Highlight the main features of the …

The main features of the Act are:

• Establishment of a three-tier structure: Village Panchayat (Gram Panchayat); intermediate panchayat (Panchayat Samiti; and the district panchayat (Zila Parishad);
• Regular elections, every five years;
• Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population;
• Not less than one-third reservation of seats for women at three different levels of PRIs;
• Establishment of State Finance Commissions to recommend measures to improve the finances of panchayats;
• Establishment of State Election Commissions to conduct election to the PRIs;
• Establishment of District Planning Committees to prepare development plans for the districts;
• Preparation of plans for economic development and social justice and their execution concerning 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution;
• Establishment of Grama Sabha (village assemblies) and their empowerment as a decision making body at the village level; and
• Rotation in accordance with the reservation of seats for women and the Scheduled Castes in the PRIs.