When was the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act passed by Indian Parliament ?

The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, commonly known as PESA, was enacted by the Indian Parliament on December 24, 1996. While the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 established the Panchayati Raj system, Article 243M exempted the Fifth Schedule areas from its mandatory application.

Following the recommendations of the Bhuria Committee (1994), PESA was passed to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to these areas with specific modifications to protect tribal interests. The Act empowers Gram Sabhas with significant authority over local resources, land alienation, and dispute resolution, ensuring self-rule for tribal populations. It currently applies to ten states with Fifth Schedule areas, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana.