The document summarizes the three-tier system of local self-government in rural India. At the village level is the Gram Panchayat, composed of locally elected representatives who manage civic amenities and provide basic services. Multiple Gram Panchayats fall under a block-level Panchayat Samiti, which coordinates activities and development programs. Finally, at the district level is the Zila Parishad, the apex body that oversees the work of Panchayat Samitis and serves as a link between local governments and the state. The system aims to promote direct democracy and ensure communities can effectively govern local affairs.

1. Local Self Government- Rural
1

2. Meaning- Local Self Government
• Local self-government is an institution comprising
of locally elected representatives managing the
affairs of the locality and providing them with
basic amenities.
• In rural area such an institution is called as Gram
Panchayat and in urban areas it is known as
Municipal Corporation or Municipality.
• Panchayati Raj System was first inaugurated at Nagaur in
Rajasthan on October 2, 1959. Then it was started in Andhra
Pradesh. But the real breakthrough came on 24th April 1993 when
the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act,1992 came into force.
2

3. Local Self Government
V/S
Local Government
3
Local Self Government is different from Local Government.
In local government the administration of the locality is looked after
by the officials appointed by the State Government. These officials
receive salary from the State Government.
Example: Postman, Policemen etc.
&
Local self government consists of elected representatives who
administers local affairs & gets government grants for activities like
sanitation, education and settling disputes. The local people govern
themselves.

4. 4
Importance
of Local Self
Government
Provides the
foundation for
the
Democratic
structure
Training
ground for
local
leadership
Local people
know their
problems well
and can
suggest better
solutions
Encourage
self-help &
voluntary
service &
saves
expenses
Government
can reach
Ordinary
people
Lessens
burden of
State &
Central
Government

5. Rural Self Governing
Bodies
Gram
Panchayat
Panchayat
Samiti
Zila
Parishad
5

6. Zila
Parishad
Panchayat
Samiti
Gram Panchayat
Three Tier System of Panchayati Raj in Rural Areas
6

7. 7
A) Gram Panchayat ( At the Village Level)

8. A) Gram Panchayat- Meaning
• The ‘Gram Sabha’ is the centre of self-
governance at the village-level. It ensures direct
& participative democracy.
• And ‘Gram Panchayat’ is the ‘Executive
body’ of the Gram Sabha. It ensures that
Constitution makers’ dream of ‘Gram Swaraj.’
8
A B
Here:
A- Gram Sabha
B- Gram Panchayat

9. Gram Panchayat: Composition, Election & Term
• Election:
The members of Gram Panchayat are elected by
the Gram Sabha.
• Composition:
1. Sarpanch/Pradhan (President) &
2. Vice-President of the Gram
Sabha are ex-officio members of Gram Panchayat.
They are assisted by 5-31 panchayat members.
• Term:
5 years. In the case of dissolution election would
be compulsorily held within six months.
9

10. Only those person can become members of Gram
Panchayat who is:
• 21+ years of age
• Registered voter of the constituency
• Mentally sound
• He should not be a convict/criminal
• He should not be disqualified under any law
made by State or Union Legislature.
• He should not hold any office of Profit under
Government of India.
Reservation: Seats will be reserved for SC/ST
and Women.
10
Gram Panchayat : Qualification & Reservations

11. Functions of Gram Panchayat
Civic Facilities
& Welfare
Functions
Developmental
Functions
Regulatory &
General
Administrative
Functions
Judicial
Functions
(Nyaya
Panchayat)
11

12. 12
5. Safe drinking water,
well, tanks etc.
6. Health Centres &
Dispensaries.
1. Primary & Secondary
Education
2. Roads, footpaths,
drainage, street lights etc.
4. Welfare Programmes for
Women, Children and
Youth.
3. Welfare Programmes for
expectant mothers and
their babies
Civic Facilities &
Welfare Functions
of Gram Panchayat

13. 13
4. Vocational
education.
1. Irrigation &
Electrification
3. Rural Housing
(specially for poor &
needy)
2. Develop cottage
and small-scale
industries
Developmental
Functions of
Gram
Panchayat

