Question

One of the features of the \(73^{rd}\) Amendment is

• A. It mandates elections for members once in every six years
• B. It establishes Gram Sabha at block and district levels
• C. It mandates at least 40% seats to women
• D. It establishes Panchayats at village, block and district levels

Hint:

Remember the key statutory numbers of the \(73^{rd}\) Amendment: - 3 tiers (Village, Block, District) - 5-year regular term - Minimum \(1/3^{rd}\) reservation for women - 29 functional subjects under the \(11^{th}\) Schedule

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: The \(73^{rd}\) Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 added Part IX to the Constitution of India, titled "The Panchayats", and introduced the Eleventh Schedule containing 29 functional items. This landmark amendment gave constitutional status to rural local self-governments, translating the directive principle of Article 40 into a statutory reality.

Step 1: Analysis of the Structural Framework
The Act introduced compulsory provisions that all states must adopt to bring uniformity to rural local administration across India. One of its most foundational pillars is the introduction of a standardized decentralized administrative ladder.

Step 2: Checking Options against Constitutional Clauses

• Option (A) is incorrect: Article 243-E explicitly mandates a fixed tenure of five years for every Panchayat from the date of its first meeting, not six years. Elections must be completed before the expiry of this 5-year duration.
• Option (B) is incorrect: Article 243-A provides for the setup of a Gram Sabha, but it is established at the village level consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level, not at the block/district levels.
• Option (C) is incorrect: Article 243-D(3) mandates that not less than one-third (approx. 33.33%) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women. While some states have voluntarily increased this to 50%, the central amendment itself mandates a minimum floor of 33.33%, not 40%.
• Option (D) is correct: Article 243-B provides for a uniform three-tier system of Panchayati Raj across the country: at the village level (Gram Panchayat), intermediate/block level (Panchayat Samiti), and district level (Zilla Parishad). (Note: States with a population below 20 lakhs may choose not to constitute the intermediate tier).