Which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India deals with the organisation of village panchayats?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Article 40.
The organisation of village panchayats in India is dealt with under Article 40 of the Indian Constitution. This Article is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy and directs the State to take steps to organise Gram Panchayats and endow them with necessary powers and authority to enable them to function as units of self-government. Although not enforceable by law, Article 40 emphasizes the importance of decentralized governance and rural empowerment. This constitutional provision laid the foundation for the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj system through the insertion of Part IX and Article 243 to 243-O. This amendment aimed to strengthen grassroots democracy in rural India.