Under which constitutional amendment act "Reservation for Women in Panchayats" is ensured?

The correct answer is 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

Key Points

• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was enacted in 1992 and came into effect on 24 April 1993.
• It granted constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India to promote decentralized governance.
• The amendment mandates the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, including the position of chairpersons.
• This reservation is applicable to all three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system: Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads.
• The provision aims to ensure gender inclusivity and empower women at the grassroots level in political decision-making.

Additional Information

• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
  • It added Part IX to the Constitution, titled "The Panchayats," and introduced the Eleventh Schedule, which lists 29 functional items of Panchayats.
  • The act applies to states except for Jammu and Kashmir (now reorganized), Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and certain other areas.
  • It mandates regular elections to the Panchayati Raj bodies every five years.
• Panchayati Raj System:
  • It is a three-tier system of governance in rural India, comprising Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads.
  • The system aims to bring governance closer to the people and promote participatory democracy.
• Gender Reservation in Local Governance:
  • Reservation for women in PRIs was introduced as a step toward political empowerment of women.
  • Many states have increased this reservation to 50% to further enhance women's participation.
• Eleventh Schedule:
  • The Eleventh Schedule contains 29 subjects related to rural development, including agriculture, health, education, and public distribution systems.
  • PRIs are tasked with implementing programs and policies related to these subjects.