Training Management Portal, Ministry of Panchayati Raj

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Policy Update
Khushi

Introduction

When we think of governance, most of us imagine big offices, ministers, and heavy paperwork. But real governance, the kind that touches people’s everyday lives, actually happens in villages, in small meetings under trees, or in community halls where someone speaks up about a broken handpump or an unused ration card. That’s the world of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and it’s a world that runs on the shoulders of thousands of elected representatives, many of whom are women, first-timers, or people who’ve never stepped into a leadership role before.

So here’s the big question: how do we expect them to lead effectively if we don’t give them proper training? That’s the exact thought behind the Training Management Portal (TMP), a digital platform launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to organise, track, and improve training for PRI functionaries across India.

Functioning

TMP is honestly quite a smart idea, even if at first glance it feels a bit technical. Basically, it’s a centralised online portal where every single training, from orientation programs for newly elected panchayat members to thematic sessions on things like sanitation or digital governance is recorded and tracked.

Institutions, trainers, and state or district officials register on the portal. They upload training schedules, log attendance, and submit participant feedback. Once a training is completed, a certificate is issued, digitally. For village leaders, the certificate becomes their first official proof that they’re learning and evolving as public servants. 

State governments can now plan training better, see which regions are falling behind, or which group (say, women representatives or SC/ST members) needs more focus. For the Ministry, TMP makes it way easier to ensure that funds under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) are actually being used in the right way.

Performance

The Training Management Portal (TMP), though launched with limited attention, has gradually gained significant traction across various states. Increasingly, state governments are utilising the platform to systematically plan, document, and monitor training activities. What was once fragmented information, scattered across physical files, handwritten registers, and untraceable spreadsheets, is now consolidated into a single, centralised digital ecosystem.

The portal has logged thousands of training sessions and engaged lakhs of participants. However, the most notable transformation has been in institutional attitudes toward training itself. Where training was once viewed as a mere bureaucratic formality, there is now a marked shift toward thoughtful, outcome-oriented capacity building. Sessions have become more interactive, contextualised, and responsive to regional needs. The adaptability of TMP during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating the transition to online and hybrid modes of learning, proved especially beneficial for remote and underserved regions, ensuring continued access to essential skill development.

Impact

The idea of training elected village leaders isn’t new, it’s been part of India’s governance journey for decades now. But what makes the Training Management Portal (TMP) genuinely different is how seriously it treats that learning. It doesn’t reduce training to just another government event with tea, chairs, and certificates. Instead, it documents each session, evaluates it, and tries to connect it to actual outcomes on the ground.

Since its launch, over 1.6 lakh training programs have been uploaded on TMP, involving more than 31 lakh participants across states and Union Territories (Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 2023). That’s a huge step up from the days when everything was scattered in registers and Excel files nobody really opened.

One major change TMP has brought is in terms of transparency. Earlier, it was genuinely difficult to even confirm whether a training happened or not. Now, the portal captures names, feedback forms, even geo-tagged photos. This simple system is quietly improving trust, not just within government departments, but also among citizens who can now expect more accountability from their local institutions.

TMP is also slowly helping to make local governance feel more professional. Many Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) functionaries come from rural backgrounds and might not hold formal degrees or have strong digital literacy. Still, they’re attending workshops, asking questions, and proudly receiving certificates that validate their effort. That kind of validation matters. It boosts confidence. And confident local leaders are far more likely to take bold, informed decisions, especially in areas that are often overlooked by bigger systems.

And honestly, just from a human perspective, it feels refreshing. For years, rural governance didn’t get the kind of respect or seriousness it deserved. But that’s slowly changing. These elected people aren’t just ‘sarpanches’ or local faces anymore, they’re decision-makers, policy influencers, and community representatives. TMP is helping that identity shine through, quietly but surely, one training at a time.

Emerging Issues

Even with all its progress, TMP still has a few bumps to iron out. One of the biggest challenges is still the digital divide. Not every panchayat has good internet. Not every official is comfortable using a portal. Sometimes, data isn’t uploaded in time, or attendance isn’t recorded correctly. These small things can pile up and affect the bigger picture.

There’s also a bit of a language barrier. Even though TMP supports multiple regional languages, a lot of the content — especially training materials — is still in English or formal Hindi. That makes it harder for many local representatives to engage fully. More localised, simpler content could go a long way in making TMP truly accessible.

And then there’s the issue of real impact. While the portal can track how many trainings happened and who attended, it doesn’t yet capture whether those trainings actually improved governance outcomes. Are funds being used more efficiently? Are schemes being implemented better? Are grievances being resolved faster? These are deeper questions that will need separate tools and maybe more time to answer.

References

About the Contributor

Khushi is currently pursuing her third year of B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She is affiliated with IMPRI as a Research Intern, with a keen interest in public policy, education, and development economics.

Acknowledgment

The author extends sincere gratitude to Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance and mentorship throughout the research process.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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