Article 243 in Constitution of India

243. Definitions

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,--

(a)'district' means a district in a State;

(b)'Gram Sabha' means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level;

(c)'intermediate level' means a level between the village and district levels specified by the Governor of a State by public notification to be the intermediate level for the purposes of this Part;

(d)'Panchayat' means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government constituted under article 243B , for the rural areas;

(e)'Panchayat area' means the territorial area of a Panchayat;

(f)'population' means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published;

(g)'village' means a village specified by the Governor by public notification to be a village for the purposes of this Part and includes a group of villages so specified.

[Editorial comment-The Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, was a significant reform in the Constitution of India. It introduced the concept of gram panchayats, which is a third-level government that deals directly with the public and works to address problems at the grass-roots level. Article 243 (b) defines the gram sabha, which consists of persons registered on the electoral rolls. It is the basic unit of the Panchayati Raj Institution. This institution is empowered to perform various functions at the village level, including establishing schools and health facilities. This act granted constitutional status to panchayats and democratized decentralization. It also empowered panchayats at all levels to levy taxes and collect duties. It further ensures that people at the grassroots level are more engaged in the governance process. It focused on improving rural political structures and the rights of vulnerable populations. The Act emphasized the need for women to be a part of local government structures. This law made it simpler for women to get involved in politics by giving them greater possibilities. The act also made women eligible to serve as Panchayat members. This amendment Act of Indian Constitution also made provisions for reserving seats for SC/ST/OBC communities and women in the legislature. In addition, it removed the upper population limit in parliamentary constituencies.Also Refer]