THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
"PART IX * THE PANCHAYATS 243. Definition -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. 243-A.Grama Sabha - A Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village levei as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide. 243-B.Constitution of Panchayats -(1) There shall be constituted in every State, Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels in accordance with the provisions of this Part. ^Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs. 243-C.Composition of Panchayats -(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Legislature of a State may, by law, making provisions with respect to the composition of Panchayats : * Inserted vide Constitution 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 and came into force on 22.04.1993.
Provided that the ratio between the population of the territorial area ot a Panchayat at any level and the number of seats in such Panchayat to be