14. 14
4. Helping the
government to maintain
Law & Order.
1. Registration of Births,
Deaths & Marriages
3. Maintenance of the
Village’s Common
Property
2. Maintenance of Watch
& Ward services
(Chowkidars etc)
Regulatory &
General
Administrative
Functions of
Gram Panchayat

15. 15
4. They have no power to
imprison & can fine only
upto Rs.1000
1. Inexpensive & speedy
justice to villagers.
Panchayat may act as a
court or may setup Nyaya
Panchayat.
3. Cases likes
petty theft, property,
cheating, assault, trespass
etc falls under the
jurisdiction of Nyaya
Panchayat.
2. It handles only
petty civil cases
Judicial Functions
(Nyaya Panchayat)
of Gram Panchayat

16. 16
B) Panchayat Samiti (At the Block Level)
Gram
Panchayat
1
Gram
Panchayat
2
Gram
Panchayat
3
Gram
Panchayat
4
Community Development Block

17. B) Panchayat Samiti- Meaning
• The ‘Panchayat Samiti’ is an intermediate
body which coordinates the activities of all
Village Panchayats in each Block.
• It has different names in different states. UP (Kshetra
Samiti), MP (Janpada Panchayat), Gujarat (Taluka
Panchayat), Andhra Pradesh
/Maharashtra/Bihar/Odisha (Panchayat Samiti)
17
A
B
Here:
A- Panchayat Samiti
B- Gram Panchayat-1
C- Gram Panchayat-2
D- Gram Panchayat-3
C
D

18. Panchayat Samiti: Composition, Election & Term
• The Chief Administrative Officer of Panchayat Samiti
is known as Block Development Officer (BDO).
The Chairperson of Samiti is elected among its own
members.
• Composition:
1. Sarpanchs (Presidents) of the Panchayats within
the Block,
2. BDO, MPs, MLAs, & MLCs of that area, and
3. Chairpersons of Town Area Committees or Nagar
Panchayats of that area.
• Term:
5 years. In the case of dissolution election would be
compulsorily held within six months.
18

19. Reservation:
• Seats will be reserved for SC/ST
• This is in proportion to their population.
• 1/3rd seats reserved for women. In some states
its 50%.
19
Panchayat Samiti : Reservations

20. Functions of Panchayat Samiti
Civic Facilities
& Welfare
Functions
Supervisory
Functions
Delegated
Functions
20

21. 21
6. Develop Cottage,
Handloom, Handicraft
village industries
1. Rural Health
Programme (PHC & CHC),
2. Rural Water Supply
4. Support Agriculture,
Animal Husbandry &
Fisheries,
5.Rural Employment
3. Social Welfare: improves
status of women, children,
welfare of SC/ST, setting
up ‘Anganwadis.’
Civic Facilities &
Welfare Functions
of Panchayat
Samiti

22. 22
4. Roads, Bridges, Higher
Education (secondary level and
above), Hospitals, Drinking
Water etc.
1. Supervises the work of
Gram Panchayats under
it.
3. It exercises control
over the functioning of
Block Development
Officer and his assistants.
2. Examines the Budget of
Gram Panchayats under
it.
Supervisory
Functions of
Panchayat Samiti

23. 23
4. Improve overall
quality of life in
rural areas.
1. It serves as a link
between Gram
Panchayat and Zila
Parishad.
3. State governments
assigns functions to District
agencies and then these
District agencies assigns
functions to Panchayat
Samitis.
2. To coordinate a number of
centrally sponsored schemes with
funds shared on 50:50 basis
between the Centre and the States.
IRDP Integrated Rural Development
Programme one such major
programme of the Government.
Delegated Functions of
Panchayat Samiti

24. 24
C) Zila Parishad (At the District Level)
Panchayat
Samiti -1
Panchayat
Samiti -2
Panchayat
Samiti -3
Panchayat
Samiti -4
Zila Parishad

