Local Self-Government in Punjab | Punjab State (PPSC) PSC: Preparation - PPSC PCS (Punjab) PDF Download

Historical Background

The foundation of municipal bodies in Punjab was laid by the Municipal Act of 1867, which marked the beginning of organized municipal administration in the region. This act was later replaced by the Municipal Act of 1873, which focused on local improvements and education in Punjab's towns and the taxation necessary for these purposes.

In 1882, Lord Ripon, during his tenure as Governor-General, emphasized the significance of local self-government in India. He recognized its potential as a vital tool for public administration and worked diligently to promote it. His efforts earned him the title "Father of Local Self-Government" in India.

Lord Ripon's proposed reforms led to the replacement of the 1873 Act with the Punjab Municipal Act of 1884. This act laid the groundwork for municipal administration in Punjab, although it was later superseded by the Municipal Act of 1891, which made only desirable modifications. The 1884 Act remained the foundation for municipal governance in the region.

Prior to the merger of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) with Punjab in November 1956, municipal committee functioning in PEPSU was regulated by the Patiala Small Town Act. Following the merger, the Punjab Municipal Act of 1911 was extended to the PEPSU area and Bathinda district.

Since 1955, small committees in Punjab have been recognized as class III municipal committees. The term for Municipal Commissioners was extended from three to five years in 1973, and local self-government was granted permanent status in the state in 1979. The most recent amendment to the Punjab Municipal Act of 1911 occurred in 1994.

Panchayati Raj Institutions in Punjab

Panchayati Raj Institutions serve as the framework for local self-government in the villages of Punjab. This system comprises three levels: the Gram Panchayat at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and the Zila Parishad at the district level. These institutions are interconnected through indirect elections and have specific areas of responsibility along with their own distinct sources of revenue. This setup allows them to operate independently while maintaining their initiative and self-reliance.

Gram Panchayat

• The Gram Panchayat is made up of a Sarpanch and other members known as Panches, whose number depends on the population of the Gram Panchayat.
• Each Gram Panchayat has a term of five years, starting from the date of its first meeting.
• Meetings of the Gram Panchayat are public and must be held at least once a month, either at the Gram Panchayat office or another public place within the Gram Sabha area. The Sarpanch determines and notifies the time and date of these meetings.
• The income of the Gram Panchayat comes from taxes and fees that they levy themselves.
• In 1994, the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act was enacted to replace earlier acts, allowing for the election of Gram Panchayats for the Gram Sabha area rather than for individual villages.

Standing Committees of Gram Panchayats

• Every Gram Panchayat is required to elect the following committees:
• Production Committee: Focuses on agriculture, animal husbandry, rural industries, and poverty alleviation programs.
• Social Justice Committee: Works on promoting the education and welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and other weaker sections, as well as protecting them from social injustice and exploitation, and addressing the welfare of women and children.
• Amenities Committee: Handles matters related to education, public health, public works, and other functions of the Gram Panchayat.

Functions, Powers, and Duties of Gram Panchayat

• Developing annual plans for the Panchayat area's development.
• Preparing the annual budget.
• Mobilizing relief during natural calamities, including assistance for the poor.
• Removing encroachments on public properties.

Functions of Gram Sabha

• Organising voluntary labour and contribution for community works.
• Maintenance of essential statistics of village.
• Rendering assistance and implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village through its Gram Sabha.
• Promotion of unity and harmony among all the sections of society in the village.

In Punjab, a Gram Sabha is established for every village with a population of 500 under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.  

Membership: Every voter registered on the electoral roll of the State Vidhan Sabha is a member of the Gram Sabha. 
Leadership: The Gram Sabha is led by a Chairman called the Sarpanch and an executive committee known as the Panchayat. 
Meetings: The Gram Sabha holds two general meetings each year: 

• Sawni Meeting: In December, after the harvesting of the Sawni crop. 
• Hari Meeting: In June, after the harvesting of the Hari crop. 

Budget Approval: During these meetings, the Budget estimates prepared by the Gram Panchayat are considered and approved by the Gram Sabha, with or without modifications. 

