The correct option is Gram Sabhas are not held regularly.
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, formalized local self-government in rural India by granting constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). While the amendment successfully institutionalized structural mandates such as regular elections and reservations, the qualitative functioning of these institutions faces significant implementation challenges.Analysis o
- Gram Sabhas are not held regularly. is Correct: The Gram Sabha is envisaged as a body of direct democracy and the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system. However, a primary functional challenge is that Gram Sabha meetings are often not held regularly or are conducted merely on paper without genuine public participation or deliberation. This undermines the principle of participatory democracy.
- Elections are not held regularly. is Incorrect: Before 1992, irregular elections were a major systemic flaw. The 73rd Amendment made it mandatory to hold elections every five years, and State Election Commissions have largely been successful in ensuring that elections are held regularly across India.
- Women are not represented. is Incorrect: The Constitution mandates the reservation of not less than one-third of seats and offices of chairpersons for women. Many states have increased this reservation to 50%. Therefore, women are structurally represented in local bodies.
- SC/ST groups are excluded. is Incorrect: The Constitution mandates reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in proportion to their population in the Panchayat area. Consequently, these groups are not excluded from the institutional framework.
Key Takeaway:
While the structural dimensions of local government (regular elections, reservations) have been successfully implemented, the functional dimensions (regular Gram Sabha meetings, effective devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries) remain major challenges.