Sarpanch Powers, Duties and Salary: What the New Sarpanch Can Do
Thousands of new sarpanchs take charge in Rajasthan this season. Here is what the post really allows, what it does not, and what it pays.
PowersSarpanch Powers and Duties: 6 Main Jobs
Presides over meetings
Calls and chairs the gram panchayat's meetings and the Gram Sabha; must hold them as the State Act requires.
Panchayat funds
Operates the panchayat's accounts jointly with the Gram Vikas Adhikari (VDO); payments go online with both their digital signatures. Never alone.
Development works
Gets the yearly Gram Panchayat Development Plan approved in the Gram Sabha and runs works such as roads, drains, ponds and MGNREGA projects.
Pattas and records
Signs residential pattas for abadi land as the Rajasthan rules provide, and keeps the panchayat's records, assets and registers.
Welfare schemes
Helps select beneficiaries (housing, pensions, toilets) through the Gram Sabha and verifies local claims.
Answers to the village
Must place accounts and works before the Gram Sabha and allow social audit; RTI applies to the panchayat.
SalarySarpanch Salary (Honorarium) in Rajasthan
| Point | Sarpanch | Ward Panch |
|---|---|---|
| Salary or honorarium? | Monthly honorarium (maandey), not a government salary | No fixed amount; meeting allowance |
| Recent amount (Rajasthan) | Revised in 2024 and from April 2025 (reported around ₹6,000 a month); a further revision was notified in March 2026 | Reported ₹276 per meeting (from April 2023) |
| Who fixes it | State Panchayati Raj Department | State Panchayati Raj Department |
| Pension, PF | No | No |
LimitsWhat a Sarpanch Can and Cannot Do
The lawWhere Sarpanch Powers Come From: Article 243G
243G. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats.— Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to— (a) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice; (b) the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.
The Constitution does not list a sarpanch's powers. It asks each State to give panchayats enough power to work as self-government, especially over the 29 subjects of the Eleventh Schedule such as drinking water, minor irrigation, rural housing, roads and sanitation. Rajasthan's Panchayati Raj Act and Rules then decide what the sarpanch does personally.
🏠 Everyday analogy
A sarpanch is like the head of a housing society: chosen by the residents, runs the society's work and bank account with the secretary, and must show the accounts at the general meeting.
🇮🇳 Real Indian example
Suppose the Gram Sabha of a Jhunjhunu village approves a ₹5 lakh water tank in its plan. The sarpanch gets it built, and payment is released only when both the sarpanch and the VDO sign online.
ConstitutionSarpanch and the Constitution
Article 40: Village panchayats
The State must give panchayats the powers they need to work as units of self-government.
Article 21: Life with dignity
Water, sanitation and roads that panchayats deliver are part of a dignified life, which courts read into Article 21.
Rajasthan Panchayat Chunav 2026All Rajasthan Panchayat Election 2026 Guides in One Place
🏛️ The Constitution behind your Panchayat: learn it here
Practice MCQTest Yourself: Powers of Panchayats
How many subjects are listed in the Eleventh Schedule for Panchayats?
Doubts ClearedFrequently Asked Questions
What are the powers of a sarpanch?
A sarpanch presides over panchayat and Gram Sabha meetings, runs development works and schemes, operates panchayat funds jointly with the Gram Vikas Adhikari, signs pattas as the rules allow and keeps records.
What is the salary of a sarpanch in Rajasthan?
A sarpanch gets a monthly honorarium (maandey), not a salary. It was around ₹6,000 a month after the April 2025 revision as reported, and a fresh revision was notified in March 2026; check the current department order.
Can a sarpanch spend panchayat money alone?
No. Payments need both the sarpanch and the Gram Vikas Adhikari, and the work must be sanctioned and approved by the panchayat or Gram Sabha.
Can a sarpanch be suspended?
Yes. Under Section 38 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the State can suspend or remove a sarpanch after an inquiry into misconduct.
Sources and further readingSources We Checked
Facts checked on 27 October 2026 against Part IX of the Constitution, the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and reports. Honorarium figures change by department order; the current order is final.