Context:

• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) completed 25 years on 25 December 2025.

Key Highlights:

• PMGSY is one of India’s most important rural infrastructure development schemes.
• Its primary objective is to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations, thereby integrating rural India with the mainstream economy.
• The scheme facilitates access to economic and social services, enhances agricultural incomes, creates productive employment opportunities, and makes a significant contribution to poverty reduction.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Launched on: 25 December 2000
• Launched by: Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Major Objectives of the Scheme

• To provide perennial (all-weather) road connectivity to rural habitations.
• To promote economic, social, and educational development in rural areas.
• To facilitate access to markets for agricultural produce, healthcare services, education, and employment opportunities.
• To reduce the rural–urban divide.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Funding Pattern

• General States: Cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and the States.
• North-Eastern and Himalayan States: 90:10, with 90% funded by the Central Government.
• Union Territories without a Legislature: 100% Central Government funding.

Maintenance and Quality Assurance

• Maintenance: The contractor is responsible for maintenance of roads constructed under the scheme for five years.
• Digital Monitoring: Road quality and progress are monitored through the “Meri Sadak” mobile application and the Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS/OMMS) portal.

Physical and Financial Progress

• Total rural roads sanctioned so far: 8,25,114 km
• Roads completed up to December 2025: 7,87,520 km, indicating nearly 95% physical progress.
• PMGSY-III:

• • Roads sanctioned: 1,22,393 km
  • Roads constructed: 1,01,623 km
• Budget allocation for FY 2025–26: ₹19,000 crore
• PMGSY-IV (2024–29):

• • Total outlay: ₹70,125 crore
  • Target: Connectivity to 25,000 habitations through 62,500 km of roads.

Phases of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

PMGSY – Phase I

• Launched: 25 December 2000
• Initiated as a flagship programme to provide all-weather road connectivity to rural habitations lacking road access.
• Laid the foundation of universal rural connectivity by linking villages to markets, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.
• Road connectivity projects were sanctioned for 1,63,339 rural habitations across the country.

PMGSY – Phase II

• Launched: 2013
• Focused on upgradation and strengthening of the existing rural road network.
• Aimed at improving transport efficiency and accelerating rural economic growth.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) – 2016

• Launched in 2016 to provide road connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
• Covers 44 severely LWE-affected districts and adjoining areas across nine states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

PMGSY – Phase III

• Launched: 2019
• Objective: Upgradation of 1,25,000 km of core rural roads and major rural links.
• Focus on connectivity to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools, and healthcare facilities.
• By December 2025:

• • Roads sanctioned: 1,22,393 km
  • Roads constructed: 1,01,623 km (83% completion).

PMGSY – Phase IV

• Launched: 2024
• Proposed road length: 62,500 km
• Implementation period: FY 2024–25 to FY 2028–29
• Total outlay: ₹70,125 crore

Eligibility Criteria (Based on Census 2011 Population Data)

Includes habitations with:

• 500+ population in plain areas.
• 250+ population in North-Eastern and hilly States/Union Territories.
• Special category areas, including:

• • Tribal areas (Schedule V),
  • Aspirational districts/blocks, and
  • Desert areas.