11th Schedule of Indian Constitution- UPSC Notes

11th Schedule of Indian Constitution 

(Article 243G)

1. Agriculture, including agricultural extension.
2. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation.
3. Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development.
4. Animal husbandry, dairying and poultry.
5.  
6. Social forestry and farm forestry.
7. Minor forest produce.
8. Small-scale industries, including food processing industries.
9. Khadi, village and cottage industries.

• Rural housing.
• Drinking water.
• Fuel and fodder.
• Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication.
• Rural electrification, including distribution of electricity.
• Non-conventional energy sources.
• Poverty alleviation programme.
• Education, including primary and secondary schools.
• Technical training and vocational education.
• Adult and non-formal education.
•  
• Cultural activities.
• Markets and fairs.
• Health and sanitation, including hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries.
• Family welfare.
• Women and child development.
• Social welfare, including the welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded.
• Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
• Public distribution system.
• Maintenance of community assets.

Commentary on Eleventh Schedule of Indian Constitution

With the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, the modern Panchayati Raj was introduced in India to illuminate democracy at the grassroots level and was entrusted with rural development in the country.

• It is enlisted in Part 9 of the Indian constitution. Articles 243 and 243A- 243O under this Part discuss rural local self-government.
• Panchayats have the power to prepare plans and schemes for economic development and promote social justice in the village.
• As per Article 243G, the state determines the specific scope and extent of the powers of the Panchayat in the above matters.

The powers enshrined in Article 243G are enlisted in the 10^th Schedule. These powers are related to the local governance at the village level.

Devolution powers to state:

Article 243G does not automatically transfer powers to the local level. It empowers the state government to empower the Panchayats through legislation to function as institutions of self-governance, which may contain provisions regarding the devolution of powers to the local level.

Devolution of power between Centre and state is clear, i.e. there is List I and List II in the 7^th Schedule. However, in the case of local governments, the devolution of power is not clear because of two reasons:

1. The subjects mentioned for the Panchayati Raj institutions are also state subjects, by definition as per the 7^th Schedule, and the job of clearly demarcating the roles of the Panchayats is left to the respective state governments, which have been reluctant to devolve the powers.
2. Within the local government, there are different tiers, i.e. village level, block level and district level Panchayat, and the roles are not clearly defined for each level.

Thus, despite creating a constitutional mechanism, real devolution of powers has not taken place for effective local governance. The same is true for the urban local bodies.

List of Amendments in 11th Schedule of Indian Constitution:

Amendment	Description
Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992	The 73rd Amendment Act introduced 16 new articles (Article 243A to 243O) in Part IX of the constitution and added the 11th Schedule to delineate the powers of the Panchayats. Main features of 3rd amendment: 1.    Articles 243B & 243C provide for the constitution of Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels. 2.    Article 243D reserves seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and provides for 1/3rd horizontal reservation for women. 3.    Article 243G provides for the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats. 4.    Article 243H provides for the powers to impose taxes by, and funds of, the Panchayats. 5.    Article 243I: The Finance Commission will review the financial position of Panchayats and municipalities and make recommendations. 6.    Article 243J: It provides for the auditing of Panchayats’ accounts. 7.    Article 243K: Elections to the Panchayat and State Election Commission.
Constitution (Seventy Fourth Amendment) Act, 1992	The 74th Amendment Act introduced 18 new articles (Article 243P to 243ZG) in Part IXA of the constitution and added the 11th Schedule to delineate the powers of the Panchayats. Main features of the amendment: 1.    Urban local government includes Institutions of self-government (Article 243Q) and Institutes of Planning (Article 243ZD and 243ZE). 2.    Article 243R: Composition of Municipalities. 3.   Article 243T reserves seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and provides for 1/3rd horizontal reservation for women. 4.   Article 243W provides for the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Urban local bodies. 5.   Article 243X provides for the powers to impose taxes by, and funds of, the Municipalities. 6.   Article 243Y: The Finance Commission will review the financial position of Panchayats and municipalities and make recommendations. 7.   Article 243Z: It provides for the auditing of accounts of Municipalities. 8.   Article 243ZA: Elections to the Municipalities and State Election Commission.

For Further Reference:

Read the Constitution of India and Part 9 of the constitution

Read the Municipalities and Panchayati Raj article

Other Related Links:

Indian Constitution: All Articles	1st Schedule of Indian Constitution
2nd Schedule of Indian Constitution	3rd Schedule of Indian Constitution
4th Schedule of Indian Constitution	5th Schedule of Indian Constitution
6th Schedule of Indian Constitution	7th Schedule of Indian Constitution
8th of Indian Constitution	9th Schedule of Indian Constitution
10th Schedule of Indian Constitution	12th Schedule of Indian Constitution
Fundamental Rights	DPSP
Fundamental Duties	Amendments of the Indian Constitution