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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) ‘: 25 June

Daily News Analysis ‘Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) ‘: 25 June

Recent reports have highlighted that the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) has significantly impacted political representation and forest protection in India's Scheduled Areas.

Table of Content

About Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996:

    • The PESA Act, enacted by Parliament in 1996, extends the Panchayat provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Fifth Schedule areas, enabling tribal self-rule.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Important provisions of the PESA Act:

  • Gram Sabha: The act gives special powers to the Gram Sabhas in Schedule Areas especially for the management of natural resources.
    • Village-level institutions: The act establishes village-level institutions for development activities and basic services. These institutions include the Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha, and Panchayat Samiti.
  • Consultation: The act mandates consultation with the Gram Sabha before undertaking any development projects in Scheduled Areas.
  • Land: The Act protects tribal land rights in Scheduled Areas and mandates their consent for land acquisition or transfer.
  • Funds: The act allows funds to be transferred to the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat for their functions.

About Fifth and Sixth Schedules:

  • The Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State (other than the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram).
  • The Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in the State of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
  • There are 10 states under the 5th Schedule: 
    • Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana.


Why in the News?

  • Recent reports have highlighted that the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) has significantly impacted political representation and forest protection in India’s Scheduled Areas.