Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Government: 73rd and 74th Amendments, Committees, Three-Tier System and Articles for SSC
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
In this note
- 1.Evolution of Panchayati Raj
- 2.73rd Constitutional Amendment (Panchayats)
- 3.74th Constitutional Amendment (Municipalities)
- 4.Types of Urban Local Bodies in India
- 5.Rural Development Programmes Linked to Panchayats
- 6.Tricks to Remember
- 7.Quick Tips
- 8.Quick Revision Points
- 9.Practice Questions With Answers
- 10.How to Practise This Chapter
- 11.Frequently Asked Questions
PDF Notes: Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Government: 73rd and 74th Amendments, Committees, Three-Tier System and Articles for SSC
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Local self-government is the third tier of the Indian federal system, and the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayats and Municipalities. SSC regularly asks the committees, the amendment features and the schedules. This guide on Panchayati Raj and urban local government for SSC covers the history, the features and the schedules in tables, with practice questions and FAQs.
Evolution of Panchayati Raj
| Year | Event or Committee | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1882 | Lord Ripon’s Resolution | Called the “Magna Carta of local self-government”; the father of local self-government in India |
| 1957 | Balwant Rai Mehta Committee | Three-tier Panchayati Raj: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad; democratic decentralisation |
| 2 October 1959 | Launched at Nagaur, Rajasthan | Inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru; Andhra Pradesh followed |
| 1977 | Ashok Mehta Committee | Two-tier system: Zila Parishad and Mandal Panchayat; political parties to take part |
| 1985 | G. V. K. Rao Committee | District as the basic unit of planning; “grass without roots” remark |
| 1986 | L. M. Singhvi Committee | Constitutional status for local government; more financial resources |
| 1988 | P. K. Thungon Committee | Constitutional recognition; fixed term of five years |
| 1992 | 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments | Constitutional status; came into force in 1993 |
73rd Constitutional Amendment (Panchayats)
| Feature | Provision |
|---|---|
| Effective from | 24 April 1993 (observed as National Panchayati Raj Day) |
| Part and articles | Part IX; Articles 243 to 243O |
| Schedule | 11th Schedule with 29 subjects (such as agriculture, minor irrigation, animal husbandry, rural housing, primary education, health, drinking water, roads) |
| Gram Sabha | A body of all registered voters of a village; the base of the system (Art. 243A) |
| Three tiers | Village (Gram Panchayat), intermediate (Panchayat Samiti or block) and district (Zila Parishad); the intermediate tier is optional for a state with a population below 20 lakh |
| Elections | Direct elections to all seats at all levels; the chairperson of the village level is elected as the state decides |
| Term | Five years; fresh elections must be held within six months of dissolution |
| Reservation | Seats for SC and ST in proportion to their population; not less than one third of seats (including those for SC/ST) for women; many states have increased it to 50% |
| State Election Commission | Conducts elections to Panchayats (Art. 243K) |
| State Finance Commission | Reviews the financial position of Panchayats; constituted every five years (Art. 243I) |
| Exempted areas | Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, hill areas of Manipur and Darjeeling (West Bengal) and the Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas (to which PESA applies) |
- The PESA Act, 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) extended the 73rd Amendment to the Fifth Schedule areas, giving special powers to the Gram Sabha.
- Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra were early adopters; Bihar, Kerala and many states have reserved 50% for women.
- Panchayati Raj is a State subject (Entry 5, List II of the Seventh Schedule).
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj was formed in 2004.
