration and Participation

The Mahotsav will be inaugurated by Konidala Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Senior officials from the Centre and States, including Union Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, will also attend the event.

The celebration is expected to bring together nearly 2,000 participants from all 10 PESA States, including elected Panchayat representatives, tribal leaders, sportspersons, and cultural artists. The Mahotsav is envisioned as a national platform to showcase and celebrate the cultural, traditional, and governance heritage of tribal communities from PESA regions across India.

Key National Initiatives to Be Launched

Several important national-level initiatives related to PESA will be launched on December 24, 2025, including:

• PESA Portal for information dissemination and real-time monitoring of PESA implementation

• PESA Indicators to assess and compare implementation status across States

• Training Modules on PESA in Tribal Languages to enhance grassroots awareness and capacity building

• E-book on Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, documenting traditional knowledge, culture, and heritage

Special Gram Sabhas Across PESA Areas

As part of the celebrations, Special Gram Sabhas will be organised in PESA Gram Panchayats of Andhra Pradesh, with participation from elected representatives of other PESA States. These discussions will focus on ten identified PESA themes, including:

• Community participation

• Protection of natural resources

• Preservation of customary practices

• Livelihoods

• Social justice

Additionally, Special Gram Sabhas will be held simultaneously across all 10 PESA States on December 24, reinforcing the spirit of participatory democracy in Scheduled Areas.

Cultural and Sports Events Across Visakhapatnam

The Mahotsav will feature a wide range of sports competitions, folk performances, and cultural showcases, reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of India’s tribal heritage.

The main venue will be the Visakhapatnam Port Authority Campus, with events also organised at:

• Ramakrishna Beach

• Indoor Stadium

• Cricket Stadium

• Kalavani Auditorium

All venues are located within Visakhapatnam city.

About the PESA Act, 1996

Under Article 243M(4)(b) of the Constitution, Parliament enacted the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas, with necessary modifications.

Scheduled Areas are notified by the President of India and are governed under Article 244(1) and the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. These regions are therefore also referred to as Fifth Schedule Areas.

At present, Fifth Schedule Areas exist in 10 States:

• Andhra Pradesh

• Chhattisgarh

• Gujarat

• Himachal Pradesh

• Jharkhand

• Madhya Pradesh

• Maharashtra

• Odisha

• Rajasthan

• Telangana