Further Committees on Panchayati Raj and Constitutional Amendments

L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986)

In 1986, during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister, the L.M. Singhvi Committee was established.

Purpose:

To study the revitalization of Panchayati Raj institutions for democracy and development.

Key Recommendations:

• Provide constitutional status to local self-government bodies (Panchayats).
• Establish Nyaya Panchayats (judicial panchayats) for clusters of villages.
• Establish a state-level Election Commission to conduct Panchayat elections.
• Set up judicial tribunals to adjudicate disputes related to local self-government elections.
• Provide financial resources to Panchayats.

P.K. Thungan Committee (1988)

• The P.K. Thungan Committee was established in 1988.
• It was a sub-committee of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Rural Development.
• The purpose of its establishment was to review L.M. Singhvi Committee's report, and also providing constitutional status for Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Key Recommendations:

• Provide constitutional status to local self-government bodies (Panchayats).

Constitutional Amendments

Rajiv Gandhi Government

• In 1989, the 64th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to grant constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions. It was passed by the Lok Sabha but rejected by the Rajya Sabha, causing it to lapse.
• Also in 1989, the 65th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced to give constitutional status to urban local bodies. The Lok Sabha was dissolved before it could be fully considered, and the bill lapsed.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh's Government

• The 70th Constitutional Amendment Bill, aimed at granting constitutional status to both rural and urban local bodies, was introduced. However, the government fell due to a no-confidence motion before the bill could be passed.

P.V. Narasimha Rao Government

The successful 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Bills were finally passed during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Bill (for Panchayati Raj institutions) and the 74th Constitutional Amendment Bill (for urban local bodies) were introduced in Parliament in September 1991.
• Passed by the Lok Sabha on December 22, 1992.
• Passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 23, 1992.
• Received Presidential assent on April 20, 1993.
• The 73rd Amendment came into force on April 24, 1993.
• The 74th Amendment came into force on June 1, 1993.

Constitutional Provisions

The speaker provides details of the constitutional amendments. The below details are provided in a table.

Constitution Amendment Act	Focus	Part Added	Schedule Added	Articles Added
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992	Panchayati Raj Institutions	Part IX	11th Schedule	Articles 243 to 243-O

The 11th schedule lists 29 subjects on which Panchayati Raj institutions can legislate. Examples mentioned in the audio include:

• Primary and secondary schools
• Adult education
• Technical and vocational training
• Libraries
• Social welfare (including for women, children, and weaker sections)
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Drinking water
• Minor irrigation
• Maintenance of community assets
• Cultural activities
• Social forestry
• Fuel and fodder
• Minor forest produce
• Markets and fairs
• Rural electrification
• Micro and small-scale industries, including cottage industries.
• Agriculture development and extension.
• Land reforms.
• Fisheries.
• Animal Husbandry, dairying and Poultry

The audio also emphasizes the fact that Panchayati Raj is a subject in the *State List*.