Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-I)

Total Questions: 60

1. Who speaks of India's self-reliant social system 'The rural system in India is a tiny Republic'? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (a) Charles Metcalfe
Solution:In 1830, Sir Charles Metcalfe, then acting governor general of India wrote: "The village communities are little republics, having nearly everything they want within themselves and almost independent of any foreign relations."
  • PRIs in India have a long history dating back to ancient times. During pre-independence, these institutions were known as "panchayats" and were primarily responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas.
  • During the Vedic era (c. 1500-500 BC), the panchayat system was an important institution for administering justice
  • The panchayat was typically composed of the village headman and four other respected members of the village community, who were elected by the villagers.
  • Panchayats were responsible for resolving disputes and providing a forum for village-level decision-making.
  • in the 19th and early 20th centuries, British colonial rule introduced modern forms of local self-government in India, which were based on the Panchayati Raj system.
  • PRIs have continued to evolve and play a vital role in the governance of rural areas in modern India. The British also introduced the concept of "revenue panchayats," responsible for collecting land revenue and maintaining land records.

2. Who was the Father of local Self-Government in India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Correct Answer: (d) Lord Ripon
Solution:Lord Ripon was appointed as Viceroy of India in 1880. Lord Ripon is regarded to have been the Father of local self government in India. He formulated the local self government and laid the foundations of representative institutions in India. His scheme of local self-government developed the municipal institutions which have been growing up in the country ever since.

3. Which Article of the Indian Constitution directs state Government to organize village Panchayats? [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (b) Article 40
Solution:Article 40 of the Constitution directs the States to constitute Gram Panchayats. It is included in the Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 40 provides that the State shall take steps to organize village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-governance.

4. Article 40 of the Constitution of India advises the State to work for— [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (b) Organization of Village Panchayats
Solution:Article 40 of the Constitution directs the States to constitute Gram Panchayats. It is included in the Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 40 provides that the State shall take steps to organize village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-governance.

5. Panchayati Raj is organized as a unit of Self-Government under— [43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (d) 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.

6. When was the third tier added to Indian Federal System? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (d) 1993
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-goveIndia has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.rnment in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.

7. The provision regarding Panchayats and Municipalities was made in the Indian Constitution in— [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) 1993
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.

8. What is/are true among the following? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(i) By 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Three-tier Governance System was introduced in the Constitution.

(ii) This system was copied from the Constitution of Australia.

(iii) 74th Constitutional Amendment Act is related to giving Constitutional recognition to Panchayats.

Correct Answer: (a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.

9. The legislative origins of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act can be traced back to which Constitutional Amendment Bill? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (d) 64th Constitutional Amendment Bill
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.

10. Which Constitutional Amendment granted Constitutional Status to Panchayati Raj Institutions? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998, 44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (a) 73rd Amendment
Solution:India has a federal system of government in which powers are divided between the central government and the states and union territories. The Constitution of India defines the structure of local self-government in the country through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which were passed in 1992. These amendments created two new governance structures: the Panchayats (for rural areas) and the Municipalities (for urban areas).
The Panchayati Raj system was first established in India in the 1950s, but it was only with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 that it was given constitutional recognition and a formal structure. The Act defines the Panchayati Raj system as a "three-tier system" consisting of:
Village Panchayats: The lowest level of local government, responsible for village-level administration and development.
Intermediate Panchayats: Intermediate level of local government, typically responsible for a group of villages.
District Panchayats: The highest level of rural local government, responsible for district-level administration and development.