The ______ Amendment of the Constitution of India envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System to perform functions and powers entrusted to it by the State Legislatures.
73rd
Understanding the 73rd Amendment and Gram Sabha
The question asks about the specific Constitutional Amendment that laid the foundation for the Panchayat Raj System, particularly highlighting the role of the Gram Sabha.
India's Constitution was amended to give constitutional status to local self-governing bodies. These amendments were the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992. The 73rd Amendment deals with rural local governments (Panchayats), while the 74th Amendment deals with urban local governments (Municipalities).
Let's look at the options provided:
- 72nd Amendment: This amendment provided for the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of Tripura. It is not related to the Panchayat Raj System.
- 71st Amendment: This amendment included Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. It is not related to the Panchayat Raj System.
- 73rd Amendment: This amendment is a landmark amendment that gave constitutional status to the Panchayat Raj Institutions in India. It added Part IX, titled "The Panchayats," and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. This amendment mandates the establishment of a three-tier Panchayat Raj System at the village, intermediate, and district levels (except in states with a population below 20 lakhs, which may not have the intermediate level).
- 74th Amendment: This amendment gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities). It added Part IX-A, titled "The Municipalities," and the Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution.
The 73rd Amendment Act specifically envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System. Article 243A of the Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment, states that a Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
Therefore, the 73rd Amendment is the one that established the Gram Sabha as the foundational unit of the rural local self-governance system in India, empowering it with functions and powers assigned by the state legislatures.
Key Features of the 73rd Amendment concerning Gram Sabha
The 73rd Amendment brought significant changes to strengthen the Panchayat Raj System and the Gram Sabha:
- It gave constitutional recognition to Panchayats.
- It mandated the constitution of a Gram Sabha in every village.
- The Gram Sabha includes all persons whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat at the village level.
- It is envisioned as the primary deliberative body at the village level, serving as a link between the people and the elected representatives of the Panchayat.
- Powers and functions of the Gram Sabha are to be determined by the state legislatures.
Role of Gram Sabha in Panchayat Raj
The Gram Sabha is often referred to as the soul of the Panchayat Raj System. Its role includes:
- Holding the elected members of the Gram Panchayat accountable.
- Approving development plans and programmes of the Panchayat.
- Discussing the annual budget of the Gram Panchayat.
- Identifying beneficiaries for various poverty alleviation and other government schemes.
- Promoting unity and harmony among villagers.
Comparison: 73rd vs 74th Amendment
| Feature | 73rd Amendment | 74th Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Rural Local Self-Government (Panchayats) | Urban Local Self-Government (Municipalities) |
| Constitutional Part Added | Part IX | Part IX-A |
| Schedule Added | Eleventh Schedule | Twelfth Schedule |
| Foundation Level Body | Gram Sabha (Village Assembly) | Ward Committees (in Municipalities) |
| Application | Rural areas | Urban areas |
Based on the analysis, the amendment that envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System is the 73rd Amendment.
Revision Table: Important Constitutional Amendments
| Amendment | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 71st Amendment | 1992 | Included Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali in 8th Schedule |
| 72nd Amendment | 1992 | Reservation of seats for ST in Tripura Assembly |
| 73rd Amendment | 1992 | Panchayat Raj Institutions, Gram Sabha, Part IX, 11th Schedule |
| 74th Amendment | 1992 | Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities), Part IX-A, 12th Schedule |
Additional Information on Panchayat Raj System
The Panchayat Raj System is a system of rural local self-governance in India. It was constitutionalized by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992. The objective was to decentralize power and involve people at the grassroots level in the decision-making process and local administration. The system operates at three levels:
- Village Level: Gram Panchayat
- Intermediate Level: Panchayat Samiti or Block Samiti (not in states with population < 20 lakhs)
- District Level: Zila Parishad
The Gram Sabha acts as the general assembly of all registered voters residing within the area of a village Panchayat. It is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability of the Gram Panchayat.
Important Questions from Local Government
Which one of the following is not a power of Panchayats under Article 243G?
- Panchayati Raj Institutions are primarily the institutions of
Which one of the following provisions of the Constitution of India deals with District Planning Committee?
Which of the following are the basic features of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act ?
1. Provides for a three-tier structure of panchayats in the village, intermediary and district levels.
2. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and women in all the tiers of panchayats.
3. Election to panchayats under the supervision of the State Election Commissions.
4. Introduction of the 11 th Schedule to the Constitution.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
The Panchyati Raj System under Part-IX of the Constitution of India does not apply to the States of:
