Digital leap in rural taxation
Dhamtari Pioneers Digital Property Tax Collection: Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh has become the first district in India to collect property tax through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal. This marks a major milestone in technology-driven rural governance. The initiative demonstrates how digital platforms can strengthen local administration at the grassroots level.
The launch was formally carried out at Sankara gram panchayat in the Nagri block. A local resident successfully paid property tax using a UPI-enabled online payment gateway, making it a nationally significant first.
End-to-end online payment system
The SAMARTH Panchayat portal enables complete digitisation of property tax collection. Rural citizens can now pay taxes directly from their homes without visiting panchayat offices. This reduces paperwork, travel time, and administrative delays.
The system also helps in real-time tracking of payments and reduces pending arrears. By replacing manual registers with digital records, transparency and efficiency in panchayat finances are significantly improved.
Static GK fact: Panchayats derive revenue mainly from local taxes, grants, and shared state revenues, as envisaged under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
Administrative support and recognition
Senior officials highlighted the national importance of the initiative. The project received appreciation from officials of the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry, who described it as a model for digitally empowered local governance.
State-level leadership emphasised that the initiative strengthens the concept of financially self-reliant gram panchayats. District administration officials noted that this system can be easily replicated in other regions with minimal infrastructure.
District-wide implementation
The online property tax system has been rolled out across all gram panchayats in Dhamtari district. Nearly 400 panchayats are now covered under this digital framework. This ensures uniformity in tax collection and better fiscal planning at the village level.
Following the successful pilot, the government plans to expand the system across Chhattisgarh. This expansion is expected to create a steady and independent revenue stream for rural local bodies.
Static GK Tip: Financial empowerment of panchayats is a core objective of decentralised governance, enabling villages to fund local infrastructure, sanitation, and welfare works.
Impact on local self-governance
The initiative strengthens grassroots democracy by enhancing accountability and reducing dependency on higher administrative tiers. Digital tax collection ensures timely revenue flow, which supports faster execution of local development projects.
By integrating UPI-based digital payments, the system also promotes financial inclusion and digital literacy in rural areas. This aligns with India’s broader push towards e-governance and digital public infrastructure.
Strengthening rural digital governance
The Dhamtari model highlights how technology can bridge governance gaps in rural India. It showcases a practical pathway for modernising panchayat administration while preserving local autonomy.
This initiative sets a national precedent for other districts to adopt similar systems. It reinforces the idea that digital tools are essential for efficient, transparent, and self-sustaining local governance.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Dhamtari Pioneers Digital Property Tax Collection:
| Topic | Detail |
| District | Dhamtari |
| State | Chhattisgarh |
| Portal | SAMARTH Panchayat portal |
| Tax collected | Property tax |
| Launch location | Sankara gram panchayat |
| Block | Nagri |
| Payment mode | UPI-enabled online gateway |
| Coverage | Nearly 400 gram panchayats |
| Significance | First district in India with digital property tax collection |
| Governance impact | Strengthens financial autonomy of panchayats |
