Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State, having population less than

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 introduced a mandatory three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in every state, consisting of panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels [2]. However, Article 243B of the Constitution provides a specific exemption to this rule to ensure administrative efficiency in smaller states. It stipulates that Panchayats at the intermediate level (commonly known as Panchayat Samitis or Block Panchayats) may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs. This provision allows smaller states to maintain a two-tier structure, moving directly from the village level to the district level [1]. This flexibility acknowledges the demographic diversity across Indian states while maintaining the constitutional mandate for local self-government [2].

Sources

1. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > III I Three-tier Government > p. 33
2. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > 5. The Panchayat-Level Planning > p. 58