This document concerns the implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) in the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. It is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 2543 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 16, 2025. The Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, states that the provisions of the PESA Act are not applicable to these Union Territories because no area within them has been notified as a "Scheduled Area" according to the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Furthermore, no scheme has been formulated by the government to enforce powers similar to the provisions of the PESA Act in the Union Territory under any other constitutional/legal mechanism.
Key Entities Referenced
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA): Determines applicability of PESA to Scheduled Areas as per the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
Fifth Schedule to the Constitution: Defines 'Scheduled Areas' which determines the applicability of PESA.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: Primary ministry responsible for matters related to Panchayati Raj and PESA implementation.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu: Union Territories to which the question of PESA implementation is specifically directed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.–2543
ANSWEREDON- 16.12.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OFPESAACTIN UTS
†2543.SHRIPATELUMESHBHAIBABUBHAI:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Provisions of the Panchayats ( Extentions to Scheduled Areas) Act,1996 has
been implemented in the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu by
the Central Government, if so, the date on which the notification was issued in this regard;
and
(b) if not, whether any scheme has been furmulated by the Government to enforce powers
similar to the provisions of the PESA Act in the Union Territory under any other
constitutional/legal mechanism,if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH)
a. Unless any area of a State/UT is notified as “Scheduled Areas” in accordance with
the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, the provisions of PESA Act do not apply to
those areas. Since no area of the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Daman & Diu has been notified as a “Scheduled Area”, the provisions of the PESA
Act are not applicable to the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman
& Diu.
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
(PESA), are applicable only to the areas notified as ‘Scheduled Areas’ under the
Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India. Paragraph 6 of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution of India defines that the expression “Scheduled Areas” means such
areasasthe Presidentmay byorder declaretobe ScheduledAreas.
b. No, Sir.
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