Tamil Nadu and Local Government
Local government is the tier closest to the citizen, and Tamil Nadu's own structure is a favourite source of questions. Learn the constitutional provisions, then the State machinery.
The two amendments
- 73rd Amendment (1992, in force 24 April 1993): Part IX, Art 243 to 243-O, and the Eleventh Schedule with 29 subjects. It created a mandatory three-tier rural structure.
- 74th Amendment (1992, in force 1 June 1993): Part IXA, Art 243-P to 243-ZG, and the Twelfth Schedule with 18 subjects, covering municipal corporations, municipalities and town panchayats.
- Both provide for a Gram Sabha (Art 243A), SC/ST reservation in proportion to population (Art 243D), not less than one-third for women (Tamil Nadu provides 50 per cent in local bodies), a State Election Commission (Art 243K) and a State Finance Commission (Art 243I) every five years.
Tamil Nadu's structure
The rural tier runs through village panchayats, panchayat unions at block level and district panchayats, with the District Collector as the key administrative link between State and local bodies. Urban bodies are corporations, municipalities and town panchayats. Elections are conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission.
Worked example
'Why does a village panchayat need the Finance Commission's report?' Reasoning: the 73rd Amendment makes devolution of funds a constitutional expectation rather than a favour. The State Finance Commission recommends how taxes and grants are shared, so a panchayat's plan is actually funded and not merely announced.
Traps
Mixing the 29 and 18 subjects; writing that the 73rd Amendment covers urban bodies; confusing the Gram Sabha (all registered voters) with the Gram Panchayat (the elected body); and forgetting that local bodies are creatures of State law and derive powers from State legislation.