Which one of the following was NOT proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the area of Panchayati Raj?
A
Thirty per cent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all levels
B
The States will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayati Raj Institutions
C
The Panchayati Raj elected functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
D
The elections will be held in six months' time if Panchayati Raj bodies are super ceded or dissolved by the State government
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced Part IX to the Constitution, dealing with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
2. Key provisions proposed/mandated by the Amendment include:
- Reservation of not less than one-third (i.e., thirty per cent or more) of the total number of seats for women in all elected rural local bodies at all levels (A is correct).
- Constitution of State Finance Commissions every five years to review the financial position of the Panchayats and recommend principles for the distribution of resources (B is correct).
- Mandatory elections within six months if a Panchayat is superseded or dissolved before the expiry of its term (D is correct).
3. The Act did NOT propose disqualification criteria based on the number of children. While some states later introduced legislation linking Panchayat eligibility to a two-child norm, this was not part of the central 73rd Constitutional Amendment itself. Therefore, statement (C) was NOT proposed by the Amendment.