Category Archives: Basics of Indian Politics

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas India has a caste based social system. The Preamble of the Constitution of India hasemphasized upon social economic and political justice as well as equality of opportunity and status. Right to Equality before law to all persons, Prohibition of discrimination, abolition of untouchability (Art.17) have been provided in the fundamentalContinue reading “MODULE 2: RESERVATION IN PANCHAYAT SYSTEM”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas People’s Plan Campaign, held in 1996 in Kerala State, was an experiment in decentralization of powers to local governments with focus on local planning. Kerala State lying in the south-west part of India. In India’s Ninth Five-Year Plan, each state within the national federation was expected to draw up itsContinue reading “MODULE 2: PEOPLE’S PLANNING PROGRAMME”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas The 74th constitutional Amendment has added a new Part IX A titled “Municipalities” inthe Indian Constitution, consisting of 18 articles – Article 243P to 243 ZG. It has also addedTwelfth Schedule, which elaborates Article 243 W dealing with powers, authority andresponsibilities of the Municipalities. Article 243 Q provides for theContinue reading “MODULE 2: 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas This amendment has added a new Part IX titled “Panchayats” in the Indian Constitution,consisting of 16 articles – Article 243 to 243 O. It has also added the Eleventh Schedule, whichelaborates Article 243 G, dealing with Powers, authority and responsibilities of the Panchayats. This Act provides that the Panchayat bodiesContinue reading “MODULE 2: 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas In December 1977, the Janata Government appointed a committee on panchayati raj institutions under the chairmanship of Ashok Mehta. It submitted its report in August 1978 and made 132 recommendations to revive and strengthen the declining panchayati raj system in the country. Main recommendations: The three-tier system of panchayati rajContinue reading “MODULE 2: Ashok Mehta Committee”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, headed by MP Balwantrai Mehta, was a committee appointed by the Government of India in January 1957 to examine the work of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953), to suggest measures to improve their work. The committee’s recommendation was implementedContinue reading “MODULE 2: Balwant Rai Mehta Committee”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas The governing of the advance system at the district level in Panchayat Raj is also popularly known as Zila Parishad. The chief of administration is an officer of the IAS cadre and chief officer of the Panchayat raj for the district level. CompositionThe membership varies from 40 to 60 andContinue reading “MODULE 2: ZILA PARISHAD”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas Sarpanch is its elected head. The members of the gram panchayat are elected from each for a period of five years by the members of Gram Sabha. Sources of income: Taxes collected locally such as on water, place of pilgrimage, local mandirs (temples), and markets. A fixed grant from theContinue reading “MODULE 2: GRAM PANCHAYAT SABHA”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas A Panchayat Samiti (block panchayat) is a local government body at the tehsil level. This body works for the villages of the tehsil that together are called a “development block”. The Panchayat Samiti is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration. In general, the block panchayat hasContinue reading “MODULE 2: BLOCK LEVEL PANCHAYAT OR PANCHAYAT SAMITI”

By Sreekutty & Nihala Navas Panchayati Raj System● Panchayati Raj System in Kerala began with enactment of Panchayati Raj Act in 1994. ● The status of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Kerala (2010-2015) is as follows: Elections The Chairpersons of all the three tiers are elected through indirect elections. The SEC also conducts elections toContinue reading “MODULE 2: PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM IN KERALA”