National Panchayati Raj Day
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
In News
- The National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) is observed every year on 24 April to mark the establishment of the Panchayati Raj system.
About
- The day commemorates the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into effect in 1993 and gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- These provisions are included in Part IX of the Indian Constitution, strengthening grassroots democracy by empowering local bodies at the village, block, and district levels.
Historical Background of Panchayati Raj System
- After independence, decentralised governance was promoted through the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957), which recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system which was first implemented in Rajasthan in 1959.
- Constitutional backing came through the 73rd Amendment Act, making PRIs mandatory and embedding them in Part IX (Articles 243–243O) of the Constitution.
Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex
Context
- The historic WHO Pandemic Agreement (WPA), adopted in 2025, still lacks the much-needed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS)
Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS)
- It is a crucial, legally binding component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
- It establishes a multilateral system designed to ensure the rapid, transparent sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential alongside the fair and equitable distribution of medical countermeasures like vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments.
WHO Pandemic Agreement
- It was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025.
- Objective – The aim is to negotiate a WHO convention on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, that would culminate in a legally binding international instrument.
- Following its adoption, the next crucial step is for an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the Pandemic Agreement to negotiate the details of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system.
- The Agreement will officially enter into force 30 days after 60 countries have ratified it.
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