Bihar Panchayat Raj Act and State Rural Local Governance Rules
Bihar’s rural local governance is governed by the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006, which replaced the earlier 1993 framework and operationalises the 73rd Amendment in the state. The exam tests the state-specific structure: Mukhiya, Sarpanch, Gram Katchahry, reservations and fund flow.
Core rules
- Three tiers: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block) and Zila Parishad (district). Gram Sabha is the base body of registered voters.
- The Mukhiya is the executive head of the Gram Panchayat; the Sarpanch heads the Gram Katchahry, the village judicial forum, assisted by Panches.
- Bihar provides 50% reservation for women in panchayat seats and offices - a policy introduced in 2006 and often cited as a national first.
- Reservation also exists for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Extremely Backward Classes in proportion to population.
- Panchayat funds: own revenue (taxes, fees), state grants, Central Finance Commission grants and schemes such as MGNREGA; accounts are presented to the Gram Sabha.
- The Bihar State Election Commission conducts panchayat elections; the state frames rules on meetings, quorum and audits.
Worked example
“A Gram Panchayat prepares its annual income and expenditure statement. Which body must approve and review it?” Under the Bihar Act, the Gram Sabha is the primary accountability forum: the panchayat places its budget, accounts and audit reports before the Gram Sabha for approval and social audit. The answer is the Gram Sabha, not the Panchayat Samiti.
Traps
- Mukhiya (executive) and Sarpanch (Gram Katchahry) are not interchangeable.
- The Bihar Act is of 2006, not 1993 or 2005.
- Women’s reservation is 50% in Bihar, though the constitutional minimum is one-third.