The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 represent a landmark transformation in India’s democratic structure by providing constitutional status to local self-government institutions in rural and urban areas. These amendments were enacted with the objective of deepening democracy, promoting decentralisation, ensuring participatory governance, and bringing administration closer to the people. They institutionalised Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies as the third tier of governance, supplementing the Union and State governments. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act relates to rural local governance and inserted Part IX in the Constitution, titled “The Panchayats,” along with the Eleventh Schedule. One of its most salient features is the constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Prior to this amendment, Panchayats existed largely as statutory bodies under state laws and were vulnerable to dissolution or neglect. By incorporating them into the Constitution, the amendment ensured their permanence, continuity, and uniformity across states, subject to local variations. A key feature of the 73rd Amendment is the establishment of a three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj Institutions in states having a population of more than twenty lakhs. This structure consists of the Gram Panchayat at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti or Block Panchayat at the intermediate level, and the Zila Parishad at the district level. States with a population below twenty lakhs may opt for a two-tier system. This multi-tier framework aims to decentralise power and administration systematically from the grassroots to the district level. Another important feature is the Gram Sabha, defined as the body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village. The Gram Sabha is envisaged as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system and a forum for direct democracy. It plays a crucial role in approving plans, programmes, and projects for social and economic development, scrutinising the functioning of the Gram Panchayat, and promoting transparency and accountability at the village level. The amendment mandates regular, direct elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions every five years. It provides that elections must be conducted before the expiry of the term or within six months in case of dissolution. This provision ensures democratic continuity and prevents arbitrary supersession by state governments. To ensure free and fair elections, the amendment provides for the establishment of an independent State Election Commission, responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of the electoral process relating to Panchayats. Reservation of seats is another salient feature of the 73rd Amendment. It mandates reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in the Panchayat area. It also provides for reservation of not less than one-third of the total seats, including those reserved for SCs and STs, for women. Additionally, states are empowered to provide reservation for Other Backward Classes. This provision has significantly enhanced the political participation of historically marginalised and underrepresented groups, particularly women, at the grassroots level. The amendment also lays emphasis on decentralised planning and development. Article 243G