From the date appointed for its first meeting, a panchayat continues for:

Under Article 243E(1), every panchayat, unless dissolved sooner under any law, continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting, and no longer.

Fixed term:

• The five-year term applies to panchayats at all levels.
• It ensures that elections are held regularly.

Early dissolution:

• A panchayat can be dissolved before the end of its term under state law, but only after being given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
• If it is dissolved, a new election must be completed within six months.
• The new panchayat continues only for the remainder of the original five-year term.

Elections before the end of the term:

Elections to constitute a new panchayat must be completed before the expiry of the five-year term.

Protection against changes in law:

An amendment of any state law cannot cause the dissolution of a panchayat functioning at that time until the end of its five-year term.

Similar provision for municipalities:

Article 243U provides that every municipality continues for five years from the date of its first meeting.

Comparison with other bodies:

• The Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies also have a normal term of five years.
• Members of the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils have six-year terms.

Before the 73rd Amendment:

• State laws had different terms for panchayats, and elections were often postponed for long periods.
• The 73rd Amendment brought uniformity and regularity.

Elections:

• Panchayat elections are conducted by the State Election Commission.
• Members are directly elected from territorial constituencies.

Reservation:

Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, and reserved seats are allotted by rotation.

Why not the other options?

• ✗4, 6 and 3 years do not match the term of panchayats.