74th Constitutional Amendment (Municipalities)
| Feature | Provision |
|---|---|
| Effective from | 1 June 1993 |
| Part and articles | Part IXA; Articles 243P to 243ZG |
| Schedule | 12th Schedule with 18 subjects (urban planning, public health, water supply, slum improvement, fire services, urban forestry) |
| Types of urban bodies | Municipal Corporation (large cities), Municipality (smaller towns), Nagar Panchayat (areas in transition from rural to urban) |
| Ward Committees | For municipalities with a population of three lakh or more |
| Reservation | Same as for Panchayats: SC, ST and one third for women |
| Term | Five years |
| Planning committees | District Planning Committee (Art. 243ZD) and Metropolitan Planning Committee (Art. 243ZE) |
Types of Urban Local Bodies in India
| Body | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipal Corporation | For large cities; headed by a Mayor; the Commissioner is the executive head; the first corporation was set up at Madras in 1687 |
| Municipality | For small towns; headed by a Chairman |
| Notified Area Committee | For fast-developing towns |
| Town Area Committee | For small towns, semi-municipal body |
| Cantonment Board | For military areas, under the Ministry of Defence |
| Township | For housing of the employees of public-sector industries |
| Port Trust | For port areas |
Rural Development Programmes Linked to Panchayats
| Programme | Details |
|---|---|
| MGNREGA (2005) | Guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households; implemented by Gram Panchayats |
| Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (2014) | Each MP adopts a village |
| Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) | Toilets and sanitation |
| PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) | Rural houses |
| Mission Antyodaya, e-Gram Swaraj | Planning and monitoring portals |
Tricks to Remember
- 73rd = Panchayats = Part IX = 11th Schedule = 29 subjects; 74th = Municipalities = Part IXA = 12th Schedule = 18 subjects.
- Balwant Rai Mehta = three-tier (1957); Ashok Mehta = two-tier (1977); Singhvi = constitutional status.
- Ripon (1882) = Magna Carta of local self-government.
- National Panchayati Raj Day = 24 April.
Quick Tips
- Learn each committee with its recommendation.
- Remember 29 and 18 as the numbers of subjects.
- Remember the one third reservation for women.
- Remember that Panchayat is a state subject.
Quick Revision Points
- Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended the three-tier system (1957).
- 73rd Amendment: Panchayats, 11th Schedule, 29 subjects.
- 74th Amendment: Municipalities, 12th Schedule, 18 subjects.
- Term of local bodies: five years.
- One third of seats are reserved for women.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which committee recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj?
Answer: Balwant Rai Mehta Committee - Where was Panchayati Raj launched in 1959?
Answer: Nagaur, Rajasthan - Which amendment relates to Panchayats?
Answer: 73rd Amendment - Which amendment relates to municipalities?
Answer: 74th Amendment - How many subjects are there in the 11th Schedule?
Answer: 29 - How many subjects are there in the 12th Schedule?
Answer: 18 - Who is called the father of local self-government in India?
Answer: Lord Ripon - What is the term of Panchayats?
Answer: Five years - Which Act extended Panchayats to Scheduled Areas?
Answer: PESA Act, 1996 - What is the minimum reservation for women in Panchayats?
Answer: One third
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Indian Polity notes page, read the previous topic Governor, Chief Minister and State Legislature and the next topic Centre-State Relations and Emergency Provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Panchayati Raj?
A system of rural local self-government with three tiers: village, block and district.
Which committee recommended the three-tier system?
The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in 1957.
What does the 73rd Amendment do?
It gave constitutional status to Panchayats and added Part IX and the 11th Schedule.
What does the 74th Amendment do?
It gave constitutional status to municipalities with Part IXA and the 12th Schedule.
What is a Gram Sabha?
A body of all adult voters of a village that forms the base of the Panchayati Raj.
What is the term of a Panchayat?
Five years.
What is the reservation for women?
At least one third of the seats.
What is the PESA Act?
The 1996 Act that extended the Panchayat system to the Scheduled Areas.
Who conducts the elections to Panchayats?
The State Election Commission.
When is National Panchayati Raj Day observed?
On 24 April.
Is this topic asked in SSC?
Yes. Local government is a regular topic in polity.
Who is the head of a municipal corporation?
The Mayor.
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Governor, Chief Minister and State Legislature: Articles, Powers, Legislative Council and High Court for SSC Polity
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Centre-State Relations and Emergency Provisions: Legislative, Administrative, Financial Relations and Articles 352, 356, 360 for SSC
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.