Panchayat Raj Committees and Amendments

L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986)

Aspect	Details
Formation	Set up by Rajiv Gandhi's government in 1986.
Purpose	To examine the revitalization of Panchayat Raj institutions for democracy and development.
Key Recommendations	Constitutional recognition for local self-government bodies. Establishment of Nyaya Panchayats (Judicial Tribunals) for clusters of Panchayats. Establishment of a State Election Commission for local body elections. Allocation of financial resources to local self-government bodies.

P.K. Thungon Committee (1988)

Aspect	Details
Formation	Set up in 1988 by a Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Purpose	To study the L.M Singhvi committee report To study about providing constitutional status to Panchayat Raj institutions.
Key Recommendation	Constitutional recognition for local self-government bodies (Panchayat Raj).

Events under Rajiv Gandhi's Prime Ministership

Event	Details
64th Constitutional Amendment Bill (1989)	Introduced in 1989 to provide constitutional status to Panchayat Raj institutions. Passed by the Lok Sabha. Rejected by the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, the bill lapsed.
65th Constitutional Amendment Bill (1989)	Introduced in 1989 to provide constitutional status to urban local bodies (municipalities). Passed by Lokh Sabha. Could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha was dissolved in 1989. Therefore, the bill lapsed.

Events under V.P. Singh's Prime Ministership

Event	Details
70th Constitutional Amendment Bill	Combined bill for constitutional status for both Panchayat Raj institutions and municipalities. Introduced in Parliament. Could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha. V.P Singh's government fell after the no-confidence motion in 1990. Therefore, the bill lapsed.

Events under P.V. Narasimha Rao's Prime Ministership and the 73rd & 74th Amendments

Event/Aspect	Details
73rd Constitutional Amendment Bill	Aimed to provide constitutional status to Panchayat Raj institutions. Added Part IX to the Constitution. Added the 11th Schedule to the Constitution. Covers Articles 243 to 243(O). Deals with the powers, authorities, and responsibilities of Panchayats.
74th Constitutional Amendment Bill	Aimed to provide constitutional status to urban local bodies (municipalities).
Parliamentary Process	Both bills were introduced in Parliament in September 1991. Passed by Lok Sabha on December 22, 1992. Passed by Rajya Sabha on December 23, 1992. Received Presidential Assent on April 20, 1993. The 73rd Amendment Act came into force on April 24, 1993. The 74th Amendment Act came into force on June 1, 1993.