Question

In Bihar Panchayati Raj Act, the duration of Gram Panchayat is fixed for five years. Its counting-
1. is done from the date of the notification of Panchayat election.
2. is done from the date of the first meeting of the Panchayat.
3. is done from the date of declaration of results of Panchayat election.
4. None of these

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : is done from the date of the first meeting of the Panchayat.

The correct answer is done from the date of the first meeting of the Panchayat.

• Panchayati Raj system is the system that ensures the participation of individuals at the grass-root level.
• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 is related to the Panchayati Raj system.
• Part IX (Schedule 11) of the Constitution of India deals with the Panchayati Raj system.
• Rajasthan is the first state to implement the Panchayati Raj system on 2nd October 1959 in its Nagaur district.
• Haryana and Rajasthan are the state which requires minimum educational qualification to contest the Panchayat elections.
• Arunanchal Pradesh does not reserve seats for Scheduled castes in Panchayati Raj Institutions.

• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended 3- tier structure consisting of

  • Zilla Parishad at the District Level
  • Panchayat Samiti at the Block Level
  • Gram Panchayat at the Village Level.

• Ashok Mehta Committee appointed in December 1977 by Janata Party Government in 1978 submitted its report stating replacement of 3-tier system by a 2-tier system consisting of Mandal Panchayats at the base and Zila Parishad at the top.

• After the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, the Government of Bihar enacted the Bihar Panchayati Raj Act, 1993 and a 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj institutions started functioning in Bihar.

• The current Panchayati Raj Minister of Bihar is Samrat Chaudhary. (May 2021)

• The Bihar Panchayati Raj Act 1993 was replaced by the Bihar Panchayati Raj Act 2006 and a 3-tier system came into existence after the first general elections held in April/May 2001.

• There are currently 8,406 Panchayats in Bihar. (May 2021)

• The elected body comprising of Gram Sabha members is called Gram Panchayat.

• It is a basic village governing institute in Indian villages.

• It acts as a cabinet of the village and it is a political institute.

• The Gram Panchayats consists of 

• Sarpanch
  • Panches minimum 6 and maximum 13.
• The chairman of the Gram Panchayat at the village level is called Pradhan.
• The Pradhan is directly elected by the Gram Sabha.
• In Bihar Panchayati Raj Act, the duration of Gram Panchayat is fixed for five years.
• Its counting is done from the date of the first meeting of the Panchayat.