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Understanding Panchayat Levels in India

The gram panchayat is the basic unit of local self-government in rural India, governed by the 73rd Amendment. Each gram panchayat covers a small village or group of villages and is headed by an elected sarpanch. The gram panchayat is divided into wards, each represented by a directly elected ward member. There are approximately 250,000 gram panchayats in the country, which operate at the village level within India's multi-level system of rural local governance and administration.

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18 views2 pages

Understanding Panchayat Levels in India

The gram panchayat is the basic unit of local self-government in rural India, governed by the 73rd Amendment. Each gram panchayat covers a small village or group of villages and is headed by an elected sarpanch. The gram panchayat is divided into wards, each represented by a directly elected ward member. There are approximately 250,000 gram panchayats in the country, which operate at the village level within India's multi-level system of rural local governance and administration.

Uploaded by

Lucas Kane
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© All Rights Reserved
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INTRODUCTION

A Gram Panchayat is the cornerstone of a local self-government organisation in India of


the panchayati raj system at the village or small town level and has a sarpanch as its elected
head.
The failed attempts to deal with local matters at the national level caused, in 1992, the
reintroduction of panchayats for their previously used purpose as an organisation for local self-
governance. There are about 250,000 gram panchayats in India.

STRUCTURE OF VILLAGE PANCHAYAT

Gram panchayats are panchayats at base level in panchayat raj institutions (or PRIs), governed by
the 73rd Amendment, which is concerned with Rural Local Governments.

 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, also
referred to as a Panch, who is directly elected by the villagers. The panchayat is chaired by the
president of the village, known as a Sarpanch. 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.

Structure
Republic of India

States Union Territories

Divisions

Districts

City Councils
Blocks Municipal Corporations Municipalities
(Nagar-
(Tehsils/Talukas) (Maha-Nagar-Palika) (Nagar-Palika)
Panchayat)

Villages
Wards
(Gram/Gaon)

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