Answer: Jharkhand
Notes: Recently, Jharkhand implemented rules under the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) after 25 years of statehood. PESA is intended to give tribal communities greater control over governance in Fifth Schedule Areas. The law empowers Gram Sabhas to manage local resources, resolve disputes, and preserve customary practices. The implementation covers 13 districts fully, with partial application in three more. Tribal leaders welcome the law but caution that administrative control may dilute true autonomy. The success of PESA will depend on effective and respectful implementation at the village level.
