Read the following statements regarding decentralization step India took in the year 1992 and choose the correct option :
I. Mandatory regular elections for local bodies
II. Two-third seats reserved for women
III. Formation of the State Election Commission
IV. Seats reserved for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes
Read the following statements regarding decentralization step India took in the year 1992 and choose the correct option :
I. Mandatory regular elections for local bodies
II. Two-third seats reserved for women
III. Formation of the State Election Commission
IV. Seats reserved for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes
Options
Option B (I, III and IV) — the 73rd Amendment (1992) made regular local body elections, a State Election Commission, and SC/ST/women's reservation mandatory, but the women's quota is one-third, not two-thirds as wrongly claimed in statement II.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting the correct option B (I, III and IV); no partial marks are awarded for MCQs.
Hint
Remember the exact fraction: women get ONE-THIRD reservation under the 73rd Amendment, not two-thirds — this immediately eliminates any option containing statement II.
Quick Oral Answer
The correct answer is B — the 73rd Amendment of 1992 made regular local body elections mandatory, created State Election Commissions, and reserved seats for SC/ST/women, but the women's reservation is one-third, not two-thirds, so statement II is false.
Analysis & Explanation
Tests precise recall of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which created the Panchayati Raj system.
Concept
- The 1992 amendment made three local-government reforms constitutionally mandatory: regular elections, an independent State Election Commission, and reservation of seats for SC/ST and women.
Key points
- Statement I (mandatory regular elections) — correct.
- Statement III (State Election Commission formed) — correct.
- Statement IV (seats reserved for SC/ST) — correct.
- Statement II is wrong: reservation for women is one-third, not two-thirds.
Common mistakes
- Students assume a bigger fraction (two-thirds) sounds more 'empowering' and pick it by instinct — always verify the exact fraction (1/3) rather than guessing.
- Options A, C and D are traps because each retains the false statement II while dropping a genuinely correct statement (IV, I or III respectively).
Common Mistakes
- 1Believing women are reserved two-thirds of seats instead of the correct one-third under the 73rd Amendment.
- 2Forgetting that the State Election Commission (not the Election Commission of India) conducts local body elections.
- 3Confusing the 73rd Amendment (rural Panchayats) with the 74th Amendment (urban municipalities) — both share similar decentralisation features but apply to different bodies.
Interesting Facts
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed in 1992 and came into force on 24 April 1993, giving India a formal third tier of elected government below the Centre and the States.
The Amendment added a new Part IX (Articles 243 onwards) and the Eleventh Schedule, listing 29 subjects, to the Constitution to define the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats.
Because of the one-third reservation clause, India today has one of the largest numbers of elected women representatives in the world — well over a million women serving in Panchayati Raj institutions.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact reservation percentage for women under the 73rd Amendment?
At least one-third (not two-thirds) of the total seats in local bodies, as well as one-third of the executive head posts, are reserved for women.
Who conducts elections to Panchayats and Municipalities?
The State Election Commission, an independent body created in each state under the 73rd and 74th Amendments, conducts these elections — not the Election Commission of India.
Is the 73rd Amendment about rural or urban local government?
The 73rd Amendment (1992) deals with rural local government (Panchayati Raj); the parallel 74th Amendment (1992) deals with urban local bodies (Municipalities and Corporations).