Polity · X-Factor Notes
Panchayati Raj and Community Development revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | Provisions related to Panchayati Raj are contained in Part IX (The Panchayats), covering Articles 243 to 243(O). | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013, UPPCS (Pre) 2016, UPPCS (Pre) 2020 |
| Constitutional Amendment | The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) got constitutional status primarily through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. | |
| Year of Implementation | The provision regarding Panchayats was made in the Constitution in 1993. The third tier was added to the Indian Federal System in 1992. | U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010, UPPCS (Pre) 2020 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| System Classification | Panchayati Raj is described as a system of Democratic Decentralization. Its main purpose is to enable people to participate in developmental administration. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998, UPPCS (Mains) 2004, UPPCS (Mains) 2013 |
| Term of Panchayat | Every Panchayat continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. | |
| Fresh Elections (Dissolution) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| First System | Panchayati Raj was first introduced on October 2, 1959, in Nagaur (Rajasthan) by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. | UPPCS (Pre) 1991, UPPCS (Pre) 1994, UPPCS (Pre) 2012, UPPCS (Mains) 2015 |
| Second State | Andhra Pradesh was the second state to establish the Panchayati Raj System. | |
| B.R. Mehta Committee (1957) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| State Finance Commission (SFC) | Established by the Governor under Article 243(I) to review the financial position of Panchayats. It is a Constitutional body. | UPPCS (Pre) 2015, UPPCS (Pre) 2016, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003 |
| Intermediate Level Body | Panchayat Samiti (at the block level) is typically an Administrative Authority. In UP, this is known as Kshetra Panchayat. | UPPCS (Mains) 2015 |
| 11th Schedule |
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| Added by the 73rd Amendment. It specifies the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats. |
| Subjects in 11th Schedule | The 11th Schedule contains a total of 29 subjects. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009 |
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| Legal Status of PRI | Panchayati Raj is a subject belonging to the State List. | UPPCS (Mains) 2016 |
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| Directive Principle | Article 40 of the Constitution advises the State to work for the organization of Village Panchayats. | UPPCS (Pre) 2014, UPPCS (Pre) 2015, U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2017 |
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| Composition & Structure | The Legislature of the State is authorized to make provisions regarding the composition and structure of Panchayats. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016 |
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| Elections must be completed within six months from the date of dissolution. |
| U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015 |
| Conduct of Elections | All elections to the Panchayats are conducted by the State Election Commission. | UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
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| Minimum Age | The minimum age required to become a member of a Panchayat is 21 years. |
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| Reservation for Women | Article 243-D(3) guarantees not less than one-third (1/3rd) representation of women in Panchayats. | UPPCS (Mains) 2016, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010, U.P. RO/ARO 2017 |
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| Gram Sabha | A body consisting of all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village. | UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
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| Non-Applicability (SC/ST) | Reservation of seats for SCs/STs in Panchayat elections shall not apply to the State of Arunachal Pradesh. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016 |
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| Exclusion from Powers | Judicial Review is not among the powers of Panchayati Raj Institutions. |
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| 74th Amendment | Gives constitutional status to urban local self-government (Municipalities), adding Part IX-A and the 12th Schedule. |
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| Recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad). |
| UPPCS (Mains) 2017, UPPCS (Mains) 2012, UPPCS (Pre) 2021 |
| Architect of PR | Balwant Rai Mehta is considered the "Architect of Panchayati Raj" in India. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, UPPCS (Pre) 2016 |
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| Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) | Recommended the replacement of the three-tier system with a two-tier system. It also recommended the creation of Nyaya Panchayats. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013, UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
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| G.V.K. Rao Committee | Appointed in 1985. Recommended for improvement in the representative character of Panchayats. | UPPCS (Mains) 2017 (Chronological arrangement) |
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| L.M. Singhvi Committee | Appointed in 1986. Recommended that PRI should be Constitutionally recognised. | UPPCS (Mains) 2017 (Chronological arrangement) |
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| PM during Amendments | The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) were enacted during the Prime Ministership of P.V. Narsimha Rao. |
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| PESA Act | The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) was passed by the Parliament in 1996. | UPPSC Prelims 2022 |
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| Members of Panchayat Samiti | The members of the Panchayat Samiti are directly elected by the people. |
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| Community Development Prog. | Community Development Programme (CDP) was launched in 1952. The National Extension Service (NES) (1953) was its first programme. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013 |
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| MGNREGA | This scheme aims to implement the goals stated in Article 43 (Directive Principles regarding living wages and standard of life). | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010 |
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| Panchayat Day | National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on 24 April. | UPPCS (Pre) 2019 |
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| District Plan in UP | Nagar Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, and Kshetra Panchayat (Block Panchayat) are included in the District Plan in U.P.. | UPPCS (Pre) 2016 |
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