In which year, a new part IX consisting of 16 Articles was added to the Indian Constitution which envisages the Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayat Raj System?

Correct option is D

Correct Answer: D 1992

In 1992, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed, which added a new Part IX (Articles 243 to 243O) to the Indian Constitution. This amendment gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and envisaged the Gram Sabha as the foundation of this decentralized governance system.

• Part IX contains 16 Articles (243 to 243O) dealing with the structure, composition, powers, and functions of Panchayats.

• It came into force on 24th April 1993, now celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day.

• Gram Sabha is defined as the assembly of people registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat area.

• The Act mandates a three-tier system:

  1. Gram Panchayat (Village level)

  2. Panchayat Samiti (Block level)

  3. Zila Parishad (District level)

• It also introduced provisions for reservation for SCs, STs, and women, regular elections, and the State Finance Commission.