Panchayat Samiti Composition

Six to ten directly elected members from territorial constituencies within the Panchayat Samiti area.  Representatives of Sarpanches, elected by the Sarpanches of the Gram Panchayats in the Panchayat Samiti area.  Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Punjab, whose constituencies fall within the Panchayat Samiti area, and all registered electors in the area. 

• Seat Reservation: Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. At least one-third of the total seats are reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Class. 
• Term and Meetings: The Panchayat Samiti serves a term of five years from the date of its first meeting. It must hold a meeting at least once every two months to conduct business. 
• Voting Rights: Members of the Panchayat Samiti, whether elected directly or not, have the right to vote in meetings, except for the election and removal of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman. 
• Income Source: The main source of income for the Panchayat Samiti is state aid or grants. 

Reservation of Seats for Women in Panchayat Samiti

• At least one-third of the total seats in every Panchayat Samiti, including seats reserved for women from Scheduled Castes, shall be reserved for women.
• One seat in the Panchayat Samiti shall be reserved for Backward Classes if their population is not less than 20% of the total population in that area.

Zila Parishad

• All members of a Zila Parishad, whether elected or not from territorial constituencies, have the right to vote in Zila Parishad meetings, except for the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
• Zila Parishads must hold meetings at least once every three months, either at their office or at a public place within the district, as determined by the Chairman.

Tax and Fee Authority

• The State Government, based on recommendations from the State Finance Commission, can allow Zila Parishads to levy taxes, duties, fees, tolls, and cesses not imposed by Gram Panchayats or Panchayat Samitis.

Powers and Functions of Zila Parishad

• Zila Parishad has the authority to examine and approve the budget of Panchayat Samiti as per Section 142.
• It can advise the State Government on matters related to development activities and service maintenance in the district, regardless of whether they are undertaken by local authorities or the State Government.

Main functions include:

• Opening and maintaining agricultural seed farms and commercial farms.
• Conducting agricultural fairs and exhibitions.
• Rural electrification and soil conservation.
• Planting and maintaining trees.
• Implementing social welfare programs for children, women, and weaker sections of society.
• Ensuring health, hygiene, and education for all.

Urban Local Self Government

• Punjab is the fifth most urbanized state in India, following Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
• The ability of Local Self-Governments in Punjab to address the challenges of rapid urbanization, including housing, poverty, environment, infrastructure, and services, will significantly impact the state's future.

History and Empowerment

• Historically, Urban Local Self Governments in Punjab have not been given the necessary power to tackle the increasing challenges posed by urban growth.
• There is a need for the development of important strategies to enhance the capacity of Local Self-Government institutions in the state.

Categories of Municipalities

• In Punjab, municipalities are categorized into:
• Nagar Panchayats: For transitional areas.
• Municipal Councils: For smaller urban areas, classified into Class A, B, and C based on population and revenue generation capacity.
• Municipal Corporations: For larger urban areas with a population of three lakh or more and specified revenue generation capacity.

Factors Leading to Urban Population Increase

• The urban population in Punjab has increased significantly due to:
• Rapid industrialization.
• Migration from rural to urban areas in search of employment.
• Better health and educational facilities available in towns and cities.

Challenges Faced by Local Self-Government

• Local Self-Government institutions in Punjab are facing major challenges in extending basic civic services to the rapidly growing urban population across different categories of towns.
• Rising land prices and rents have led to a considerable section of the migratory population encroaching on public land to establish temporary structures and shelters, which eventually develop into slums.
• These slums, whether with or without basic minimum services, are expanding in size, making the task of local self-government increasingly difficult.

Political Figures of Punjab

Master Tara Singh

Master Tara Singh, originally named Nanak Chand, was born on June 24, 1885, in Rawalpindi, Punjab, which is now in Pakistan. At the age of 16, he took Amrit from Sant Attar Singh and was given the name Tara Singh. He emerged as a significant Sikh political and religious leader in the early 20th century.

• Master Tara Singh played a crucial role in organizing the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee and was instrumental in politically mobilizing Sikhs.
• He guided the Sikh community during the Partition of India and later advocated for a Sikh-majority state in Punjab.
• Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
• Master Tara Singh passed away on November 22, 1967.

