The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to panchayats, creating a three-tier structure of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad, with a five-year term. The 74th Amendment did the same for urban local bodies.
One third of seats are reserved for women, along with reservation for scheduled castes and tribes in proportion to population. The Gram Sabha, made up of all registered voters of the village, is the foundation of the system.
The Eleventh Schedule lists 29 subjects that states may devolve to panchayats, covering areas from agriculture to primary education.