A Quick Guide on 3 Tier Structure

In federalism, the powers are split between a central authority and the numerous constituent units of a country’s constituent parts, with the central authority having the most power and the many constituent units having the least power. In federalism, there are two or more levels of government, and each level is responsible for a certain task. Because of the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, India now has a three-tiered system of governance.

Three-tier Structure of Government 

•  Different levels of government have authority over the same people, but each has its own authority in areas such as laws, tax rates, and management that are unique to that tier’s jurisdiction
• The constitution contains a description of the various levels of government’s jurisdictions and as a result, the Constitution guarantees the presence and authority of all levels of government

• The Indian Constitution originally called for a two-tiered governance structure, with the Union Government, also known as the Central Government, trying to represent the Federation of India and the State government agencies representing the various states
•  In the later years, a third part of federalism was developed in the form of Panchayats, bringing the number of federalist levels in India up to three
• In a federation, these multiple levels of government are subject to separate oversight, just as they’d be in any other
• According to general consensus, four-tiered governmental institutions include the Gram Parishad as an additional, fourth-tier layer; an illustration of this type of government system may be found in the Bangladeshi government, which serves as an example
• There are five levels of governance in the American federal system, which distinguishes it from other systems

Does India need a Three-tiered Government?

The federal (central) and provincial (state) levels of government were established by the Indian government in 1935. Schedule 7 of the Constitution replaced the 1935 Act’s distribution of authorities on topics including the Federal List and the Provincial List. There were, however, a slew of unaddressed issues over which the federal government and the states have equal authority to enact legislation. Because of this, numerous government-appointed groups that were looking into empowering the grassroots, such as the local Panchayats, recommended a new tier of government for them.

In similar ways there is a three-tier system of Panchayati raj in India. Now let’s look at how this is similar to a system formed by an Indian government.

The Importance of the Three-tiered Government System

Central Level

If you are dealing with subjects that are widespread across the country, like defense and foreign affairs, a centralized authority must address a variety of issues, including defense, international diplomacy, and the distribution of shared resources, to name a few. As a facilitator and watchdog, the central government is responsible for ensuring that the country to remain unified at all times

State Level

State-level governments are established in order to ensure that issues which can be handled with at the state and local level are put into effect at the state level and that ownership is divided according to jurisdiction, as well as to ensure that issues which can be tried to deal with at the state level are enforced at the state level.

Those aspects of local infrastructure, health services, and agriculture that can be managed at the state level remain under the jurisdiction of the state’s various administrations, as does the rest of the country.

Local Body Level

Construction of development infrastructures, such as roads and transit systems, is required.

• In order to achieve these objectives, it is necessary to create and maintain common assets
• Promoting agricultural growth through the coordination and monitoring of small irrigation and drainage management solutions, as well as soil health and land improvement, are all key objectives
• Promoting social reforestation and livestock farming, and also cattle and poultry production; encouraging the growth of local industries; and promoting the growth of rural infrastructure
• Health and education should be carefully monitored and managed on a local level, as should other aspects of local government

This new Panchayati raj system is composed of a three-tiered system.

1. Gram Panchayat: A local government body in a village. Gram Sabha’s executive branch is known as the Gram panchayat. The Gram Sabha elects the members of the Gram Panchayat. Elections for the village panchayat are open to all local residents over the age of 18. It is the duty of the Gram Panchayat to:

•       Water purification and disinfection for the benefit of the residents of the community
•       To improve the village’s hygienic conditions
•       To open dispensaries and hospitals in the village to provide better healthcare options

2. Panchayat Samiti at Block Level: (Block Development Committee) are elected directly by the people by universal adult voting. MPs, MPs, SDMS, and BDOs of the districts serve as ex-officio members of the Panchayat Samiti. Others include elected members and those who serve as ex officio. Members of the SC and ST are given priority seating. Approximately 30% of the slots are earmarked for female applicants. The five-year term of Block Samiti is in effect now. Here are the functions of Block Samiti:

• To supervise the Gram Panchayat’s operations
• The distribution of fertilizers, high-yield seeds, and scientific equipment to farmers is part of an effort to advance modern agricultural practices

3. A district-level Zilla Parishad: District Panchayat Samity Chairman elects the Zilla Parishad Chairman. MLAs, MPs, SDMS, Collectors, and Deputy Collectors serve as ex-officio members. Every state government has a financial commission that reviews the financial situation of these institutions and reviews the allocation of funding and grant-in-aid for these institutions. Zilla Parishad’s duties are as follows:

•  Work with Panchayat Samitis to establish district-wide coordination
•  To review and approve the Panchayat Samiti’s annual budget

Conclusion

The Indian government contains characteristics of both a federation and a unitary structure. In the United States, both the federal government and local states and municipalities uphold the separation of powers as an important constitutional principle.  A theory known as “power distribution” is followed by a large number of Indians. India has become a sovereign country in its own way as a result of the federal system that it has established. It is referred to as “QF” or “Quasi-Federal” in order to make it more straightforward.

It is only via increased authority at the lowest levels of government that legislative decentralization and “grassroots level democracy” may be fulfilled to their fullest extent.