Indian Polity — Panchayati Raj
1. Introduction
- The Panchayati Raj system in India is a three-tiered system consisting of:
- Gram Panchayats (village level)
- Panchayat Samitis (block level)
- Zila Parishads (district level)
- 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into force on 24 April, 1993, has provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj system in India.
- This act has added a new Part-IX to the Constitution of India, entitled as 'The Panchayats' and consists of provisions from Articles 243 to 243-O.
KNOWLEDGE NUGGET
- 73rd Amendment: 1992 (came into force: 24 April 1993)
- Part-IX: The Panchayats (Articles 243 to 243-O)
- Three-Tier System: Gram Panchayat → Panchayat Samiti → Zila Parishad
- Rajasthan: First state to establish Panchayati Raj (1959, Nagaur district)
2. Salient Features of the 73rd Amendment
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Gram Sabha | Provides for a Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system. It is a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within the area of Panchayat at the village level. |
| Three-Tier System | Provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in every state — Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels. |
| Election of Members and Chairpersons | All members of Panchayats at all levels shall be elected directly by the people. Chairperson and other members elected directly or indirectly shall have the right to vote in meetings. |
| Reservation of Seats |
|
| Duration of Panchayats |
|
| Disqualifications | A person shall be disqualified if disqualified (a) under any law for elections to state legislature, or (b) under any law made by the state legislature. |
| Elections | The State Election Commission shall have superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections to Panchayats. |
| Finances | The Governor shall, after every five years, constitute a Finance Commission to review the financial position of Panchayats. |
3. Evolution of Panchayati Raj
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Balwant Rai Mehta Committee | 1957 |
|
| Ashok Mehta Committee | 1977 |
|
| G.V.K. Rao Committee | 1985 | Stated that "the district is the proper unit for planning and development" and the Zila Parishad should become the principal body for managing all development programmes at that level. |
| L.M. Singhvi Committee | 1986 |
|
KEY EVENTS
- Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): Three-tier system — Rajasthan first state to implement (1959).
- Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): Two-tier system — Zila Parishad + Mandal Panchayat.
- G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985): District as the proper unit for planning.
- L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): Constitutional status + more financial resources.
- 73rd Amendment (1992): Granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj.
4. Comparison of Committees
| Committee | Year | Structure Suggested | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balwant Rai Mehta | 1957 | Three-tier | First to recommend PRIs; Rajasthan first state |
| Ashok Mehta | 1977 | Two-tier | District as first point of decentralization |
| G.V.K. Rao | 1985 | - | District as proper unit for planning |
| L.M. Singhvi | 1986 | - | Constitutional status + financial resources |
5. Summary: Panchayati Raj at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Amendment | 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (came into force: 24 April 1993) |
| Part | Part-IX — The Panchayats |
| Articles | 243 to 243-O |
| System | Three-tier — Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad |
| Term | 5 years (elections within 6 months if dissolved) |
| Reservation for Women | Not less than 1/3 seats and 1/3 chairperson offices |
| State Election Commission | Conducts elections to Panchayats |
| State Finance Commission | Reviews financial position every 5 years |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- 73rd Amendment (1992): Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj — Part-IX (Articles 243-243O) — came into force: 24 April 1993
- Three-Tier System: Gram Panchayat (village) → Panchayat Samiti (block) → Zila Parishad (district)
- Gram Sabha: Foundation of Panchayati Raj system
- Reservation: 1/3 seats for women (including SC/ST women) — 1/3 chairperson offices for women
- Term: 5 years — elections within 6 months if dissolved
- State Election Commission: Conducts elections — State Finance Commission: Reviews finances every 5 years
- Balwant Rai Mehta (1957): Three-tier system — Rajasthan first state (1959)
- Ashok Mehta (1977): Two-tier system — Zila Parishad + Mandal Panchayat
- G.V.K. Rao (1985): District as proper unit for planning
- L.M. Singhvi (1986): Constitutional status + financial resources
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Panchayati Raj)
Q1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj in which year?
Correct Answer: C. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed in 1992 and came into force on 24 April 1993.
Q2. Which Part of the Constitution deals with Panchayats?
Correct Answer: B. Part-IX of the Constitution, entitled 'The Panchayats', deals with Panchayati Raj institutions (Articles 243 to 243-O).
Q3. The Gram Sabha is the foundation of which system?
Correct Answer: B. The Gram Sabha is the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system, consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village.
Q4. What is the minimum reservation for women in Panchayats?
Correct Answer: B. The 73rd Amendment provides for reservation of not less than one-third of the total number of seats for women in Panchayats.
Q5. The term of a Panchayat is:
Correct Answer: C. The Panchayat has a five-year term of office. In case of dissolution, elections must be held within six months.
Q6. Which committee first recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system?
Correct Answer: B. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) suggested a three-tier PRIs: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad.
Q7. Which state was the first to establish Panchayati Raj?
Correct Answer: C. Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj, inaugurated in 1959 in Nagaur district.
Q8. The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended which structure?
Correct Answer: B. The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) recommended a two-tier Panchayati Raj structure consisting of Zila Parishad and Mandal Panchayat.
Q9. According to the G.V.K. Rao Committee, which is the proper unit for planning and development?
Correct Answer: C. The G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) stated that "the district is the proper unit for planning and development."
Q10. The L.M. Singhvi Committee recommended:
Correct Answer: C. The L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended providing more financial resources and constitutional status to Panchayats to strengthen them.