Explanation:

Panchayats :

• Signifi cance of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992
• The Act added Part IX to the Constitution, “The Panchayats” and also added the Eleventh Schedule which consists of the 29 functional items of the panchayats.
• Part IX of the Constitution contains Article 243 to Article 243 O.
• The Amendment Act provides shape to Article 40 of the Constitution, (directive principles of state policy), which directs the state to organize the village panchayats and provide them powers and authority so that they can function as self-government.
• With the Act, Panchayati Raj systems come under the purview of the justiciable part of the Constitution and mandate states to adopt the system. Further, the election process in the Panchayati Raj institutions will be held independent of the state government’s will.
• The Act has two parts: compulsory and voluntary. Compulsory provisions must be added to state laws, which include the creation of the new Panchayati Raj systems. Voluntary provisions, on the other hand, are the discretion of the state government.
• The Act is a very signi fi cant step in creating democratic institutions at the grassroots level in the country. The Act has transformed representative democracy into participatory democracy.
• Salient Features of the Act
• Three-tier system: The Act provides for the establishment of the threetier system of Panchayati Raj in the states (village, intermediate and district level). States with a population of less than 20 lakhs may not constitute the intermediate level.