73rd and 74th Amendments

In 1989, the central government introduced two constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing local governance and promoting uniformity in its structure and functioning nationwide. These amendments were followed by the passage of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in 1992, focusing on rural and urban local governance, respectively. These amendments came into force in 1993.

The 73rd Amendment standardized the structure of Panchayati Raj institutions across all states, establishing a three-tier system consisting of Gram Panchayats, Mandal or Block Panchayats, and Zilla Panchayats. It also mandated the creation of Gram Sabhas comprising adult voters to facilitate grassroots participation in decision-making.

Elections to all levels of Panchayati Raj institutions are now conducted directly, with one-third of positions reserved for women and additional reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes where necessary. The amendment also transferred certain subjects from the State list to Panchayati Raj institutions, empowering them to address local development and welfare issues.

However, the 73rd Amendment initially did not apply to areas inhabited by Adivasi populations, prompting the passage of a separate act in 1996 to extend the Panchayat system to these regions while respecting their traditional self-governance practices. State Election Commissioners and State Finance Commissions were established to ensure independent oversight of Panchayat elections and finances, respectively.

Similarly, the 74th Amendment extended similar provisions to urban areas, defining urban areas based on population size, occupational composition, and population density. It mandated direct elections, reservations, transfer of subjects, and the establishment of State Election Commissions and State Finance Commissions for urban local bodies. Additionally, it outlined a list of functions to be transferred from the State to urban local bodies for more effective governance at the local level.

In the quest for effective governance, India embarked on a transformative journey with the enactment of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in 1992.

These pivotal amendments aimed to bolster local governance structures, providing a framework for uniformity and empowerment across rural and urban areas. Let’s delve deeper into the significant changes ushered in by these amendments.