Five years
Explanation
The tenure and duration of Panchayati Raj Institutions are governed by Part IX of the Constitution of India, introduced by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.Constitutional Provision (Article 243E):
- Duration: Article 243E mandates that every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
- Dissolution and Re-election: If a Panchayat is dissolved before the expiration of its duration, an election to constitute the Panchayat must be completed before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.
- Remainder of Term: A Panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a Panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued.
Key Takeaway: The normal constitutional term for a Gram Panchayat is fixed at five years from the date of its first meeting.