Gram panchayat

For other uses, see Panchayat (disambiguation).

Local self-government organisation in India

Gram Panchayat

ग्राम पंचायत

Polity type|

* Local government

Part of| Panchayati Raj System (Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti)
Formation| 2 October 1959
Legislative branch
Name| Gram-sabha[1]
Executive branch
Supreme leader
Title| President (Pradhan/Sarpanch)
Cabinet
Appointer| Block Development Officer
Judicial branch
Courts| Nyaya Panchayat
This article is part of a series on the

Politics of India

Constitution

* Amendment
* Basic structure doctrine
* Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and
Fundamental Duties of India
* Human rights
* Judicial review
* Taxation
* Uniform Civil Code

Government

* President of India

* Droupadi Murmu (15th)

* * *

* Vice President of India

* Jagdeep Dhankhar (14th)

* * *

* Prime Minister of India

* Narendra Modi (14th)

* * *

* Cabinet secretary

* Rajiv Gauba

* * *

* Ministries
* Ministers
* Departments
* Secretaries

Parliament

Lok Sabha (18th)

* Speaker

* Om Birla

* * *

* Deputy Speaker

* Vacant

* * *

* Leader of the House

* Narendra Modi (BJP)

* * *

* Leader of the Opposition

* Rahul Gandhi (INC)

* * *

* Secretary General

* Utpal Kumar Singh

Rajya Sabha (Members)

* Chairman

* Jagdeep Dhankhar

* * *

* Deputy Speaker

* Harivansh Narayan Singh

* * *

* Leader of the House

* Jagat Prakash Nadda (BJP)

* * *

* Leader of the Opposition

* Mallikarjun Kharge (INC)

* * *

* Secretary General

* Pramod Chandra Mody

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

* Cabinet Minister

* Kiren Rijiju

* * *

* Minister of State

* Arjun Ram Meghwal
* L. Murugan

Law and judiciary

Law of India

* Indian criminal law

* Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
* Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
* Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam

* * *

* Code of Civil Procedure

Supreme Court of India

* Chief Justice (50th)

* Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud

* * *

* Judges
* Bar Association

* * *

* Bar Council
* District Court
* List
* Gram Nyayalaya
* High Court
* Chief Justices
* Judges
* Lok Adalat
* Nyaya Panchayat
* Pendency of court cases
* Other tribunals

Ministry of Law and Justice

* Minister

* Arjun Ram Meghwal

* * *

* Attorney-General

* R. Venkataramani

* * *

* Solicitor General

* Tushar Mehta

* * *

* Additional Solicitor General

* * *

* Law Commission
* National Judicial Appointments Commission
* National Legal Services Authority

Elections and politics

Election Commission

* Chief Election Commissioner

* Rajiv Kumar

* * *

* Election Commissioner

* Gyanesh Kumar
* Sukhbir Singh Sandhu

* * *

* State Election Commission

Elections

* Electoral College
* Electronic voting

* * *

* Presidential elections

* 2022
* 2017
* 2012

* * *

* Vice Presidential elections

* 2022
* 2017
* 2012

* * *

* Lok Sabha elections (Constituencies)

* 2014
* 2019
* 2024

* * *

* Rajya Sabha elections

* 2024
* 2023
* 2022

* * *

* State Assembly elections

* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* * *

* National coalitions
* NDA
* INDIA
* Political parties
* National parties
* State parties

Administrative divisions

States and union territories (Capitals)

* States

* Andhra Pradesh
* Arunachal Pradesh
* Assam
* Bihar
* Chhattisgarh
* Goa
* Gujarat
* Haryana
* Himachal Pradesh
* Jharkhand
* Karnataka
* Kerala
* Madhya Pradesh
* Maharashtra
* Manipur
* Meghalaya
* Mizoram
* Nagaland
* Odisha
* Punjab
* Rajasthan
* Sikkim
* Tamil Nadu
* Telangana
* Tripura
* Uttar Pradesh
* Uttarakhand
* West Bengal

* * *

* Union territories

* Andaman and Nicobar
* Chandigarh
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
* Delhi
* Jammu and Kashmir
* Ladakh
* Lakshadweep
* Puducherry

* * *

* Proposed states and union territories

* * *

* Autonomous Divisions
* Divisions
* Districts
* Sub-districts
* Community Development Block
* Metropolitan Areas
* Urban Agglomerations

