Local Self Government Minister Jhabbir Singh Kharra has stated that a proposal regarding the educational qualifications has been submitted to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for consideration.
Under the proposal, candidates vying for the position of village head must possess at least secondary grade education. For those contesting the role of ward councillors, the required qualifications are a minimum of either secondary or senior secondary education.
He noted that implementing educational qualifications for Panchayati Raj and local body elections will necessitate amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act and the Municipalities Act. Once the chief minister approves, these amendments will be introduced in the upcoming Budget Session of the Assembly.
This initiative follows a similar decision made in 2015 during the leadership of then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, when the educational qualification requirement was first established.
Candidates for village head were mandated to be at least 8th grade pass. In tribal areas (TSP regions), it was required for village candidates to have completed 5th grade.
The educational criteria for Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad members was set at 10th grade, while Councillors and heads of urban local bodies were also expected to have at least secondary education.
However, following the election of the Congress government in 2018, this rule was rescinded in 2019.
(Edited by : navneet singh)
