GK Questions

Article 243F: Disqualifications for Panchayat/Municipality membership: (a) As per State law, (b) Subject to Constitution: unsound mind (court declaration), undischarged insolvent, holding office of profit (as State law determines). State Election Commission decides disqualification questions. Balances State flexibility with constitutional safeguards.

Article 243ZE: Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) for areas with population >10 lakhs: (a) At least 2/3 members elected by elected members of Municipalities/Panchayats in proportion to population, (b) Chairperson as State law determines. Prepares draft development plan for metropolitan area, ensuring coordinated urban-rural planning.

Article 243ZD: District Planning Committee (DPC) in every district: (a) 4/5 members elected by Panchayat/Municipality members from amongst themselves, (b) Chairperson as State law determines. Consolidates rural and urban plans, prepares draft district development plan. Promotes integrated spatial and sectoral planning at district level.

Twelfth Schedule (Article 243W): 18 functional items for Municipalities including urban planning, regulation of land use, water supply, public health, slum improvement, urban poverty alleviation, parks, gardens, cemeteries, fire services, vital statistics, etc. States devolve powers/functions to Municipalities by law, enabling effective urban service delivery.

Article 243S: Wards Committees (comprising elected members from wards) mandatory for Municipalities with population of 3 lakhs or more. Facilitates micro-level planning, citizen participation, and accountability. State Legislatures may constitute Wards Committees for smaller Municipalities. Strengthens participatory urban governance.

Article 243T: Reservation in Municipalities mirrors Panchayats: (a) SCs/STs in proportion to population, (b) Not less than 1/3 for women (including within SC/ST quotas), (c) States may reserve for OBCs. Chairperson positions also reserved. Has significantly increased women's representation in urban local governance.

Article 243Q: Three types of Municipalities based on population, density, revenue: (a) Nagar Panchayat (transitional area), (b) Municipal Council (smaller urban area), (c) Municipal Corporation (larger urban area). Cantonment Boards are under Ministry of Defence, governed by Cantonments Act, 2006, not Part IXA.

74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IXA (Articles 243P-243ZG) giving constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities). Came into force on 01.06.1993. Complements 73rd Amendment for rural areas. Together, they institutionalize democratic decentralization at grassroots level across India.

Article 243A: Gram Sabha (village assembly of registered voters) is basic unit of direct democracy. Powers/functions determined by State Legislature: approving plans, budgets, selecting beneficiaries, social audit, etc. Empowers citizens to participate directly in local governance, ensuring accountability of elected representatives.

Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G): 29 functional items for Panchayats including agriculture, land improvement, minor irrigation, rural housing, drinking water, roads, rural electrification, poverty alleviation, education, health, women and child development, etc. States may devolve powers/functions to Panchayats by law. Enables activity mapping for effective decentralization.

Article 243-I: Governor constitutes State Finance Commission every 5 years to: (a) review financial position of Panchayats, (b) recommend principles for tax/grant distribution between State and Panchayats, (c) suggest measures to improve Panchayat finances. Mirrors Union Finance Commission's role for local bodies, ensuring fiscal decentralization.

Article 243K(2): State Election Commissioner's removal conditions same as High Court Judge (Article 217): by Presidential order after Parliament address with special majority. Ensures independence of State Election Commission from State executive, enabling impartial conduct of local elections. Critical for democratic decentralization.

Article 243E: Panchayat term is 5 years. If dissolved earlier, elections within 6 months; new Panchayat serves only remainder of term. State Election Commission (Article 243K) conducts elections, independent of State government. Ensures regular, free, fair local elections, strengthening grassroots democracy.

Article 243D(3): Reservation of seats: (a) SCs/STs in proportion to population, (b) Not less than 1/3 for women (including within SC/ST quotas), (c) States may reserve for OBCs. Chairperson positions also reserved similarly. 73rd Amendment made India a global leader in women's political representation at local level.

Article 243B: Three-tier system (Village, Block, District Panchayats) mandated only for States with population exceeding 20 lakhs. Smaller States may have two-tier system. This flexibility accommodates administrative feasibility while promoting decentralization. All States now have PRIs, but structure varies.

73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX (Articles 243-243O) giving constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Came into force on 24.04.1993. Made rural local self-government a justiciable part of Constitution, not merely Directive Principle. 74th Amendment (same year) did same for Urban Local Bodies.

Indian federalism is unique: (a) Federal in normal times (division of powers, independent judiciary, bicameralism), (b) Unitary in emergencies (Centre assumes State powers), (c) Flexible (Parliament can reorganize States, amend Constitution). Designed by Constituent Assembly to balance regional autonomy with national unity in diverse, post-partition India. Evolves through judicial interpretation and political practice.

Article 352(4): Emergency proclamation must be laid before each House and approved within one month by special majority (majority of total membership + 2/3 present and voting). If Lok Sabha is dissolved, Rajya Sabha approves, but Lok Sabha must approve within 30 days of reconstitution. 44th Amendment (1978) tightened approval requirements to prevent misuse.

India has both federal (written Constitution, division of powers, independent judiciary, bicameralism) and unitary features (single citizenship, strong Centre, All India Services, emergency provisions, Governor's role, integrated judiciary, Parliament's power to reorganize States). 'Unitary bias' means Centre has overriding powers in crises, not that unitary features outnumber federal ones. Balance tilts to Centre for national unity.

Article 3: Parliament may by law: (a) form new States, (b) increase/decrease State area, (c) alter boundaries/name. Procedure: President refers bill to affected State Legislature(s) for views within specified period; Parliament not bound by views. Ensures federal consultation while preserving Union's power to reorganize States for administrative efficiency.