The term, 'Uniform Civil Code' is explicitly mentioned in Part 4, Article 44 of the Indian Constitution. Article 44 says, “The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.”

The original text of the Constitution contained 395 articles in 22 parts and eight schedules. It came into effect on January 26, 1950, the day that India celebrates each year as the Republic Day. The number of articles has since increased to 448 due to 100 amendments.

The Preamble has been amended by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976), which added three new words—socialist, secular and integrity.

The father of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had declared Article 32 as the “heart and soul of the Indian Constitution.

1. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India that looks after the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance in the states.

2. The Panchayati Raj system is the system of local self-government in rural India. Just as self-governance of urban areas is carried out through municipalities and suburban municipalities, similarly self-governance of rural areas is carried out through Panchayati Raj institutions.

3. There are three levels of Panchayati Raj institutions.

(1) Village level: Gram Panchayat

(2) Block level: Panchayat Samiti

(3) District level: District Council