Ministry of Panchayati Raj launches digital campaign against ‘Sarpanch Pati’ culture

Direct fact

In March 2026, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched a digital awareness campaign with The Viral Fever under the year-long Sashakt Panchayat Netri Abhiyan to counter the “Sarpanch Pati” culture in India.

Key specifics

• The first film, “Asli Pradhan Kaun?”, premiered on 4 March 2025.
• The screening was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• More than 1,200 elected women representatives attended the screening.
• The campaign directly addresses the 33–50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• It uses the TVF Panchayat universe and features Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik.

Exam lens

Polity and local governance question: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Sashakt Panchayat Netri Abhiyan, 33–50% women reservation, Vigyan Bhawan, and “Asli Pradhan Kaun?” are the key facts.