In the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India, what is the name of the intermediate tier between the Gram Panchayat and the Zila Parishad?

Introduction / Context:

Panchayati Raj represents the system of rural local self government in India. The Constitution, through the 73rd Amendment, gave constitutional status to Panchayats and laid down a three tier structure in most States. Understanding the names and levels of these bodies is a basic but crucial topic in Indian Polity. This question asks you to identify the intermediate tier between the village level Gram Panchayat and the district level Zila Parishad.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is the three tier Panchayati Raj structure.
• The lowest tier is the Gram Panchayat at the village level.
• The top tier is the Zila Parishad at the district level.
• The question asks for the name of the middle or intermediate tier.

Concept / Approach:

In the three tier Panchayati Raj system, the structure generally consists of Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block or intermediate level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. The Panchayat Samiti is sometimes referred to as the block level or middle tier Panchayat body. It coordinates the activities of Gram Panchayats and works under the overall supervision of the Zila Parishad. Therefore, the correct answer is Panchayat Samiti.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standard polity sources and constitutional explanations of the 73rd Amendment confirm the three tier arrangement: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad. Some smaller States and Union Territories may have two tier or single tier systems, but where the three tier system is in force, the names are consistent. The term Sarpanch refers to the elected head of a Gram Panchayat, not a separate tier. Thus, Panchayat Samiti is clearly the name of the intermediate tier.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Gram Panchayat, is the village level body and not the intermediate tier. Option B, Zila Parishad, is the top tier at the district level. Option C, Sarpanch Panchayat, is not a standard constitutional or legal term for any tier of Panchayati Raj; the word Sarpanch refers to the head of a Gram Panchayat, not an intermediate body. Therefore, these options do not correctly identify the middle level in the three tier system.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes mix up the terminology and think that Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayat are interchangeable, or that Zila Parishad might refer to a State level institution. Another common error is to treat Sarpanch as a separate institutional tier, when in reality it is a position within the Gram Panchayat. To avoid confusion, remember the neat structure: village level Gram Panchayat, block level Panchayat Samiti, and district level Zila Parishad.

Final Answer:

In the three tier Panchayati Raj system, the intermediate tier between Gram Panchayat and Zila Parishad is the Panchayat Samiti.