The correct answer is 1962. Explanation & Key Takeaways: • Although the 73rd constitutional amendment act granted the Panchayati Raj institution constitutional standing in 1993. • The Maharashtra Zila Parishad and Panchayat Act, 1961 was first published in 1962. • The general framework of the Indian local administration is followed by the local government in Maharashtra State. • Urban local government and rural local government are the two broad classifications. Important Notes: • Compared to the national average of 31.16%, Maharashtra has the third-highest percentage of its people residing in urban areas (42.23%). • The Panchayati Raj system serves as the foundation for rural governance in India. • It is a three-tiered system, with the Grampanchayat (Village Council) at the bottom level and the Taluka panchayat at the Taluka or sub-district level. • It is controlled under the Maharashtra State's Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads Acts of 1961.