Polity · topic 9 of 11
Panchayats & Municipalities
Parts IX and IXA, added in 1992. UPSC asks numbers (ages, terms, fractions), who constitutes what (Governor vs State Election Commission vs State Finance Commission), committees from before 1992, and PESA.
Committees before the 73rd Amendment
| Committee | Year | Key idea |
|---|---|---|
| Balwant Rai Mehta | 1957 | Three-tier PRI (village, block, district); “democratic decentralisation”. Rajasthan first (Nagaur, 2 Oct 1959), then Andhra Pradesh |
| Ashok Mehta | 1977 | Two-tier (Zila Parishad + Mandal Panchayat); official participation of political parties |
| G.V.K. Rao | 1985 | District as the basic unit of planning; PRIs had become “grass without roots” |
| L.M. Singhvi | 1986 | Constitutional recognition for PRIs; Nyaya Panchayats |
| P.K. Thungon | 1988 | Constitutional recognition; Zila Parishad the pivot |
73rd Amendment (Part IX, Arts. 243–243O), in force 24 April 1993
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| Gram Sabha (243A) | All voters of the village; powers as the State law gives |
| Tiers (243B) | Village, intermediate, district; intermediate tier optional in States under 20 lakh population |
| Elections (243C, 243K) | All seats by direct election; chairpersons of intermediate/district by indirect election; conducted by the State Election Commission (appointed by the Governor; removed like a HC judge) |
| Reservation (243D) | SC/ST in proportion to population; at least 1/3 for women (including within SC/ST seats); OBC reservation at the State’s option |
| Term (243E) | 5 years; election within 6 months of dissolution; a new body serves only the remainder |
| Age (243F) | 21 years |
| Powers (243G) | Plans for economic development and social justice; Eleventh Schedule — 29 subjects |
| Finance (243H, 243I) | State law may let PRIs levy taxes; State Finance Commission by the Governor every 5 years |
| Compulsory vs voluntary | Compulsory: gram sabha, three tiers, direct elections, 1/3 women, 5-year term, SEC, SFC. Voluntary: MPs/MLAs as members, OBC reservation, financial powers, devolution of the 29 subjects |
74th Amendment (Part IXA, Arts. 243P–243ZG)
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| Three types | Nagar Panchayat (transition area), Municipal Council (smaller urban), Municipal Corporation (larger urban) |
| Ward Committees | For municipalities with 3 lakh+ population |
| Twelfth Schedule | 18 subjects — urban planning, water supply, fire services, slum improvement, burial grounds… |
| District Planning Committee (243ZD) | Consolidates panchayat and municipal plans; 4/5 members elected from local bodies |
| Metropolitan Planning Committee (243ZE) | For areas of 10 lakh+; 2/3 elected by local body members |
| Kinds of urban bodies | Also cantonment boards, township, port trust, special purpose agencies — outside Part IXA |
PESA 1996
- Extends Part IX to Fifth Schedule areas in 10 States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana) — on the Bhuria Committee report.
- The gram sabha is the centre: approves plans and beneficiaries; consulted before land acquisition; owns minor forest produce; controls minor water bodies, moneylending, liquor sale, land alienation.
- Seats for STs at least half; chairpersons at all levels STs.
- It does not create autonomous regions — that is the Sixth Schedule.
Traps UPSC sets
| The wrong idea | What is actually true |
|---|---|
| Minimum age for a panchayat member is 25 | 21 (Art. 243F). |
| The CM sets up the State Finance Commission | The Governor does (243I). |
| Intermediate panchayats exist in every State | Optional below 20 lakh population. |
| Municipalities are in Part IX | Part IXA; Part IXB is co-operatives. |
| PESA creates autonomous tribal councils | That is the Sixth Schedule. |
| State Election Commissioner can be removed by the Governor at will | Only like a High Court judge. |
For Mains
GS 2: the 3 Fs — funds, functions, functionaries — not devolved; “sarpanch pati” (proxy women leaders); State Finance Commissions not set up on time; urban governance — weak mayors, the 15th FC’s conditions on grants.
Real PYQs on this topic, solved
UPSC 2025 · Newest PYQ · Panchayats
Consider the following statements. Which of them are not correct?
- Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States. — ✗
- To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years. — ✗
- The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels. — ✗
Answer (d): I, II and III
Remember: Panchayats: middle tier optional < 20 lakh · age 21 · SFC by the Governor (243I) · SEC (243K) · 29 subjects (11th Schedule).
UPSC 2016 · Panchayat term
Consider the following statements:
- The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. — ✗
- A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period. — ✓
Answer (b): 2 only
Remember: Panchayat: 5 years · re-election within 6 months · remainder only · age 21. Municipalities mirror it (243U).
UPSC 2024 · Parts of the Constitution
Which of the following statements are correct about the Constitution of India?
- Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution. — ✓
- Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution. — ✓
- Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution. — ✓
Answer (d): 1, 2 and 3
Remember: IX Panchayats (73rd) · IXA Municipalities (74th) · IXB Co-operatives (97th) · XVIII Emergency · XX Art. 368.
UPSC 2013 · PESA, 1996
The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?
Answer (c): To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
Remember: PESA 1996 = Part IX extended to Fifth Schedule areas, 10 States · gram sabha supreme · autonomous councils are Sixth Schedule, not PESA.
UPSC 2013 · Planning & Panchayats
Consider the following statements:
- National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission. — ✗
- The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India. — ✓
- The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice. — ✓
Answer (c): 2 and 3 only
Remember: Economic & social planning = Concurrent List (Entry 20) · Panchayat plans = Art. 243G · NDC and Planning Commission = executive, not constitutional.