Gopi Chand Bhargava

• Gopi Chand Bhargava was born on March 8, 1889. He made history as the first Chief Minister of Punjab, serving from August 15, 1947, to April 13, 1949. He held this position again from October 18, 1949, to June 20, 1951, and for a third time from June 21, 1964, to July 6, 1964. Bhargava was a member of the Indian National Congress party. He passed away on December 26, 1889.

Gulzarilal Nanda

• Gulzarilal Nanda was born on July 4, 1898, in Sialkot, which was part of undivided Punjab (now in Pakistan). He was an Indian politician and economist, specializing in labor issues. Nanda served as the interim Prime Minister of India twice, each time for thirteen days: first after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's death in 1964 and then after Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in 1966. In 1997, the Government of India awarded Nanda the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honor. He passed away on January 15, 1998.

Partap Singh Kairon

• Partap Singh Kairon was born on October 1, 1901. He served as the Chief Minister of the Punjab province, which at the time included present-day Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Kairon is widely recognized as the architect of post-independent Punjab. He was a prominent leader in the Indian Independence Movement and was imprisoned twice by the British Empire. Kairon approached political, economic, and social issues with a practical and determined mindset. He also started a weekly English newspaper called 'New Era' from Amritsar. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on February 6, 1965.

Baldev Singh

• Baldev Singh was a prominent Indian Sikh political leader, born on July 11, 1902. He played a significant role in the Indian Independence Movement and became the first Defence Minister of India.
• As a representative of the Punjabi Sikh community, Baldev Singh was involved in the negotiations that led to India’s independence and the subsequent Partition in 1947. He passed away in 1961.

Sardar Swaran Singh

• Sardar Swaran Singh, born on August 19, 1907, was India’s longest-serving Union Cabinet Minister. He joined the Cabinet of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1952 and was the last surviving member of Nehru’s government.
• Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1957, 1962, 1967, and 1972, Swaran Singh continued to serve in various capacities until his death on October 30, 1994.

Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon: A Brief Overview

Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon was born on August 6, 1915, and was a prominent Punjabi politician associated with the Indian National Congress Party. Throughout his career, he held various significant positions, including President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union from 1973 to 1976 and Indian High Commissioner to Canada from 1980 to 1982.

Early Political Career:

• Dhillon made his entry into Indian politics in 1967 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament, representing the Tarn Taran Sahib Parliamentary Constituency.
• In 1985, he was elected from the Firozpur constituency.

Leadership Roles:

• He served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for two terms, first from 1969 to 1971 and then from 1971 to 1975.
• Dhillon also held the position of Minister of Agriculture in the Indian Government from 1986 to 1988.

State Politics in Punjab:

• Before his tenure in the Lok Sabha, Dhillon was a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly (PLA).
• He served as both Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the PLA during his time there.

Later Life and Death:

• After a long and distinguished career in politics, Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon passed away on March 23, 1992.

Darbara Singh

Early Life and Political Career:

• Born on February 10, 1916.
• Started political journey as President of the Jullundur Congress Party (1946-1950).
• Served in the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1969, holding various important portfolios such as Agriculture, Development, and Home Ministries.

Chief Minister:

• Elected to Punjab Legislative Assembly from Nakodar in the 1980 state elections.
• Appointed as Chief Minister on February 17, 1980.

Death

• Passed away on March 13, 1990.

Harkishan Singh Surjeet

Early Life and Political Involvement:

• Born on March 23, 1916.
• Active in the peasant movement and the Communist Party in Punjab, later becoming a national leader.

Leadership in the Communist Party:

• Served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from 1992 to 2005.
• Member of the party’s Political Bureau from 1964 to 2008.

Contribution and Legacy:

• Played a crucial role in the development of the peasant movement and the Communist Party in Punjab.
• Remembered for his leadership in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for four decades.

Death:

• Passed away on August 1, 2008.

