Previous Year Question

The original constitutional direction regarding the organisation of Village Panchayats is contained under the Directive Principles of State Policy. The Directive Principles are provided in Part IV of the Constitution, and Article 40 specifically deals with the organisation of Village Panchayats.

Article 40 directs the State to organise Village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.

Important fact: While the original constitutional direction relating to Panchayats is contained in Article 40, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 later gave Panchayats a detailed constitutional status by inserting Part IX — The Panchayats. It came into force on 24 April 1993. Part IX contains Articles 243 to 243-O, dealing with their structure, reservation, duration, powers, finances and elections.