Panchayati Raj (Art 243)
Constitution Special · पंचायती राज (अनु. 243)
📋Quick Overview
Panchayati Raj was given constitutional status by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into effect on April 24, 1993. This date is now celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day. The amendment added Part IX (Articles 243–243O) and the 11th Schedule (29 subjects) to the Constitution. It created a three-tier local self-government structure: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti/Block (intermediate), and Zila Parishad (district). The idea was based on the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957).
First state to implement Panchayati Raj in India: Rajasthan (October 2, 1959, Nagaur district). First PM to launch PR: Jawaharlal Nehru. National Panchayati Raj Day: April 24 (73rd Amendment came into force).
📖Key Features of 73rd Amendment — Mandatory Provisions
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Three-tier structure | Must be created in states with population > 20 lakh: (1) Village/Gram Panchayat, (2) Block/Intermediate level, (3) District/Zila Parishad |
| Elections (Art 243E) | Elections to Panchayats every 5 years; State Election Commission (SEC) conducts elections |
| Reservation for women (Art 243D) | Minimum 1/3 seats reserved for women at all levels; many states have 50% reservation |
| SC/ST Reservation (Art 243D) | Seats reserved proportional to their population in each panchayat area |
| State Election Commission (Art 243K) | One body for conducting Panchayat elections; headed by State Election Commissioner appointed by Governor |
| State Finance Commission (Art 243I) | Constituted every 5 years; reviews financial position; recommends tax devolution to Panchayats |
| Gram Sabha (Art 243A) | Body of all registered voters in a village — foundational democratic unit; can perform functions as state legislature decides |
| Audit | Accounts of Panchayats audited as state legislature prescribes |
📖Historical Background — PR Committees
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Balwant Rai Mehta Committee | 1957 | Recommended 3-tier PR structure; 'Democratic decentralisation'; village as basic unit; led to first PR in Rajasthan 1959 |
| Ashok Mehta Committee | 1977 | Recommended 2-tier structure; Zila Parishad as main unit; political parties should participate in PR elections |
| GVK Rao Committee | 1985 | Grassroots planning; 'grass without roots' problem of PR; district as basic unit of development planning |
| L.M. Singhvi Committee | 1986 | Gram Sabha as vibrant institution; constitutional status to PR; 73rd Amendment based largely on this |