Question

Which institution has been created in each state of India to conduct the Panchayat and Municipal elections?

Answer 1

Hint: The 73rd Amendment Act (1992) provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with Gram Sabha as the base in villages, and above it, panchayats will be constituted at intermediate block and district levels. The 74th Amendment Act (1992) provides for the constitution of urban local self-government bodies—Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats depending upon the population in each notified area of the country. The amendments made the election in respect to all members to the panchayats at all the levels to be direct except for the chairpersons at intermediate and district levels and chairperson of the municipalities.

Complete Step by Step answer:
The elections to the Panchayats and Municipalities are to be conducted by the state governments. This is why independent State Election Commissions are set up and entrusted with the task of superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to local-self bodies. To enable the SEC members to function with full autonomy, the members of the Commission cannot be removed from office except in a like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the High Court. However, state election commissions also derive their functioning entirely from the state governments. Due to limitations imposed by the state governments, the SECs have often experienced difficulties in holding timely, free and fair elections.

Note: At all levels in local-self bodies, seats are reserved for the SCs and STs in proportion to their population at each level. Further, seats not less than one-third of the total membership are reserved for women. This has been done to enable opportunities to increase the representation of marginalised sections of society.