Home The Constitution Part IX Article 243N

Art. 243N Part IX: The Panchayats

Continuance of Existing Laws and Panchayats

Exact text — Constitution of India

Notwithstanding anything in this Part, any provision of any law relating to Panchayats in force in a State immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, shall continue to be in force until amended or repealed by a competent Legislature or other competent authority or until the expiration of one year from such commencement, whichever is earlier: Provided that all the Panchayats existing immediately before such commencement shall continue till the expiration of their duration, unless sooner dissolved...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A standard transitional-provision Article — it gave states a specific one-year grace period after the 73rd Amendment's 1992 commencement to bring their existing Panchayat laws into compliance with this Part's new requirements, while letting existing Panchayats at the time continue functioning until their term naturally expired.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article's practical effect is now historical — it managed the one-time transition from the pre-1992 patchwork of state Panchayat laws to the new, constitutionally mandated uniform framework, and that transition period has long since ended.

Read alongside this one

Art. 243b — Constitution of Panchayats

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 243N

Is this Article still operationally relevant today?

Its direct transitional effect (the one-year grace period) ended long ago; it remains part of the Constitution's text as a record of how the 1992 transition was managed.

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The text above reproduces Article 243N of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.