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What is Article 243 of indian constitution

 

📜 Article 243 of the Indian Constitution

Title: Definitions related to Panchayats (Part IX)
Introduced by: 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992
Came into effect: 24 April 1993


🔹 Text Summary:

Article 243 provides definitions for terms used in Part IX of the Constitution, which deals with Panchayats (i.e., rural local self-governments).


🧠 Key Definitions in Article 243:

🧾 Term 📘 Meaning under Article 243
District A district in a State.
Gram Sabha A body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within the area of a Panchayat.
Panchayat An institution of self-government in a village or group of villages, constituted under Article 243B.
Panchayat Area A territorial area notified by the State Government where a Panchayat is constituted.
Population Refers to population as per the latest census, of which relevant data is published.
Intermediate Level A level between village and district (like block or taluk), applicable in states with population > 20 lakhs.
State Election Commission A constitutional body for conducting Panchayat elections, constituted under Article 243K.

🧭 Why is Article 243 Important?

  • It lays the foundational terms used in the entire Panchayati Raj framework.

  • Helps in uniform understanding of rural governance across all states.

  • Forms the base of Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) on Panchayati Raj Institutions.


📌 Related Provisions:

Article Subject
243 Definitions related to Panchayats
243A Powers of Gram Sabha
243B Constitution of Panchayats
243K State Election Commission
243G Powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats

🧠 In Simple Words:

Article 243 gives us the meaning of key terms like Gram Sabha, Panchayat, Panchayat Area, etc., which are used in setting up local self-governance in villages.


Here is a 📊 Complete Summary Chart of Articles 243 to 243-O of the Indian Constitution – covering the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which established the Panchayati Raj System in India.


🏛️ Panchayati Raj Articles (243 to 243-O) – Summary Chart

🔢 Article 📘 Subject 📌 Key Points
243 Definitions Terms like Panchayat, Gram Sabha, District, etc.
243A Gram Sabha States may empower Gram Sabhas to perform functions at village level.
243B Constitution of Panchayats Mandatory 3-tier Panchayati Raj (village, intermediate, district levels).
243C Composition of Panchayats Membership, seats to be filled by direct election.
243D Reservation of Seats For SCs, STs & minimum 1/3rd for women (including women from SC/ST).
243E Duration of Panchayats 5 years tenure; election must be held before expiry or within 6 months if dissolved early.
243F Disqualifications for Membership Based on laws made by State Legislature.
243G Powers, Authority & Responsibilities of Panchayats States may devolve powers related to 29 subjects (Eleventh Schedule).
243H Panchayat Finance – Power to Impose Taxes State may authorize Panchayats to levy, collect & appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, fees.
243I State Finance Commission (SFC) To review financial position of Panchayats every 5 years.
243J Audit of Panchayat Accounts As per state law.
243K Elections to Panchayats Superintendence lies with State Election Commission (SEC).
243L Application to Union Territories Provisions apply to UTs with modifications.
243M Exceptions Does not apply to:
– J&K (before Article 370 removal)
– Schedule VI areas (tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, etc.)
– Schedule V areas (can be extended by Parliament)
243N Continuance of existing laws Existing state laws for Panchayats remain until amended or repealed.
243O Bar on interference by courts No court can question Panchayat elections except by election petition under state law.

🧠 Key Highlights of 73rd Amendment:

3-tier system:

  1. Gram Panchayat (village)

  2. Panchayat Samiti (intermediate/block level)

  3. Zila Parishad (district level)

Reservations for Women, SCs, STs
State Finance Commission
Fixed tenure of 5 years
State Election Commission