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seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all
States.[2][3]
STATE LEVEL
The Vidhan Sabha or the 'Legislative Assembly' is the lower house (in states with bicameral) or the
sole house (in unicameral states) of the provincial (state) legislature in the different states of India.
The upper house in the six states with a bicameral legislature is called the Legislative Council, or
Vidhan Parishad. Members of a Vidhan Sabha are direct representatives of the people of the
particular state as they are directly elected by an electorate consisting of all citizens above the age of
18 of that state. Its maximum size as outlined in the Constitution of India is not more than 500
members and not less than 60 members. However, the size of the Vidhan Sabha can be less than 60
members through an Act of Parliament, such is the case in the states of Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram.
The Governor can appoint 1 member to represent minorities, e.g. the Anglo-Indian community, if he
finds that minority to not be adequately represented in the House. Those elected or nominated (by
the Governors) to Vidhan Sabha are referred to as members of Legislative Assembly or MLAs. The
Vidhan Parishad is the upper house.
PANCHAYAT RAJ
Panchayat Raj is a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of
administration. It has 3 levels: Gram (village, though it can comprise more than one village), Janpad
(taluka or block) and Zilla (district).
Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayati Raj, a decentralized form of Government where each village
is responsible for its own affairs, as the foundation of India's political system. The term for such a
vision was Gram Swaraj ("village self-governance").
GRAM PANCHAYAT
Their functions include administrative, social, economic and judicial functions like
Public works, maintenance, repair and construction of village roads, tracks etc.
Solving of disputes
Block panchayat
A block panchayat (panchayat samiti) is a local government body at the tehsil or taluka level in
India. This body works for the villages of the tehsil or taluka that together are called a Development
Block. The panchayat samiti is the link between the gram panchayat and the district administration.
In general, the block panchayat is a form of the Panchayati raj but at a higher level.
Functions
Development of cottage and small-scale industries, and the opening of cooperative societies.
The governing system at district level in Panchayat Raj is also popularly known as "Zila Parishad".
Functions:
Start Primary Health Centers and hospitals in villages. Start vaccination drives against
epidemics
Execute plans for the development of the scheduled castes and tribes. Run ashramshalas for
adivasi children. Set up free hostels for them
Construct bridges, roads & other public facilities and their maintenance
Provide employment