Bihar Panchayat Chunav : Everything You Need to Know
Bihar Panchayat Chunav : Everything You Need to Know
The Bihar Panchyat Chunav is an election through which people in rural Bihar elect their local representatives to manage village development, infrastructure, and to resolve disputes. The election is conducted every five years.
What is the Bihar Panchayat Chunav?
The Bihar Panchayat Election is a local government election held every five years to elect representatives for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Unlike the general elections or assembly elections, these polls are focused entirely on local village governance.
The elections are conducted by the State Election Commission (SEC), Bihar, not the Election Commission of India. The most recent major election cycle took place in 2021, and the next general Panchayat election will be conducted in 2026.
Structure
Bihar follows a three-tier Panchayati Raj system as mandated by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.
Gram Panchayat (Village Level)
This is the lowest tier. It is responsible for civic amenities like village roads, drainage, and streetlights.
- Head: Mukhiya.
- Members: Ward Members.
Panchayat Samiti (Block Level)
This tier works as a link between the village and the district. It coordinates the activities of all Gram Panchayats in a block.
- Head: Pramukh.
- Elected Representative: Panchayat Samiti Member.
Zila Parishad (District Level)
The highest tier at the district level. It oversees the development plans for the entire district.
- Head: Adhyaksha (Chairman).
- Elected Representative: Zila Parishad Member.
Key Features of the Election
The main features of the election are mentioned below:
- Reservation Policy: Bihar was the first state in India to provide 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. This has been a game-changer for women's empowerment in rural areas. There are also reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes based on their population in the area.
- The Hybrid Voting Model: In the 2021 elections, Bihar introduced a unique Hybrid Model to manage the voting for six different posts simultaneously. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used for four posts: Mukhiya, Ward Member, Panchayat Samiti Member, and Zila Parishad Member. Ballot Papers were used for two posts, Sarpanch and Panch.
- Massive Scale: The election is usually held in multiple phases to ensure security and proper management. Millions of voters participate, and lakhs of candidates contest.
The Election Process
The process of the election is given below:
- Notification: The State Election Commission issues a notification announcing the dates and phases.
- Nomination: Candidates file their nomination papers. They must meet criteria regarding age (minimum 21 years), no criminal conviction, and other eligibility rules.
- Campaigning: Candidates campaign in their villages. Since these elections are often not fought on party symbols (unlike MP/MLA elections), the campaigning is very personal and local.
- Voting: Voters visit the polling booth. They cast votes for six different posts in a single visit.
- Counting & Results: Votes are counted (faster for EVMs, slower for ballots), and winners are declared immediately or within a day.
FAQs on Bihar Panchayat Chunav
- Who conducts the Bihar Panchayat elections?
The elections are conducted by the State Election Commission, Bihar, which is an independent constitutional body.
- What is the minimum age to contest a Panchayat election in Bihar?
A candidate must be at least 21 years old to contest any post in the Panchayat elections.
- How many posts does a voter vote for?
A single voter casts votes for six posts.
- What is the tenure of the elected representatives?
The term for all elected representatives is five years from the date of the first meeting of the Panchayat.
- When is the next Bihar Panchayat Election?
Since the last general election was held in late 2021, the next election is scheduled for 2026.
Bihar Assembly Elections to Be Held in Two Phases on 6th November and 11th November
The Election Commission has announced that Bihar will vote in two phases for the upcoming Assembly elections, first on 6th November and another on 11th November. The counting of votes will take place on 14th November. The state has a total of 243 assembly seats. This year, the voter list includes around 7.43 crore people, with nearly 14 lakh first-time voters. Several changes have been introduced to improve the voting process. Candidate photos on EVMs will now appear in colour and in a larger size. Mobile phones deposit will be available at polling stations, and all polling booths will have 100% webcasting for monitoring. Also, there will also be facilities such as mobile phone deposit counters, clear display of voter details like serial numbers, and helpline support on +91 STD Code 1950.
Bihar Launches India’s First Mobile App Voting in Local Elections
Bihar became the first Indian state to allow voting through a mobile app during municipal elections on 28 June 2025. The app's name is e-SECBHR, and it was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). As of now the app is available on Android, and it helps voters to cast their vote remotely who cannot visit polling booths like senior citizens, disabled people, and pregnant women. The system uses secure technologies like facial recognition and blockchain to ensure fair voting. About 10,000 voters registered to use the app in six councils across Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran districts. For preventing the misuse, only two people were allowed to register with one mobile number with a required voter ID verification.
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