Local Self-Government — Panchayati Raj & Urban Bodies

⚖ PON10 · Indian Polity · NDA GAT NDA Level ★ Moderate Priority

📌 NDA Focus: (1) 73rd and 74th Amendments — year and what they added; (2) Three-tier Panchayati Raj structure; (3) Reservation for women (1/3 seats); (4) Gram Sabha; (5) State Election Commission; (6) Types of urban local bodies.

1. Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment, 1992) — Part IX, Articles 243–243O

🏭 Panchayati Raj — Three-Tier Structure & Key Features (73rd Amendment, 1992)

ZILA PARISHAD

District Level — Highest Tier

Covers the entire district
Directly elected members from the district
Oversees and coordinates block and village-level bodies
Handles larger district-level development functions

PANCHAYAT SAMITI

Block/Taluka Level — Intermediate Tier

Covers a block (group of villages/tehsil)
Also called Block Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat in some states
Links Gram Panchayats to Zila Parishad
States may not have this tier (2-tier in small states)

GRAM PANCHAYAT + GRAM SABHA

Village Level — Lowest Tier + Foundation

Covers one or a cluster of small villages
Gram Sabha = All registered voters of the village — the foundational democratic body; meets at least twice a year
Gram Sabha provides popular mandate to the Panchayat
Handles: roads, drains, sanitation, village schools, health

Key Features — 73rd Amendment

What the amendment mandated

Direct elections at all three tiers
Women reservation: Minimum 1/3 seats at all levels (many states: 50%)
SC/ST reservation: Proportional to their population
Fixed tenure: 5 years; elections within 6 months of dissolution
State Election Commission (Art 243K): Conducts Panchayat elections independently
State Finance Commission (Art 243I): Recommends financial resources for Panchayats
11th Schedule: Lists 29 subjects that can be transferred to Panchayats

📌 Key Features — 73rd Amendment

Constitutional status to rural local self-government
Gram Sabha as foundational body (all registered voters)
Direct elections to all three tiers
Reservation: SCs/STs (proportional to population) + women (min 1/3 seats); states may provide 50% for women
Fixed tenure: 5 years; elections within 6 months of dissolution
State Election Commission (Article 243K): conducts Panchayat elections
State Finance Commission (Article 243I): recommends financial distribution
11th Schedule: 29 subjects under Panchayats (agriculture, primary education, health, etc.)

📈 Urban Local Bodies — 74th Amendment

Constitutional status to urban self-government (Part IXA, Articles 243P–243ZG)
Three types:
  • Nagar Panchayat (transitional/semi-urban area)
  • Municipal Council (smaller urban area)
  • Municipal Corporation (larger urban area/city)
Ward committees in larger ULBs
Same: direct elections; reservation for SC/ST/women; 5-year term
State Election Commission conducts elections
12th Schedule: 18 subjects (urban planning, property tax, public health, etc.)

📝 NDA PYQ Practice — PON10

Q1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act related to Panchayati Raj was passed in which year? NDA PYQ

✔ Answer: (b) 1992

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed in 1992 and came into force on 24 April 1993 — celebrated as Panchayati Raj Day. It added Part IX (Articles 243–243O) and the 11th Schedule (29 subjects) to the Constitution. The 74th Amendment (also 1992) dealt with Urban Local Bodies. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) had first recommended three-tier Panchayati Raj.

Q2. What proportion of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions are reserved for women? NDA PYQ

(a) One-fourth (1/4)(b) One-third (1/3) (c) Half (1/2)(d) No reservation

✔ Answer: (b) One-third (1/3)

The 73rd Amendment mandates reservation of not less than one-third (1/3) of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for women. This applies to both membership and chairperson positions. Many states have gone beyond this minimum — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand have provided 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj. Similar 1/3 reservation applies to Urban Local Bodies under the 74th Amendment.

📋 Quick Reference — PON10

⚖ 73rd Amendment

Year: 1992 (in force: April 1993)
Added Part IX; Articles 243–243O
11th Schedule: 29 Panchayat subjects
Three tiers: Gram Panchayat, Samiti, Zila Parishad

⚖ Reservations & Terms

Women: min 1/3 seats (all tiers)
SC/ST: proportional to population
Term: 5 years
Gram Sabha: all registered voters

⚖ 74th Amendment

Urban Local Bodies: Part IXA
3 types: Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation
12th Schedule: 18 Urban subjects

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