Panchayati Raj (Art 243)
Constitution Special · पंचायती राज (अनु. 243) · 18 facts
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are covered under Part IX, Article 243 of the Constitution — added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
The 73rd Amendment came into effect on April 24, 1993 — this day is now observed as National Panchayati Raj Day every year.
Panchayati Raj has a 3-tier system: Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti/Mandal (block/taluka level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
Gram Sabha (Article 243A) is the body of all adult voters registered in the electoral rolls of a village — it is the foundation of democracy at grassroots.
Elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions are mandatory every 5 years and are conducted by the State Election Commission.
At least 1/3 of the total seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions are reserved for women. Many states have enhanced this to 50% reservation.
SC and ST communities get seats reserved in Panchayat bodies in proportion to their population in each Panchayat area.
State Election Commission (Article 243K) is responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of Panchayat elections.
State Finance Commission (Article 243I) is constituted every 5 years to review the financial position of Panchayats and recommend devolution of funds.
The Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G) contains 29 functions that may be assigned to Panchayats — including agriculture, primary education, rural housing, drinking water.
Before the 73rd Amendment, the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the 3-tier Panchayati Raj system — first implemented in Nagaur (Rajasthan) on Oct 2, 1959.
The Ashok Mehta Committee (1978) recommended a 2-tier system: Mandal Panchayat and Zila Parishad — but its recommendations were not implemented fully.
Article 243D provides reservations in Panchayats; Article 243F deals with disqualifications for membership; Article 243E provides 5-year term.
States with more than 20 lakh population must have the 3-tier system; states with less than 20 lakh may have a 2-tier system.
PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 extended Panchayati Raj to tribal areas in the 5th Schedule states.
The Gram Panchayat is headed by Sarpanch (Pradhan/Mukhiya in different states) — elected directly by the voters of the village.
Article 243M exempts certain states from the provisions of Part IX — Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, hill areas of Manipur, and Darjeeling district.
Panchayati Raj's father is considered to be Balwant Rai Mehta, who recommended the system. The concept also finds mention in Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj.