MILESTONES IN THE EVOLUTION OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

Towards First Generation Panchayats

1948-49	Constituent Assembly debates on the role of Panchayati Raj in Indian polity
1950	The Constitution of India comes into force on 26 January; Directive Principles of State Policy mention village panchayats as ‘units of self-government’ (Art 40)
1952	Community Development Programme starts on 2nd October
1957	Balvantrai Mehta Committee, appointed in January, submits its report on 24 November
1957	Balvantrai Mehta Committee, appointed in January, submits its report on 24 November
1957	Balvantrai Mehta Committee, appointed in January, submits its report on 24 November
1957	Balvantrai Mehta Committee, appointed in January, submits its report on 24 November
1958-60	Several state governments enact new Panchayat Acts bringing in three-tier panchayat system
1959	Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurates the first generation panchayat at Nagaur in Rajasthan on 2nd October Kerala District Council Bill is introduced in Kerala Assembly; lapses after Assembly is dissolved
1964-77	Decline of first generation Panchayati Raj Institutions

Growth and Decline of Second Generation Panchayats    

1978	Panchayat elections are held in West Bengal on party basis on 4th June—marking the beginning of second generation of Panchayati Raj. Ashok Mehta Committee on working of panchayats, appointed on 12 December 1977, submits its report on 21 August
1983	Karnataka government enacts new PR Act
1984	Hanumantha Rao Committee on district level planning, appointed by Planning Commission in September 1982, submits its report in May
1985	Karnataka PR Act receives President’s assent in July; comes into force on 14th August
1985	G.V.K. Rao Committee on administrative aspects of rural development, appointed by Planning Commission on 25 March, submits its report in December
1986	Andhra Pradesh follows West Bengal and Karnataka Panchayati Raj Model
1987	Karnataka holds panchayat elections in January
1990-92	Panchayats are dissolved and brought under administrators in Karnataka

Constitutionalisation of Panchayati Raj

1986	L.M. Singhvi Committee submits its report on 27 November; recommends constitutional status for panchayats
1988	Consultative Committee of Parliament appoints a sub-committee under chairpersonship of P.K. Thungon to consider Con stitutional Amendment
1989	64th Constitutional Amendment Bill is introduced in Parliament on 15 May; is defeated in Rajya Sabha on 15 October
1990	74th Constitutional Amendment Bill is introduced in Parliament on 7 September; lapses on dissolution of Lok Sabha
1991	72nd (Panchayats) and 73rd (Municipalities) Amendment Bills are introduced in Parliament; referred to the Parliament’s Joint Select Committee in September
1992	Lok Sabha passes both the Bills on 22 December; Rajya Sabha passes them on 23 December
1993	73rd Amendment Act, 1992 comes into force on 24 April 74th Amendment Act, 1992 comes into force on 1 June
1993-94	All state governments pass Conformity Acts between 30 May, 1993 and 23 April, 1994
1994	Madhya Pradesh holds panchayat elections under the 73rd Amendment dispensation on 30 May
1996	Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, extending 73rd Amendment Act to Scheduled Areas, comes into force on 24 December. Kerala launches People’s Plan Campaign on 16 August
2001	Bihar holds panchayat elections after 23 years (11-30 April)
2001	83rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2000 amends Art. 243-M to dispense with reservations for Scheduled Castes in Arunachal Pradesh—paving way for panchayat elections in the only state yet to hold them under the new dispensation