Bhubaneswar: The Union government has released Rs 444.38 crore to strengthen rural local bodies in Odisha as part of the 15th Finance Commission grants for the financial year 2025–26, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Monday.

The release includes the second instalment of Untied Grants, amounting to Rs 342.5964 crore, for 20 eligible District Panchayats (Zilla Parishads), 296 eligible Block Panchayats (Panchayat Samitis), and 6,734 eligible Gram Panchayats in the state, the statement said.

Additionally, Rs 101.7815 crore, representing the withheld portion of the first instalment of Untied Grants for FY 2025–26, has been released to 20 eligible Zilla Parishads, 233 eligible Panchayat Samitis, and 649 eligible Gram Panchayats.

The Central government, thr

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