Question

The legislative origins of the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act can be traced back to which Constitutional Amendment Bill?
1. 61^st Constitutional Amendment Bill
2. 62^nd Constitutional Amendment Bill
3. 63^rd Constitutional Amendment Bill
4. 64^th Constitutional Amendment Bill
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : 64^th Constitutional Amendment Bill

The correct answer is 64th Constitutional Amendment Bill.

• The Amendment phase began with the 64th Amendment Bill (1989) which was introduced by Rajiv Gandhi seeking to strengthen the Panchayat Raj Institutions but the Bill was not passed in the Rajya Sabha.
• The Constitution (74th Amendment) Bill (a combined bill for the Panchayat Raj Institutions and municipalities) was introduced in 1990. However, the bill was not discussed in Parliament.
• P.V.Narasimha Rao Government introduced a comprehensive amendment in the form of the Constitution 72nd Amendment Bill in September 1991.
• 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were passed by Parliament in December 1992.
• The Acts came into force as the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 on April 24, 1993, and the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 on June 1, 1993.
• The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 has added a new part IX consisting of 16 Articles and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.
• The 73rd Amendment envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System to perform functions and powers entrusted to it by the State Legislatures.
• The amendment provides for a three-tier Panchayat Raj System at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
• “Gram Sabha” means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level.