In the Panchayati Raj system in India, what proportion of seats and chairperson posts at all levels of Panchayats is constitutionally reserved for women?

Introduction / Context:
Reservation for women in local self government institutions is a major step towards gender inclusive democracy in India. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced Panchayati Raj institutions in a more uniform and constitutional manner and provided for reservation of seats for women. This question asks you to recall the minimum proportion of seats and chairperson posts that must be reserved for women at all levels of Panchayats according to the Constitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj system.
• The options are two thirds, one fourth, one third and one half.
• The constitutional amendment sets a minimum quota at the national level, though some states may provide more.
• We are asked about the constitutionally mandated proportion, not state specific enhancements.

Concept / Approach:
The 73rd Amendment inserted Part IX in the Constitution, dealing with Panchayats. One of its key provisions is that not less than one third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women. This reservation also applies to the offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. Thus, the constitutionally mandated figure is one third. While some states have increased this to fifty percent, the exam question is clearly about the basic constitutional provision, so the correct option is one third.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, which deals with Panchayati Raj institutions. Step 2: Remember that this amendment provides that not less than one third of seats and chairperson posts in Panchayats are reserved for women. Step 3: Examine option C, which states one third. This matches the constitutional requirement. Step 4: Option A, two thirds, is higher than the constitutional minimum and does not reflect the original provision. Step 5: Option B, one fourth, is lower than the mandated one third and is therefore incorrect. Step 6: Option D, one half, reflects the enhanced quota in some states but not the minimum required by the Constitution itself. Step 7: Conclude that one third is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a cross check, remember that exam questions often quote the phrase not less than one third of the total number of seats in connection with women reservation in Panchayats. This phrase comes directly from the text of the 73rd Amendment. Additionally, discussions on women empowerment through Panchayati Raj in textbooks and policy documents repeatedly refer to the one third reservation as a landmark measure. Even though some states have moved further to fifty percent, question setters usually specify if they are asking about those states. Since the question simply refers to all levels in the system, it points to the national constitutional standard of one third.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Two thirds is not mentioned in the Constitution and would be an extremely high proportion for reserved seats.

Option B: One fourth underestimates the level of reservation and does not match the constitutional phrase not less than one third.

Option D: One half reflects later state level enhancements but is not the minimum constitutional guarantee for all Panchayats across India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes hear in news reports that several states provide fifty percent reservation for women and then wrongly generalise this to the entire country as a constitutional rule. Others may simply guess between one fourth and one third. To avoid such confusion, it helps to separate clearly in your mind what is the national constitutional baseline and what are state specific improvements. Remember that the 73rd Amendment guarantees at least one third reservation for women, which is the key fact tested in this question.

Final Answer:
One third.