 bill no  xxvii of  2012 the constitution (amendment) bill, 2012 a billfurther to amend the constitution of indiabe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-third year of the republic of india1 (1) this act may be called the constitution (amendment) act, 2012(2) it shall come into force at onceshort title and commencement2 in article 243g of the constitution,—5amendment of article 243g(i) for the words "may contain provisions for the devolution of powers andresponsibilities upon panchayats", the words "shall contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon panchayats" shall be substituted(ii) in sub-clause (b) after the words "eleventh schedule" the words"by the year 2012" shall be inserted103 in article 243w of the constitution,—amendment of article 243w(i) for the words "may contain provisions for the devolution of powers andresponsibilities upon municipalities", the words "shall contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon municipalities," shall be substituted(ii) in sub-clause (a)(ii) after the words "twelfth schedule" the words"by the year 2012" shall be inserted15 statement of objects and reasonsafter the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments came into force, most of the states enacted their respective legislations governing panchayats and municipal bodies, in line with the constitutional amendmentswhile some states have enumerated the powers to be exercised by panchayats, by enumerating the subjects mentioned in the xith schedule of the constitution in the respective legislations and have allotted them to the zilla, tehsil and village panchayats and, similarly, the state governments have allotted the subjects mentioned in the xiith schedule to the various types of municipal bodies these enumerations are rather cosmetic in nature and necessary notifications, to actually allot these subjects to the respective panchayats and municipal bodies have not been issuedit is in this context, that the present bill seeks to make devolution of powers constitutionally mandatory by substituting the word "may" by the word "shall", in the respective articlessome state governments have given undertakings for the devolution of such powers by signing memoranda of understanding with the government of india however, a firm constitutional requirement is the need of the hour if the dream of former prime minister late shri rajiv gandhi, who was inspired by the ideals of mahatma gandhi of  "gram rajya", is to be achieved  hence this billshantaram  naik annexure extract from the constitution of india243g powers, authority and responsibilities of panchayats— subject to the provisions of this constitution, the legislature of a state may, by law, endow the panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon panchayats at the appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to—(a) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice; (b) the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the eleventh schedule   243w powers, authority and responsibilities of municipalities, etc— subject  to the provisions of this constitution, the legislature of a state may, by law, endow— (a) the municipalities  with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon municipalities, subject to such  conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to—(i) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice; (ii) the performance of functions and the implementation of schemes  as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the twelfth  schedule; (b) the committees with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to carry out the responsibilities conferred upon them including those in relation to the matters listed in the twelfth schedulerajya sabha————a billfurther to amend the constitution of india————(shri shantaram  naik, mp)mgipmrnd—2102rs(s3)—09-08-2012