question_answer

Explain the major initiatives taken in the Constitutional Amendment of 1992 to make the third tier of democracy more effective in India.                                                                  (5)  

Answer:

The major initiatives taken in the Constitutional Amendment were (i) It became constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies. Earlier they were not held regularly. (ii) Seats were reserved in these bodies and their "executive heads for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. (iii) At least one-third of all positions were reserved for women in these local bodies. (iv)An independent State Election Commission was created in each state to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections. (v) The State governments were required to share some powers and revenue with local government bodies. Earlier these local bodies had no source of revenue of their own.