Polity · Chapter 10

🏘️ Local Government & Panchayati Raj

73rd and 74th Amendment, 3-tier system and 11th Schedule.

🏘️ Democracy at the Grassroots

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The 74th Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities). Both came into force April 24, 1993 — celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day.

3-tier Panchayati Raj System (Article 243):
1. Gram Panchayat — village level (Gram Sabha = all adult voters of village — foundation of democracy)
2. Panchayat Samiti / Block Panchayat — intermediate level (block/taluk)
3. Zila Parishad / District Panchayat — district level
Note: States with population less than 20 lakh are exempt from intermediate tier.

Key provisions:
• Elections every 5 years
• 1/3 seats reserved for women (many states have 50% reservation)
• Reservation for SC/ST proportionate to population
• State Election Commission (SEC) conducts PR elections
• State Finance Commission every 5 years
• 11th Schedule — 29 functions that can be transferred to Panchayats

🏙️ Urban Local Bodies — 74th Amendment

Types of Urban Local Bodies:
• Municipal Corporation — large cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai). Headed by Mayor.
• Municipal Council / Municipality — medium-sized towns
• Nagar Panchayat — transitional areas (rural to urban)
12th Schedule — 18 functions for municipalities: water supply, roads, public health, slum development, etc.
Ward Committees — for cities with 3 lakh+ population
District Planning Committee (DPC) — consolidates plans of PRIs and ULBs in each district.

🔑 History of Panchayati Raj in India

• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) — recommended 3-tier PR system. Led to first PR experiments in Rajasthan (1959).
• Ashok Mehta Committee (1978) — recommended 2-tier system, district as key unit.
• L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) — recommended constitutional status for PR.
• 73rd Amendment (1992) — P.V. Narasimha Rao government finally gave constitutional status.
• Father of Panchayati Raj in India: Balwant Rai Mehta.
• First state to implement 3-tier PR: Rajasthan (October 2, 1959) inaugurated by PM Nehru at Nagaur.

🎬

3-Tier Panchayati Raj System

Animation
PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM — CLICK EACH TIER ZILA PARISHAD District Panchayat — Tier 3 Covers entire district | Chairperson heads it PANCHAYAT SAMITI Block / Intermediate Panchayat — Tier 2 Covers block (several villages) | President/Block Pramukh heads it GRAM PANCHAYAT Village Panchayat — Tier 1 Covers one or a few villages | Sarpanch/Pradhan heads it | 5 year term GRAM SABHA — Foundation of Democracy All adult voters of the village | Elects Gram Panchayat | Approves plans and accounts | Article 243A CLICK ANY TIER India has 2.5 lakh+ Gram Panchayats covering 6 lakh villages — largest democratic experiment in the world.

Gram Sabha (all villagers) is the foundation — it is the true unit of self-governance in rural India.

📜

73rd & 74th Amendment — Key Provisions

Interactive
PassedDecember 1992 — In force April 24, 1993
AddedPart IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) + 11th Schedule
3-tier systemGram Panchayat + Panchayat Samiti + Zila Parishad
11th Schedule29 subjects that can be devolved to Panchayats
ElectionState Election Commission conducts PR elections
Practice (SSC/UPSC): What did the 73rd Amendment actually change? Was it mandatory or optional for states?
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) and the 11th Schedule to the Constitution.

What it made MANDATORY for all states:
• Gram Sabha at village level (Art 243A)
• 3-tier PR structure (Art 243B) — except states with pop under 20 lakh exempt from middle tier
• Direct elections to all tiers (Art 243C)
• 1/3 reservation for women in seats AND chairperson positions (Art 243D)
• Reservation for SC/ST proportionate to population (Art 243D)
• 5-year term — elections before expiry (Art 243E)
• State Election Commission to conduct PR elections (Art 243K)
• State Finance Commission every 5 years (Art 243I)

What it left OPTIONAL for states (devolution of powers):
• Devolving 29 functions (11th Schedule) to Panchayats
• Devolving funds and functionaries
• This is the weak point — states have devolved very little in practice

Result: PR elections now held regularly and women representation increased dramatically. But financial autonomy and functional powers remain limited in most states.

India now has 30 lakh+ elected PR representatives — largest democratic body in the world. 10+ lakh are women.
Practice (SSC): What are the 29 subjects in the 11th Schedule? Why are they important?
The 11th Schedule (added by 73rd Amendment) lists 29 subjects that may be devolved to Panchayats by states — it is NOT mandatory for states to devolve all.

Key subjects in 11th Schedule:
1. Agriculture including agricultural extension
2. Land improvement, land reforms
3. Minor irrigation, water management
4. Animal husbandry, dairying, poultry
5. Fisheries
6. Social forestry, minor forest produce
7. Small scale industries, food processing industries
8. Khadi, village and cottage industries
9. Rural housing
10. Drinking water
11. Fuel and fodder
12. Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries
13. Non-conventional energy sources
14. Poverty alleviation programmes
15. Education including primary and secondary schools
16. Technical training and vocational education
17. Adult and non-formal education
18. Libraries
19. Cultural activities
20. Markets and fairs
21. Health and sanitation including hospitals
22. Family welfare
23. Women and child development
24. Social welfare (disabled, mentally retarded)
25. Welfare of weaker sections (SC/ST)
26. Public distribution system
27. Maintenance of community assets
...

The challenge: Most states have not actually devolved funds, functions, and functionaries (3Fs) to Panchayats. EC and Supreme Court have repeatedly emphasized the need for genuine decentralization.
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