Lok Sabha Question No. 4240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Representatives in Panchayati Raj System
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4240

ANSWERED ON- 19.08.2025

## REPRESENTATIVES IN PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM

## 4240. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) the details regarding the number of Gaon Panchayats, Anchalik Panchayats and Zilla Parishads in Assam;

(b) the details regarding the number of seats occupied and vacant in each tier of the Panchayati Raj System;

(c) whether the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have received adequate representation in the system in accordance with the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992 and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether one-third seats are occupied by women representatives, if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether steps being taken by the Government to increase representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women in the Panchayat system, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) The details of the number of Gaon Panchayats, Anchalik Panchayats, and Zilla Parishads in the State of Assam are, as under:-

|   Gaon Panchayats |   Anchalik Panchayats |   Zilla Parishads |
|-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
|              2192 |                   182 |                27 |

(b) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not maintain the details of number of seats occupied and vacant in each tier of the Panchayati Raj System.

(c) to (e) ' Panchayat", being "Local Government", is a State subject and part of State List of Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India. Part-IX of the Constitution, relating to Panchayats, ensures participation of people residing in rural areas by way of conducting

direct elections to all the seats in a Panchayat as well as direct/indirect elections to the offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats to establish three-tires of Panchayati Raj System.

Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides that seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every Panchayat and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in that Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat. Further, the offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide but the number of offices of Chairpersons reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayats at each level in any State shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the Panchayats at each level as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State.

Further, Article 243D of the Constitution of India also provides not less than one-third reservation for women out of 'total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat' and 'total number of offices of chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level'. However, 21 States, including Assam, and 2 Union Territories(UTs) have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules encouraging increased participation in the grassroots governance. In respect of remaining States/UTs, Constitutional provision as prescribed in Article 243D applies (i.e. one-third of total seats).

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