What was the primary purpose of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → To ensure democratic participation at the grassroots.
Option (1) To set up the OBC Commission. — Incorrect. The Backward Classes Commissions were appointed by the central government (Kaka Kalelkar, B.P. Mandal); they have nothing to do with local self-government.
Option (2) To revise the list of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in India. — Incorrect. The amendments reserved seats for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in local bodies; they did not revise the lists themselves.
Option (3) To ensure democratic participation at the grassroots. — Correct. With the 73rd Amendment of 1992, grassroot democracy or decentralised governance was ushered in. Panchayati Raj Institutions got constitutional status, local bodies in villages and towns must be elected every five years, and control of local resources was given to these elected bodies, so that people take part in decisions where they live.
Option (4) To build women’s political leadership. — Incorrect. The amendments did reserve one-third of the seats for women, and this brought lakhs of women into elected bodies. But that reservation is one feature serving the main aim, which is democracy at the grassroots for all.
NCERT (2025-26): “Ideals of Panchayati Raj … It was, however, only in 1992 that grassroot democracy or decentralised governance was ushered in by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. This act provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). It is compulsory now for local self-government bodies in rural and municipal areas to be elected every five years. More importantly, control of local resources is given to the elected local bodies. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution ensured the reservation of one third of the total seats for women in all elected offices of local bodies in both the rural and urban areas. Out of this, 17 per cent seats are reserved for women belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes. This amendment is significant as for the first time it brought women into elected bodies which also bestowed on them decision making powers.…” |