The primary objective of PRIs is to promote public accountability and transparency in the functioning of local governments.

The Gram Panchayat is the lowest level of PRI and is directly elected by the people of the village.

The Gram Sabha plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability by approving the annual budget, reviewing the performance of the Gram Panchayat, and passing a no-confidence motion against it.

The Gram Panchayat Standing Committee is responsible for planning and implementing development works in the village.

The Panchayat Samiti plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability by approving the annual budget of the Gram Panchayats, reviewing their performance, and passing a no-confidence motion against them.

The Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee is responsible for planning and implementing development works in the block.

The Zilla Parishad plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability by approving the annual budget of the Panchayat Samitis, reviewing their performance, and passing a no-confidence motion against them.

The Zilla Parishad Standing Committee is responsible for planning and implementing development works in the district.

The State Finance Commission plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability of PRIs by recommending the distribution of funds among them, reviewing their financial performance, and imposing sanctions for financial irregularities.

The CAG plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability of PRIs by auditing their accounts, reporting on financial irregularities, and recommending action against them for financial irregularities.

The media plays a crucial role in ensuring public accountability of PRIs by reporting on their activities, highlighting their achievements, and exposing corruption and irregularities.

Civil society organizations play a crucial role in ensuring public accountability of PRIs by monitoring their activities, raising awareness about their role, and providing training and capacity building to PRI members.

PRIs face a number of challenges in ensuring public accountability, including lack of awareness among the public about their role, lack of capacity among PRI members, and political interference in their functioning.

A number of measures can be taken to strengthen the role of PRIs in ensuring public accountability, including raising awareness among the public about their role, providing training and capacity building to PRI members, and ensuring political neutrality in their functioning.

PRIs play a significant role in promoting public accountability in India by providing a platform for the participation of the public in local governance, ensuring transparency and accountability in the functioning of local governments, and promoting social justice and equality.