Giani Zail Singh

• Giani Zail Singh was born on May 5, 1916. He became the seventh President of India and held office from 1982 to 1987. Before becoming President, Singh was a politician with the Indian National Congress Party and served in various ministerial roles in the Union Cabinet, including as Home Minister. His time as President was notably marked by ‘Operation Blue Star’. In 1972, Zail Singh was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab, where he implemented a Lifelong Pension Scheme for freedom fighters in the state. He passed away on December 25, 1994.

Harcharan Singh Brar

Early Life and Education:

• Harcharan Singh Brar was born on January 21, 1919, in the village of Sarai Naga, located in Punjab, India.
• He pursued his education at Khalsa College in Amritsar and later attended the University of the Punjab in Lahore, where he earned a degree in law.

Political Career:

• Brar was a member of the Indian National Congress and served in various capacities within the party.
• He was first elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) in 1960 from the Muktsar Sahib constituency and was re-elected multiple times.
• He represented Muktsar Sahib again in 1962-67 and 1992-97, and also served from Giddarbaha (1967-72) and Kotkapura (1969-74).
• He held the position of Chief Minister of Punjab from August 31, 1995, to November 21, 1996.

Governorship:

• Brar served as the Governor of Odisha from February 1977 to September 1977.
• He was later appointed as the Governor of Haryana, serving from September 24, 1977, to December 9, 1979.

Death:

• Harcharan Singh Brar passed away on September 6, 2009.

Inder Kumar Gujral

• Inder Kumar Gujral was born on December 4, 1919. He was a prominent Indian politician who held various important positions in the government. Gujral served as India’s ambassador to Moscow and was actively involved in the country’s freedom struggle, during which he was imprisoned in 1942 as part of the Quit India Movement.
• In 1975, during the Emergency period, he became the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of External Affairs on June 1, 1996. Gujral also had the distinction of serving as the 12th Prime Minister of India from April 1997 to March 1998.
• He is best known for formulating the Gujral Doctrine, a set of five principles aimed at guiding India’s foreign relations with its immediate neighbours, particularly Pakistan. Inder Kumar Gujral passed away on November 30, 2012.

Beant Singh

• Beant Singh was born on February 19, 1922, in the Patiala district of Punjab, India. He was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1992 until his assassination in 1995.
• In 1960, Beant Singh was elected as the Chairman of the Block Samiti (a local committee) in Doraha, located in the Ludhiana district. His career in cooperative banking began when he became the Director of the Central Cooperative Bank in Ludhiana.
• Beant Singh entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) in 1969 as an independent candidate. He later became a member of the Indian National Congress party. He played a significant role in Punjab politics and was known for his commitment to the state. Beant Singh passed away on August 31, 1995.

Balram Jakhar: A Brief Overview

Early Life and Background:

• Born on August 23, 1923, in Panchkosi village, Fazilka district, Punjab.

Political Career:

• Punjab Legislative Assembly: Elected in 1972 and re-elected in 1977, becoming the Leader of the Opposition.
• Lok Sabha: Elected to the 7th Lok Sabha from Firozpur in 1980 and re-elected to the 8th Lok Sabha from Sikar in 1984.
• Speaker of Lok Sabha: Served twice from 1980 to 1989.
• Central Agriculture Minister: Appointed in 1991.

Leadership Roles:

• President of Bharat Krishak Samaj.
• President of Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust Management Committee.

Publications:

• Authored “People, Parliament and Administration.”

Awards and Honors:

• Udyan Pandit: Awarded in 1975 for contributions to horticulture.
• Honorary Degrees: Doctor of Science from Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and Vidya Martand from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar.

Death:

• Passed away on February 3, 2016.

Gurcharan Singh Tohra

• Gurcharan Singh Tohra was born on September 24, 1924. He served as the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which is responsible for overseeing Gurdwaras, or Sikh places of worship. Tohra led the SGPC for an impressive 27 years, making him one of the most influential and controversial Sikh leaders of the 20th century. He passed away in New Delhi on April 1, 2004.

Surjit Singh Barnala

• Surjit Singh Barnala was born on October 21, 1925. He was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from September 29, 1985, to May 11, 1987. Barnala also held the position of Governor in several states, including Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Additionally, he was a Union Minister and authored a book titled "Story of an Escape." Barnala played a role in establishing Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. He passed away on January 14, 2017.

