Assam Polity

The Seventh Schedule contains the Union, State and Concurrent Lists governing Centre-State legislative relations.

The distribution of legislative subjects between the Centre and States is given in the Seventh Schedule.

Legislative relations between the Centre and States are covered by Articles 245–255 in Part XI of the Constitution.

Panchayati Raj is treated as a State List subject.

The State Government takes the decision to conduct Panchayat elections, while the State Election Commission conducts them.

The Assam Rural Panchayat Act, 1948 was Assam's first Panchayati Raj legislation.

The Assam Rural Panchayat Act, 1948 was the state's first Panchayati Raj legislation.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX and Articles 243–243O on Panchayats.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and submitted its report in 1957.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 constitutionalised Panchayati Raj institutions.

The Eleventh Schedule contains 29 subjects that may be entrusted to Panchayats.

National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April.

The Assam Rural Panchayat Act, 1948 provided for a two-tier system of Primary Panchayat and Rural Panchayat.

Panchayati Raj was inaugurated at Nagaur, Rajasthan, on 2 October 1959.

Assam's 1959 Panchayati Raj Act provided a three-tier structure; the system was later reorganised, with the present three-tier framework introduced under the 1986 Act.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended a three-tier system: village, block and district levels.

Panchayati Raj was adopted to decentralise democratic power and promote local self-government.

Panchayat elections were held in Assam in 1992; the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994, followed the 73rd Amendment framework.

India's Panchayati Raj system has three tiers: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.

A three-tier Panchayati Raj system is constitutionally envisaged for States with a population of more than 20 lakh.