About Department
The Panchayati Raj system in India, rooted in ancient traditions and endorsed by Mahatma Gandhi, was institutionalized through Article 40 of the Constitution. The concept of democratic decentralization was formally adopted in 1959 based on the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommendations. To strengthen local governance, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1993 granted constitutional status to rural and urban local bodies, mandating regular elections through State Election Commissions. After Uttarakhand’s formation in 2000, its State Election Commission was established in 2001 to oversee elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Governed by specific state acts, the SEC manages electoral rolls and elections across 13 Zila Panchayats, 95 Blocks, 7485 Gram Panchayats, 8 Municipal Corporations, 43 Nagar Palika Parishads, and 41 Nagar Panchayats.
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