Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 — called "Magna Carta of Local Self-Government." Panchayati Raj actually started — 2nd October 1959 in Nagaur, Rajasthan by Jawaharlal Nehru. Dono dates alag hain!
Bihar was the first state to implement 50% women reservation in Panchayats (2006). This was later adopted by 21 other states. Bihar pioneered women's political empowerment at grassroots!
Balwant Rai Mehta (1957) = 3-tier system (implemented). Ashok Mehta (1977) = 2-tier system (NOT implemented). L.M. Singhvi (1986) ne Constitutional Status recommend kiya — jo 73rd Amendment se mila. Sequence yaad karo!
73rd Amendment ki effective date = 24 April 1993 (Panchayati Raj Diwas). 74th Amendment = 1 June 1993. Dono 1992 mein pass, 1993 mein effective. Min. age for Panchayat = 21 years (Parliament ke liye 25/30 — alag hai!).
11th Schedule = Panchayats (73rd Amendment) = 29 subjects. 12th Schedule = Municipalities (74th Amendment) = 18 subjects. Numbers must be remembered — 29 aur 18.
Gram Panchayat = Direct Election. Block/District = Indirect Election. V.N. Gadgil Committee ne direct election to all 3 tiers recommend kiya tha, but sirf Gram Panchayat ke liye direct election adopted hua.
Constitution mein minimum 1/3rd women reservation hai. Lekin 2009 mein Centre ne 50% ki permission di. Bihar ne pehle implement kiya — BPSC ke liye must-know! Abhi 21+ states mein 50% hai.
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| 243(A) | Gram Sabha — all registered voters |
| 243(B) | Formation of 3-tier Panchayats |
| 243(C) | Composition of Panchayats |
| 243(D) | Reservation (SC/ST + 1/3rd women) |
| 243(E) | Term — 5 years |
| 243(G) | Powers & functions of Panchayats |
| 243(H) | Financial provisions — tax, tolls, fees |
| 243(I) | State Finance Commission — every 5 years |
| 243(J) | Audit of Panchayat accounts |
| 243(K) | State Election Commission — conducts elections |
| 243(L) | Applicable to Union Territories |
| 243(M) | Does not apply to certain areas |
| 243(O) | Restricts courts from intervening in elections |
1st Municipal Corporation = Madras (1687) — oldest. 12th Schedule = 18 subjects for Municipalities. Metropolitan Planning Committee = areas with 10 lakh (1 million)+ population.
Nagar Panchayat = 10K–20K · Municipal Council = 20K–3L · Municipal Corporation = 3L+. Ye ranges exam mein directly pooche jaate hain. Ward Committee = 3L+ areas mein mandatory!
Cantonment Boards — military areas ke liye hote hain. Under Ministry of Defence. These are NOT under 74th Amendment — they have separate legislation.
11th Schedule (Panchayats) = 29 subjects. 12th Schedule (Municipalities) = 18 subjects. Total new subjects added via these two amendments = 47. Ye numbers guaranteed exam question!
PESA (1996) extended Panchayat system to Scheduled (tribal) areas under 5th Schedule. These areas were excluded from 73rd Amendment's automatic coverage. 6th Schedule areas (NE states) have different tribal governance arrangements.
Nyaya Panchayat = Singhvi Committee (1986) ne recommend kiya. Gram Nyayalaya (Village Court) = Separate law — Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008. Dono alag hain — Nyaya Panchayat (informal) vs Gram Nyayalaya (formal court under act).
97th Amendment (2011) — trifecta: (1) FR mein right to form cooperatives added, (2) DPSP mein Art. 43B added, (3) Part IX(B) add karke Constitutional status diya. Teen changes ek amendment mein!
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 243 | Definitions |
| 243(A) | Gram Sabha |
| 243(B) | Constitution of 3-tier Panchayats |
| 243(C) | Composition of Panchayats |
| 243(D) | Reservation of seats (SC/ST + Women) |
| 243(E) | Duration — 5 years |
| 243(G) | Powers, authority, responsibilities |
| 243(H) | Taxes, duties, tolls, fees |
| 243(I) | State Finance Commission (every 5 years) |
| 243(J) | Audit of Panchayat accounts |
| 243(K) | State Election Commission — conducts elections |
| 243(L) | Applicable to Union Territories |
| 243(M) | Does not apply to certain areas |
| 243(O) | Restricts courts from intervening in elections |
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 243(P) | Definitions |
| 243(S) | Ward Committees (3L+ population areas) |
| 243(ZD) | District Planning Committees |
| 243(ZE) | Metropolitan Planning Committees (10L+ population) |
| 243(ZG) | Bar to court interference in elections |
| 243(ZH-ZT) | Cooperative Societies (97th Amendment) |
73rd Amend. → Panchayats · Part IX · Art. 243–243O · 11th Schedule (29 subjects) · Effective 24 Apr 1993 · 74th Amend. → Municipalities · Part IXA · Art. 243P–243ZG · 12th Schedule (18 subjects) · Effective 1 Jun 1993