Federalism

Executive

* Governor
* List
* Lieutenant Governor/Administrator
* List
* Chief Minister
* List
* Deputy Chief Minister
* List
* Ministries

Legislative

* Legislative Council
* Legislative Assembly
* Speaker
* List
* Official Opposition
* List

Local Government

* Municipal Governance

* Municipal Corporation
* Municipality
* Town Panchayat

* * *

* Panchayati Raj

* District Panchayat
* Block Panchayat
* Gram Panchayat

Foreign relations

Ministry of External Affairs

* Cabinet Minister

* S. Jaishankar

* * *

* Minister of State

* Kirti Vardhan Singh
* Pabitra Margherita

* * *

* Foreign Secretary

* Vinay Mohan Kwatra

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in India
* Ambassadors and High Commissioners of India / to India

* * *

* Nationality law
* Overseas Citizenship
* Passports
* Visa policy
* Visa requirements

Foreign Relations

* 2+2
* BIMSTEC
* BBIN
* BRICS
* Commonwealth
* G4
* G20
* IBSA
* IONS
* IORA
* MGC
* Non-Aligned Movement
* SAARC
* SCO
* United Nations
* QUAD

* * *

* Africa
* East Asia
* European Union
* Latin America
* Pacific Islands

* * *

* Diaspora
* History
* Extradition Treaties
* Foreign aid by India / to India
* Sanctions
* State Visits by Indian Prime Ministers
* State Visits to India

* * *

* Kashmir Conflict
* Indo-Pakistani Wars
* Sino-Indian Disputes
* Disputes with Nepal

Foreign Policy

* ITEC
* Look East policy
* Pan-African e-Network project
* Indira Gandhi
* Narendra Modi

India portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Gram Panchayat (transl. 'village council') is a basic governing institution in Indian villages. It is a political institution, acting as the cabinet of a village or group of villages. The Gram Sabha works as the general body of the Gram Panchayat. The members of the gram panchayat are elected directly by the people. The gram panchayat is headed by an elected President and Vice President, assisted by a Secretary who serves as the administrative head of the panchayat. The president of a gram panchayat is known as a "Pradhan" or "Sarpanch" in Northern India. There are about 250,000 gram panchayats present in India.[2][3]

## History

[edit]

Established in various states of India, the Panchayat Raj system has three tiers: Zila Parishad, at the district level; Panchayat Samiti, at the block level; and Gram Panchayat, at the village level. Rajasthan was the first state to establish Gram Panchayat, Bagdari Village, Nagaur District being the first village where Gram Panchayat was established, on 2 October 1959.[4]

In 1992, the institution of Gram Panchayat was modified in order to deepen democracy. The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution re-introduced panchayats as the institutions of local self-governance, with a basic structure for operations at three administrative levels; villages, groups of villages and districts.[5]

## Structure

[edit]

Gram Panchayats are at the lowest level of Panchayat Raj institutions (PRIs), whose legal authority is the 73rd Constitutional Amendment of 1992, which is concerned with rural local governments.[6]

* Panchayat at District (or apex) Level
* Panchayat at Intermediate Level
* Panchayat at Base Level

The Gram Panchayat is divided into wards and each ward is represented by a Ward Member or Commissioner, also referred to as a Panch or Panchayat Member, who is directly elected by the villagers.[7] The Panchayat is chaired by the president of the village, known as a Sarpanch.[8] The term of the elected representatives is five years. The Secretary of the Panchayat is a non-elected representative, appointed by the state government, to oversee Panchayat activities.[9]

Structure

| | | | | | | Republic of India

|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | States| | Union Territories
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | Divisions| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Districts| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Blocks
(Tehsils/Talukas)| | Municipal Corporations
(Nagar Nigam/Maha Nagar Palika)| | Municipalities
(Nagar Palika)| | City Councils
(Nagar Panchayat)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Villages
(Gram Panchayat/Gram Sabha)| | | | | | Wards

### Meetings

[edit]

According to Section. 6 (3) of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, that state's gram sabha has to conduct a meeting at least twice a year.[10]

## Election

[edit]

