Constitution of India · Part IX: The Panchayats
Article 243B: Constitution of Panchayats
In plain words
Every State must set up Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels. A State with a population not exceeding twenty lakhs need not have intermediate-level Panchayats.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) There shall be constituted in every State, Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs.
Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the article 243B
- State of Goa & Anr. v. Fouziya Imtiaz Shaikh & Anr.
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Dmk) v. Secretary Governors Secretariat and Ors.
- State of Bihar & Ors. v. The Bihar Secondary Teachers Struggle Committee, Munger & Ors.
- Seema Sarkar v. Executive Officer and Ors.
- Usha Bharti v. State of U.P. & Ors.
- M/S Gujarat Pradesh Panchayat Parishad and Ors. v. State of Gujarat and Ors.
- Saij Gram Panchayat v. State of Gujarat and Ors.