Salient features of Panchayati Raj:
- The Gram Sabha: It is the smallest and the only certain unit in the Panchayati Raj system. It is a body comprising all the people recorded in the electoral rolls who hail from a village, included within the Panchayat area at the village level. It will exercise powers and work on such functions as evaluated by the state legislature. The state legislature fixes the powers and functions of Gram Sabha as per the law on the subject.
- Reservation of seats: Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) have reserved seats, and the Chairperson's position of the Panchayats at all levels have reservations for SCs and STs in proportion to their populace.
- Reservation for women: One-third of the total number of seats are reserved for women, while One-third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs also have a reservation for women. This policy functions to the office of the Chairperson at all levels as well (Article 243D). The reserved seats may be allocated by rotation to numerous constituencies in the Panchayat.
- Uniform policy: There is a uniform policy, with each term being five years. New elections take place before the expiry of the term. When it comes to the dissolution, elections are mandatory within six months time period
- Development: Panchayats have the accountability to make plans for economic development and social justice concerning the subjects according to the law's implementation, which also strengthens the different levels of Panchayat, comprising the subjects as described in the Eleventh Schedule.
