Question

Explain any four features of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India.

Answer 1

The following are the primary characteristics of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution that relate to rural local self-government institutions:

1. This act provides three-tier structure: Panchayats operate at three different levels: district (Zila Parishad), intermediate (Panchayat Samiti), and village (Gram Panchayat).
2. Gram Sabha: It operates in every village and performs its duties according to state legislation. All registered voters in Panchayat's boundaries make up the village assembly.
3. Composition of Panchayat: This act specified that, to the greatest possible, the percentage of the population living in a Panchayat's territorial area at any given level to the number of seats in such Panchayats to be filled by direct election candidates must be the same across the State. The intermediate-level Ex-officio members are the Chairpersons of the Gram Panchayats. At the district level, the Ex-officio members of the Panchayats are the chairpersons of the intermediate-level Gram Panchayats. The intermediate and district chairpersons are chosen indirectly by their elected companions.
4. Tenure of local self-government institutions: Every Panchayat has been granted a five-year term. It ends sooner in line with the state Act and for particular reasons. The last meeting of the Panchayat must occur either before the end of its term or six months after the date of dissolution under regular circumstances.
5. Reservation of representation in local self- government institutions: Reservations at all three levels for SCs and STs. Direct elections will be used to fill the seats. For SC or ST women, one-third of the seats are reserved. A minimum of thirty per cent of the membership has been set aside for females. Every Panchayat will be elected directly and alternately. A minimum of thirty per cent of the Chairperson positions are assigned to women on a rotating basis. Additionally, the positions of Chairpersons will be set aside for SCs and STs.
6. State Election Commission: Regular panchayat elections are held under the State Election Commission's general supervision. The Governor will appoint the State Election Commissioner to lead the Election Commission.
7. Functions: The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution allocated 29 topics from the State list to local self-government. The task of ensuring local self-government institutions' financial independence shifted to the State Finance Commission.