Pratidin
Polity and governanceConstitutional amendments1992

73rd Amendment

Gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions.

Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.

The old Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan), New Delhi.
The old Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan), New Delhi. Nikhilb239, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Prelims

Quick recall

Which Part did the 73rd Amendment add?
Part IX.
How many subjects are in the Eleventh Schedule?
29.
What share of seats is reserved for women?
At least one-third.
When did it come into force?
24 April 1993, now National Panchayati Raj Day.
Which body conducts panchayat elections?
The State Election Commission.
Which committee recommended a three-tier system?
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee (1957).

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Effectiveness of Panchayati Raj and democratic decentralisation

Mains
  1. 2022 · GS2 · 10 marks

    To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

    The 73rd Amendment is the constitutional basis of grassroots decentralisation whose impact the question asks you to assess.

  2. 2020 · GS2 · 15 marks

    The strength and sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of 'Functions, Functionaries and Funds' to the contemporary stage of 'Functionality'. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times.

    Funds, functions and functionaries are the three devolution gaps left by the 73rd Amendment's reliance on State laws.

  3. 2018 · GS2 · 15 marks

    Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing developmental projects?

    Panchayat finances rest on the 73rd Amendment's State Finance Commission and taxing provisions.

  4. 2017 · GS2 · 10 marks

    "The local self-government system in India has not proved to be effective instrument of governance." Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation.

    Assessing local self-government means evaluating how far the 73rd Amendment has delivered in practice.

  5. 2015 · GS2 · 12.5 marks

    In the absence of well-educated and organised local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instrument of governance. Critically Discuss.

    Critiques of Panchayats as political rather than governance bodies test the gap between the 73rd Amendment's design and its working.

The basics

Why it matters

The 73rd Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to panchayats, creating a third tier of government in rural India with regular elections, reserved seats and devolved functions.

29
Subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule
For devolution to panchayats.

The three-tier structure

Panchayats work at three levels.

Panchayati Raj
  1. 1Gram panchayatVillage level
  2. 2Panchayat samitiBlock level
  3. 3Zila parishadDistrict level
  4. 4Gram sabhaAll voters of the village

You now know

  • Came into force on 24 April 1993; added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.
  • Three tiers, except in States under 20 lakh population.
  • One-third seats reserved for women; SC/ST in proportion to population.
  • State Election Commission and State Finance Commission required.

Go deeper

In one line: The 73rd Amendment made panchayats a constitutional level of government.

Why it matters for UPSC

Local governance is a core GS2 topic, and the facts are Prelims staples.

The core idea

It guaranteed elections and reservation, but left devolution of Funds, functions and functionaries to States, which is why many panchayats remain weak. The Gram sabha is its democratic base.

Where to go next

In one line: Panchayats exist everywhere, but their power depends on State devolution.

Gains

Regular elections and a large number of elected women representatives.

Gaps

Weak Funds, functions and functionaries, 'sarpanch-pati' proxies, and limited own revenue.

PESA

The PESA Act, 1996 extends panchayats to Fifth Schedule areas with a strong Gram sabha.

Where to go next

Gram sabha

The village assembly

In one line: The gram sabha is the body of all registered voters in a village panchayat area.

Role

Approves plans, selects beneficiaries and conducts social audits.

Under PESA

It has stronger powers over land, resources and customs.

Where to go next

Gram sabha: every story that connects to it (2)

Funds, functions and functionaries

What real devolution needs

In one line: The '3Fs' are the funds, functions and staff that must be devolved for panchayats to work.

The problem

Many States have transferred functions on paper but not money or staff.

Tools

State Finance Commissions and Finance Commission grants.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. The Eleventh Schedule contains:

    1. 52 subjects
    2. 18 subjects
    3. 22 subjects
    4. 29 subjects
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 29 subjects. 29 subjects.

  2. Consider the following:
    1. The 73rd Amendment requires a State Finance Commission.
    2. Panchayat elections are conducted by the Election Commission of India.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. State Election Commissions conduct them.

  3. Panchayati Raj Day is observed on:

    1. 15 August
    2. 2 October
    3. 24 April
    4. 26 November
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 24 April. 24 April.

  4. The intermediate tier is not required in States with a population below:

    1. 20 lakh
    2. 1 crore
    3. 10 lakh
    4. 50 lakh
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 20 lakh. 20 lakh.

Syllabus

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