Gram Panchayat elections in India occur every five years. The village is divided into wards, and people in each ward vote for their representative. These elected members, along with the president (sarpanch) and vice president, form the Gram Panchayat. The president (sarpanch) and vice president (upa-sarpanch) in a gram Panchayat are elected from among the elected ward members. the term of office for elected members in a Gram Panchayat, including the Sarpanch and Upa-Sarpanch, is typically five years. All people over the age of 18 who are residents of the territory of that village's Gram panchayat can vote.[11][12]

For women's empowerment and to encourage participation of women in the democratic process, the government of India has set some restrictions on Gram panchayat elections, reserving one-third of the seats for women, as well as reserving seats for scheduled castes and tribes.[12]

## Functions

[edit]

* Administrative functions
* Public work and welfare functions, such as maintenance, repair and construction of roads, drains, bridges, and wells.
* Install and maintain street lamps.[12]
* Provide primary education.
* Social and Economic functions (not obligatory)
* Construct libraries, marriage halls, etc.
* Establish and run fair-price shops and cooperative credit societies.
* Establish gardens, ponds, and orchards.[12]
* Judicial functions (Nyaya Panchayat; the state judicial service decides jurisdiction.)
* Ensure quick and inexpensive justice.
* Can impose fines up to ₹100.
* Not represented by lawyers.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Binodpur Gram Panchayat
* Caste panchayat
* Khap
* Lambardar
* Zaildar

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992". Government of India – Ministry of Law and Justice – Legislative Department. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
2. ^ Chaturvedi, Mahesh Chandra (2012). India's waters. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 74\. ISBN 978-1439872833. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
3. ^ "Ground Rules". Scroll.in. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
4. ^ "Panchayati Raj – History". www.rajpanchayat.rajasthan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
5. ^ Sapra, Ipsita (February 2013). "Living in the villages". Rural Democracy. D+C Development and Cooperation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
6. ^ Benoy Banerjee; Irfaan Khan; Rajeev Kumar; et al. (2006). "Chapter Eight: Local Governments". India Constitution at Work: Textbook in Political Science for Class XI. National Council of Educational Research and Training. ISBN 81-7450-550-4. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
7. ^ Seetharam, Mukkavilli (1 January 1990). Citizen Participation in Rural Development. Mittal Publications. p. 34\. ISBN 9788170992271.
8. ^ "Rajasthan Sarpanch Salary 2021 – What is the Salary Of Sarpanch". Exam Craze. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
9. ^ Social Science. Vk Publications. p. 117\. ISBN 9788179732144.[permanent dead link‍]
10. ^ "The Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994" (PDF). Lawsofindia.org. 2002. Section 6.(3). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
11. ^ "What is Gram Sabha". Vikaspedia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
12. ^ a b c d e "Panchayati Raj System in India | Definition, Examples, Diagrams". www.toppr.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* website of Ministry of Panchayati Raj Government of India
* Subramaniam Vincent (28 February 2002). "Ugly duckling to swan". India Together.
* "Indian local governments" (Harvard University) Archived 26 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
* "Indian local governments" (National Backward Krishi Vidyapeeth Solapur in India)

* v
* t
* e

Local government in India

By state|

* Kerala
* Maharashtra
* Tamil Nadu

Urban|

* Municipal Corporation
* Municipal Commissioner
* Municipal Council

Intermediate|

* Nagar panchayat

Rural|

* District Council
* Block Development Council
* Block pramukh
* Gram panchayat
* Sarpanch

Observance|

* National Panchayati Raj Day

* v
* t
* e

State of Uttarakhand

State capitals: legislative: Dehradun (winter); Bhararisain (summer); judicial: Nainital

Government|

| Symbols|

* Day
* Emblem
* Song
* Motto

|

Executive|

* Governor
* Chief Minister
* Council of Ministers
* Cabinets
* Chief Secretary
* Gazette
* Agencies
* Departments
* Disaster Response Force
* Fire and Emergency Services
* Provincial Armed Constabulary
* Forest Department
* Police Department
* Public Service Commission
* Provincial Civil Service
* Provincial Police Service
* Provincial Forest Service

