Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 is called the Magna Carta of local self-government in India. The modern Panchayati Raj system was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru at Nagaur, Rajasthan, on 2 October 1959. Distinguish the two dates.
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!
The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee of 1957 recommended the implemented three-tier system. The Ashok Mehta Committee of 1977 proposed an unimplemented two-tier system. The L. M. Singhvi Committee of 1986 recommended constitutional status, later granted through the 73rd Amendment.
The 73rd Amendment came into force on 24 April 1993, observed as National Panchayati Raj Day, and the 74th Amendment on 1 June 1993. Both were enacted in 1992. The minimum age for Panchayat membership is 21, unlike the age requirements of 25 and 30 for the two Houses of Parliament.
11th Schedule = Panchayats (73rd Amendment) = 29 subjects. 12th Schedule = Municipalities (74th Amendment) = 18 subjects. Numbers must be remembered — 29 and 18.
Members at the village, intermediate and district levels are directly elected, while chairpersons at the intermediate and district levels are elected indirectly; the method for the village chairperson is determined by State law. The V. N. Gadgil Committee had recommended direct elections across all three tiers.
The Constitution requires at least one-third reservation for women in Panchayats. Many States, including Bihar, have increased the quota to 50% through State legislation.
| 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.
Population thresholds for Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations are set by State law rather than fixed uniformly by the Constitution. Article 243S requires Ward Committees in municipalities with a population of three lakh or more.
Cantonment Boards administer military cantonment areas under the Ministry of Defence. They are governed by separate legislation and do not fall under the 74th Amendment.
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.
The L. M. Singhvi Committee recommended Nyaya Panchayats in 1986. Gram Nyayalayas are separate statutory courts created under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008; do not confuse the two institutions.
The 97th Amendment of 2011 made three changes: it added the right to form cooperative societies to Article 19, inserted Article 43B among the Directive Principles, and added Part IX-B on cooperative societies.
| 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