Krishna Kant

• Krishna Kant was born on February 28, 1927. He served as the tenth Vice-President of India from 1997 until his death in 2002. Before that, he was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 1990 to 1997. During his student days in Lahore, he joined the Quit India Movement.
• As a young man, Krishna Kant actively participated in the Indian Independence Movement and remained involved in politics thereafter. He was elected to the Parliament of India and was part of the 'Young Turk' group within the Indian National Congress Party during Indira Gandhi's leadership. He passed away on July 27, 2002.

Parkash Singh Badal: A Brief Overview

Early Life and Background:

• Parkash Singh Badal was born on December 8, 1927.

Political Career:

• He is a prominent Indian politician known for his long tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
• Badal first served as Chief Minister from 1970 to 1971.
• He held the office again from 1977 to 1980, and later from 1997 to 2002.
• His subsequent terms as Chief Minister were from 2007 to 2012 and 2012 to 2017.
• He is the Patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a regional political party in Punjab with a focus on Sikh interests.
• Badal was the President of SAD from 1995 until January 31, 2008, when his son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, took over the position.

Awards and Recognition:

• In recognition of his contributions, Badal was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
• He also received the 14th Sant Namdev National Award in 2015 from the Sarhad Foundation in Pune, honoring his efforts in promoting peace, communal harmony, and universal brotherhood.

Harchand Singh Longowal

• Harchand Singh Longowal was born on January 2, 1932, in the village of Gidariani, located in the Patiala district of Punjab. He became the President of the Akali Dal during a tumultuous period in the 1980s when Punjab was facing significant insurgency issues. He was affectionately known as "Sant Ji" by many. Rajiv-Longowal Accord On July 24, 1985, Longowal signed the Punjab Accord, also known as the Rajiv-Longowal Accord, alongside then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This agreement was a significant step towards addressing the issues in Punjab.
• Early Contributions Longowal was instrumental in raising a gurdwara dedicated to Bhai Mani Singh, a revered 18th-century scholar and martyr. In 1962, he was appointed the head of the historical shrine at Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), which holds great significance in Sikh history.
• Political Activism His political activism began in June 1964 when he led a demonstration for Sikh rights at Paonta Sahib in present-day Himachal Pradesh. This marked the start of his journey in advocating for Sikh rights and issues. In 1969, Longowal was elected to the Punjabi Legislative Assembly as the Akali candidate, defeating Babu Brish Bhan of the Congress Party, who had previously served as the Chief Minister of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).

Death Harchand Singh Longowal passed away on August 20, 1985.

Manmohan Singh: A Brief Overview

• Birth and Early Life. Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932. He is an Indian economist and politician who served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He is known for being the first Sikh Prime Minister and the only one since Jawaharlal Nehru to win a second term after completing a full five years in office.
• Early Career in Economics. Dr. Singh began his career in the Indian government as the Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance in 1972. He later became the Secretary in the Finance Ministry in 1976 and worked at the Planning Commission from 1980 to 1982. In 1982, he was appointed the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a position he held until 1985.
• Political Career. Singh was first elected to the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament, in 1991, representing the state of Assam. He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1995, 2001, and 2007.

Captain Amarinder Singh

• Birth and Early Life: Captain Amarinder Singh was born on March 11, 1942.
• Political Career: He is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Previously, he held this position from February 26, 2002, to March 1, 2007.
• Political Affiliation: Captain Singh is a member of the Indian National Congress party. He was also the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee until March 6, 2013.
• Title and Social Work: He is the formal Maharaja of Patiala and serves as the Chief of the Jat Mahasabha, an organization that advocates for the Jat community.
• Advocacy: Captain Singh has been a strong advocate for providing job reservations for Jats under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal

• Early Life: Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was born on September 30, 1945.
• Political Career: She is an Indian politician and a member of the Congress party. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is a former Chief Minister of Punjab. She holds the distinction of being the first and, so far, the only woman to serve as Chief Minister in Punjab. Additionally, she is the eighth female Chief Minister in India.