Legislature|

* Legislative Assembly
* History
* Speaker
* Leader of the Opposition

Judiciary|

* High Court
* Chief Justice
* Judges
* Bar Council
* Lok Adalat
* Lokayukta

History|

| Ancient
kingdoms|

* Uttarakuru kingdom
* Paurava kingdom
* Khasa Janapada kingdom
* Himalaya kingdom
* Parvata kingdom
* Kirata kingdom
* Nanda Empire
* Maurya Empire
* Kushan Empire
* Kuninda Kingdom
* Gupta Empire

|

Medieval
kingdoms|

* Garhwal Kingdom
* Panwar dynasty
* Kumaon Kingdom
* Katyuri dynasty
* Chand dynasty
* Khasa Kingdom
* Raika Kingdom
* Gorkha Kingdom
* Shah dynasty
* Anglo-Nepalese War
* Treaty of Sugauli

Colonial
Uttarakhand|

| Company
rule|

* Ceded and Conquered Provinces
* North-Western Provinces
* Agra Presidency

|

Crown
rule|

* United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
* United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
* United Provinces

Contemporary
Uttarakhand|

* Rampur Tiraha firing
* Bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh

Geography
and
ecology|

| Geological
features|

| Mountains|

* Great Himalayas
* Garhwal Himalayas
* Sivalik Hills
* Mountain peaks
* Bugyals
* Lakes

|

Plains|

* Bhabar
* Terai
* Doab
* Ganges Basin

Ecoregions|

| Highlands|

* Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
* Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests
* Himalayan subtropical pine forests

|

Lowlands|

* Western Himalayan broadleaf forests
* Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests
* Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands
* Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests

Demographics|

| Ethnic
groups|

| Indo-Aryans|

* Garhwalis
* Kumaonis
* Jaunsaris
* Buksas
* Tharus

|

Tibeto-Burmans|

* Bhotiyas
* Shaukas
* Rajis
* Jads
* Banrawats

Scheduled Castes
and
Scheduled Tribes|

* Scheduled Castes
* Scheduled Tribes

Languages|

| Official|

* Hindi
* Sanskrit

|

Spoken|

| Indo-Aryan|

* Garhwali
* Kumaoni
* Jaunsari
* Bangani
* Buksa
* Tharu

|

Tibeto-Burman|

* Rongpo
* Byangsi
* Chaudangsi
* Darmiya
* Raji
* Rawat
* Jad

Administrative
divisions|

| Urban|

* Districts
* Tehsils
* Urban Local Bodies
* Municipal Corporations

|

Rural|

* Parganas
* Community Development Blocks

Politics|

* Coolie-Begar movement
* Statehood movement
* Chipko movement
* 2016 political crisis
* Elections
* Local elections
* Assembly constituencies
* Former constituencies
* Parliamentary constituencies
* Rajya Sabha members
* Lok Sabha members

Tourism|

| Monuments|

* World Heritage Site
* Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
* Ramsar Wetland
* Asan Barrage
* Monuments of National Importance
* State Protected Monuments
* Temples
* Tourist attractions in Dehradun

|

Chardham
circuit|

* Gangotri
* Yamunotri
* Yamunotri Temple
* Badrinath
* Badrinath Temple
* Kedarnath
* Kedarnath Temple
* Sapta Badri
* Panch Kedar
* Panch Prayag
* Gomukh

National
parks|

* Gangotri
* Govind Pashu Vihar
* Jim Corbett
* Nanda Devi
* Rajaji
* Valley of Flowers

Sports|

* Cricket
* Men's cricket team
* Women's cricket team
* Association football
* Men's football team
* Cricket Stadium
* Olympic Stadium
* Sports College

Other
topics|

* Transport
* Airports
* Char Dham Highway
* Char Dham Railway
* Dehradun–Haridwar–Rishikesh Metro
* Music
* Cuisine
* Kumaoni cuisine
* Economy
* Education
* School Education Board
* Institutes of higher education
* Awards and decorations
* Uttarakhand Ratna
* Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman

Districts|

| Kumaon|

* Almora
* Bageshwar
* Champawat
* Nainital
* Pithoragarh
* Udham Singh Nagar

|

Garhwal|

* Chamoli
* Dehradun
* Haridwar
* Pauri Garhwal
* Rudraprayag
* Tehri Garhwal
* Uttarkashi

Major
cities|

* Dehradun
* Haridwar
* Haldwani
* Roorkee
* Kashipur
* Rudrapur
* Kotdwar
* Rishikesh
* Ramnagar
* Pithoragarh
* Srinagar
* New Tehri
* Nainital
* Mussoorie
* Almora
* Pauri

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[transl.]: translation