The New Panchayati Raj system in India was formally introduced in 1993 through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. This amendment gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and made them a fundamental part of India’s governance structure.
Key points about the New Panchayati Raj system:
1. The 73rd Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament in December 1992.
2. It came into effect on April 24, 1993, officially marking the beginning of the New Panchayati Raj system in India.
3. This amendment added Part IX to the Constitution, which deals with Panchayats.
4. It provided constitutional status to the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
5. The act aimed to decentralize power and promote grassroots democracy by giving more authority to local self-government institutions.
While the concept of Panchayati Raj has existed in India for centuries in various forms, the 1993 amendment marked a significant shift by providing a constitutional framework and mandatory status to these local governance bodies across the country.
The concept of Panchayati Raj in India has a long history, but its modern incarnation has gone through several phases.
1. Ancient origins:
The idea of village self-governance through panchayats (councils of five elders) has existed in India for centuries.
2. Post-Independence era:
The formal introduction of Panchayati Raj in modern India began on October 2, 1959.
This date is significant because it’s when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the first Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
3. Initial implementation:
Following Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh adopted the system in 1959.
Other states gradually implemented it over the next few years.
4. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee:
This committee, formed in 1957, recommended a three-tier structure of local self-government.
Its recommendations formed the basis for the initial Panchayati Raj system.
5. Challenges and variations:
Despite the initial enthusiasm, the implementation varied widely across states.
By the 1970s and 1980s, many PRIs had become ineffective due to various factors.
6. Constitutional status:
The New Panchayati Raj system was formalized in 1993 through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
This gave constitutional status to PRIs and mandated their implementation across India.
The Panchayati Raj system in its modern form was officially started on October 2, 1959. However, its current constitutional form began in 1993 with the implementation of the 73rd Amendment.
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