25. C) Zila Parishad- Meaning
• The ‘Zila Parishad’ is an apex (highest) body
under Panchyati Raj. It coordinates various
activities of the various Panchayat Samitis.
• It is called as Mohkuma Parishad in Assam & District Development
Council in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
25
A
B
Here:
A- Zila Parishad
B- Panchayat Samiti-1
which has 2 Gram
Panchayats under it (1 & 2)
C- Panchayat Samiti-2
which has 3 Gram Panchayats
under it (1 ,2 & 3)
D- Panchayat Samiti-3
which has 3 Gram Panchayats
under it (1,2 & 3)
C
D
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3

26. Zila Parishad: Composition, Election & Term
The Chairperson of Zila Parishad is elected
among its own members.
• Composition:
1. Pradhans/Chairmen of the Panchayat Samitis
within the district
2. BDOs, MPs, MLAs of that district
3. One representative from each of the
cooperative societies of the district
Term:
5 years. In the case of dissolution election would
be compulsorily held within six months.
26

27. Reservation:
• Seats will be reserved for SC/ST
• This is in proportion to their population.
• 1/3rd seats reserved for women. In some states
its 50%.
27
Zila Parishad : Reservations

28. Functions of Zila Parishad
Civic Facilities
& Welfare
Functions
Supervisory
Functions
Delegated
Functions
28

29. 29
4. Provide relief during
emergencies and to
promote welfare schemes
for weaker sections of
society
1. Maintain and construct
Roads, Bridges etc
3. Build library, hospitals,
dispensaries, educational
institutions etc.
2. Develop land, water,
human resources of the
area.
Civic Facilities &
Welfare Functions
of Zila Parishad

30. 30
1. Supervises the work of
Panchayats Samitis under
it.
3. Government Promotes
e-governance in order to
monitor the functioning of
Panchayat Samitis.
2. Examines the Budget of
Panchayats Samitis under
it.
Coordination &
Supervisory
Functions of Zila
Parishad

31. 31
1. Advices State
government regarding
needs of the people in
rural areas.
2. It receives funds
from Union or State
Government which it
distributes among the
Panchayat Samitis.
Advisory &
Financial Functions
of Zila Parishad

32. 32
4. Introduce
programmes to
removing poverty
1. Irrigation &
Electrification
3. Public Housing
2. Develop industries
& employment
opportunities
Developmental
Functions of
Zila Parishad

33. 33
Gram
Panchayat
(village level)
Panchayat
Samiti
(block level)
Zila
Parishad
(district level)
President Sarpanch Chairperson Chairperson
Composition
1. Sarpanch/
Pradhan
(President)
2. Vice-
President
3. Other 5-31
members of
Gram Sabha
1. Sarpanchs of
Gram
Panchayats
2. BDO of that
block.
3. MLAs, MPs,
MLCs of that
area.
1. BDOs &
Chairmen of
Panchayat
Samitis.
2. MPs & MLAs
of that area.
3. Heads of
Government
Deparments
4. Deputy
Commissioner

34. 34
Gram
Panchayat
(village level)
Panchayat
Samiti
(block level)
Zila
Parishad
(district level)
Functions
1. Provision of
Welfare & Civic
amenities
2. Looking after
Sanitation, Water
Supply, Street
lights, Roads,
3. Primary
Education.
1. Coordination
of the working of
various Gram
Panchayats
under it.
2. Looking after
Sanitation, Water
Supply, Street
lights, Roads,
3. Management
of Primary &
Secondary
Education.
1. Coordination
of the working of
Various
Panchayat
Samitis under it.
2. Looking after
Sanitation, Water
Supply, Street
lights, Roads,
3. Management
of Schools,
Higher
Education
(secondary &
Above)

35. 35
Gram
Panchayat
(village level)
Panchayat
Samiti
(block level)
Zila
Parishad
(district level)
Functions
4. Setup Primary
Health Centres,
CHCs etc.
5. Ensures that
Constitution
makers’ dream of
‘Gram Swaraj’ is
realised.
4. Setup
Hospitals and
Dispensaries.
5. Acts as a link
Between Gram
Panchayat &
ZP.
4. Setup
Hospitals and
Dispensaries.
5. Acts as a link
Between Local
Bodies (Gram
Panchayat &
Panchayat
Samiti) and
Government.