Panchayati Raj & Municipalities (73rd & 74th Amendments)
Local self-government in India — the 73rd Amendment (Panchayats) and 74th Amendment (Municipalities), their key features, committees, and constitutional schedules.
Key Takeaways
- The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayats (Part IX, Eleventh Schedule).
- The 74th Amendment (1992) did the same for urban local bodies — Municipalities (Part IXA, Twelfth Schedule).
- Both mandate elections every 5 years, reservations for SC/ST and women, and State Finance & Election Commissions.
Core concept
Local self-government brings democracy to the grassroots. Before 1992, Panchayats existed but lacked constitutional backing, leading to irregular elections and weak devolution. The 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts (1992) made local bodies a constitutional mandate — Mahatma Gandhi's dream of 'Gram Swaraj'.
Static foundation — the committees
- Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj (village, block, district) — 'democratic decentralisation'.
- Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): recommended a two-tier system.
- L. M. Singhvi Committee (1986): recommended constitutional status for Panchayats — the seed of the 73rd Amendment.
73rd vs 74th Amendment
| Feature | 73rd Amendment (Panchayats) | 74th Amendment (Municipalities) |
|---|---|---|
| Part / Articles | Part IX (243–243O) | Part IXA (243P–243ZG) |
| Schedule | Eleventh (29 subjects) | Twelfth (18 subjects) |
| Structure | Three tiers: village, intermediate, district | Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation |
| Grassroots body | Gram Sabha (village assembly) | Wards Committees |
| Common features | 5-year term, SC/ST & women (⅓) reservation, State Election Commission, State Finance Commission | Same |
Key Constitutional Bodies for Local Government
Tap to reveal the role of each.
Current affairs linkage
Persistent gaps: weak fiscal devolution (dependence on grants), incomplete transfer of the 3 Fs — Funds, Functions, Functionaries, and capacity constraints. (Add the latest Finance Commission grants to local bodies or any state's devolution reform.)
Mains answer skeleton
Intro: Local bodies as the third tier of federalism / 'grassroots democracy'.
Body: (a) Achievements — regular elections, women's empowerment (⅓+ representation), grassroots planning; (b) gaps — the 3 Fs, parallel bodies, weak SFCs, state control.
Way forward / Conclusion: Genuine devolution, activity mapping, own-source revenue, capacity building.
Prelims trap zones
- Local-body elections are held by the State Election Commission, NOT the Election Commission of India.
- Eleventh Schedule = 29 subjects (Panchayats); Twelfth = 18 (Municipalities) — don't swap them.
- The intermediate tier is optional only for states below 20 lakh population.
Prelims Pointers
- The Eleventh Schedule lists 29 subjects (Panchayats); the Twelfth Schedule lists 18 subjects (Municipalities).
- The intermediate tier of Panchayats is optional for states with a population below 20 lakh.
- Elections are conducted by the State Election Commission (Art 243K/243ZA), not the central EC.
- Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended a three-tier system; L. M. Singhvi recommended constitutional status.
Mains Angle
- 'The 73rd and 74th Amendments deepened democracy but devolution remains incomplete.' Discuss.
- Examine the challenges of fiscal and functional devolution to local governments.
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