Local Self-Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Expect questions on the 73rd and 74th Amendments, the three-tier structure, reservations and the Gram Sabha.
Constitutional basis
The 73rd Amendment (1992, in force 24 April 1993) inserted Part IX, Arts. 243-243O, with the Eleventh Schedule listing 29 subjects. The 74th Amendment (in force 1 June 1993) inserted Part IXA for urban bodies and the Twelfth Schedule with 18 subjects. Both followed the Balwantrai Mehta (1957) and Ashok Mehta (1977) committee reports and the L. M. Singhvi committee's push for constitutional status.
Panchayati Raj
Three tiers: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti at the block, Zila Parishad at the district. The Gram Sabha (Art. 243A) consists of all registered voters of a village. Elections are held every five years; a body dissolved early must face election within six months unless the remaining term is under six months. Seats are reserved for SC/ST in proportion to population and at least one-third for women - Uttar Pradesh provides 50 per cent. A State Election Commission (Art. 243K) conducts elections and a State Finance Commission (Art. 243I) reviews finances every five years. PESA, 1996 extends Part IX to Scheduled Areas.
Urban bodies
Municipal corporation for a larger city, municipality for a smaller one, Nagar Panchayat for a transitional area, with ward committees and District and Metropolitan Planning Committees (Arts. 243S, 243ZD, 243ZE).
Worked example
A State dissolves a Zila Parishad eight months before its term ends. Reasoning: under Art. 243E a panchayat normally serves five years and may be dissolved earlier, but elections must be completed within six months of dissolution. Since the remaining term exceeds six months here, an election is mandatory.
Traps
Panchayat elections are held by the State Election Commission, not the Election Commission of India. The Eleventh Schedule has 29 subjects; the Twelfth has 18.