Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-I)

Total Questions: 60

51. The reservation of seats for women in Panchayats has been provided by an amendment to Constitution of India. That amendment is - [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (b) 73rd amendment of 1992
Solution:According to Article 243-D (3), inserted by 73rd Amendment Act, not less than one-third of the total seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women.

Impact of Women Reservation

Positive impact

  • Political empowerment- It is rightly perceived as a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.
  • Productive investment- A 2004 paper by Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay on panchayats in West Bengal and Rajasthan found that women leaders invest more in public goods and ensure increased women's participation in panchayat meetings.
  • Gandhian ideology- The act gave impetus to decentralisation and resulted in wider representation.
  • Develop society- Experience of women in family life as a leader, will help the society at large.
  • Decentralisation- The Act fostered inclusive growth and active citizenship.

Negative impact

  • No improvement- A 2010 study found that women's reservation worsened targeting of welfare programmes for SC/ST households and provided no improvement for female-headed
    households.
  • Proxy- Women were used as a dummy candidate by their politically strong husbands and relatives and work behind them indirectly, which dissolves the true spirit of the Act.
  • Delhi case study- in 2020 Delhi reservations were examined, it found that constituencies reserved for women are less likely to elect OBC women and more likely to elect upper caste women

52. In India, seats are reserved for women in - [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) Panchayati Raj Institutions
Solution:According to Article 243-D (3), inserted by 73rd Amendment Act, not less than one-third of the total seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women.

Impact of Women Reservation

Positive impact

  • Political empowerment- It is rightly perceived as a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.
  • Productive investment- A 2004 paper by Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay on panchayats in West Bengal and Rajasthan found that women leaders invest more in public goods and ensure increased women's participation in panchayat meetings.
  • Gandhian ideology- The act gave impetus to decentralisation and resulted in wider representation.
  • Develop society- Experience of women in family life as a leader, will help the society at large.
  • Decentralisation- The Act fostered inclusive growth and active citizenship.

Negative impact

  • No improvement- A 2010 study found that women's reservation worsened targeting of welfare programmes for SC/ST households and provided no improvement for female-headed
    households.
  • Proxy- Women were used as a dummy candidate by their politically strong husbands and relatives and work behind them indirectly, which dissolves the true spirit of the Act.
  • Delhi case study- in 2020 Delhi reservations were examined, it found that constituencies reserved for women are less likely to elect OBC women and more likely to elect upper caste women

53. Which Article of the Constitution Guarantees the 1/3 representation of women in Panchayats? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (b) Article 243-D
Solution:According to Article 243-D (3), inserted by 73rd Amendment Act, not less than one-third of the total seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women.

Impact of Women Reservation

Positive impact

  • Political empowerment- It is rightly perceived as a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.
  • Productive investment- A 2004 paper by Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay on panchayats in West Bengal and Rajasthan found that women leaders invest more in public goods and ensure increased women's participation in panchayat meetings.
  • Gandhian ideology- The act gave impetus to decentralisation and resulted in wider representation.
  • Develop society- Experience of women in family life as a leader, will help the society at large.
  • Decentralisation- The Act fostered inclusive growth and active citizenship.

Negative impact

  • No improvement- A 2010 study found that women's reservation worsened targeting of welfare programmes for SC/ST households and provided no improvement for female-headed
    households.
  • Proxy- Women were used as a dummy candidate by their politically strong husbands and relatives and work behind them indirectly, which dissolves the true spirit of the Act.
  • Delhi case study- in 2020 Delhi reservations were examined, it found that constituencies reserved for women are less likely to elect OBC women and more likely to elect upper caste women

54. Which one of the following Articles provides reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayats? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016, Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (a) 243D
Solution:Article 243D of the Indian Constitution provides for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayats. Article 243A is about Gram Sabha, 243B deals with the constitution of Panchayats, and Article 243C is about the composition of Panchayats.
  • The 73rd Amendment Act's primary goal was to democratically decentralise authority and resources from the centre to locally elected officials in order to increase citizen participation in governance.
  • Its goal relates to Article 40 of the constitution, which calls for the state to set up village panchayats and give them the requisite authority and powers to function as self-governing entities.
  • Through this amendment, the constitution gained the 11th schedule, which listed 29 Panchayat-related topics.
  • Additionally, Part IX, which included provisions from Articles 243 to 243 0, was introduced to the Constitution by this measure.
  • The state governments were now required by this modification to implement the new Panchayati Raj system in conformity with the act's stipulations.

55. Which State Governments have provided 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies up to 2010? [53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011()]

Correct Answer: (b) Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh
Solution:In 2011, when the question was asked, 50 percent seats were reserved for women in Panchayats in the State of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. At present, the 50% seats in Panchayats for women are reserved in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

56. 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions is legalized in certain States such as: [63rd B. P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

I. Bihar
II. Uttarakhand
III. Madhya Pradesh
IV. Himachal Pradesh

Correct Answer: (d) I, II, III and IV
Solution:In 2011, when the question was asked, 50 percent seats were reserved for women in Panchayats in the State of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. At present, the 50% seats in Panchayats for women are reserved in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

57. The number of seats reserved for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in U.P. is- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

Correct Answer: (a) One-third of total seats
Solution:In accordance with the 73rd Amendment, Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994 was passed, which came into force on 22 April 1994. It provides reservations for women on one-third of the total seats.

Impact of Women Reservation

Positive impact

  • Political empowerment- It is rightly perceived as a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.
  • Productive investment- A 2004 paper by Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay on panchayats in West Bengal and Rajasthan found that women leaders invest more in public goods and ensure increased women's participation in panchayat meetings.
  • Gandhian ideology- The act gave impetus to decentralisation and resulted in wider representation.
  • Develop society- Experience of women in family life as a leader, will help the society at large.
  • Decentralisation- The Act fostered inclusive growth and active citizenship.

Negative impact

  • No improvement- A 2010 study found that women's reservation worsened targeting of welfare programmes for SC/ST households and provided no improvement for female-headed
    households.
  • Proxy- Women were used as a dummy candidate by their politically strong husbands and relatives and work behind them indirectly, which dissolves the true spirit of the Act.
  • Delhi case study- in 2020 Delhi reservations were examined, it found that constituencies reserved for women are less likely to elect OBC women and more likely to elect upper caste women

58. Reservation of seats in Panchayat elections for Scheduled Castes shall not apply to the State of - [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) Arunachal Pradesh
Solution:Reservation of seats in Panchayat elections for Scheduled Castes shall not apply to the State of Arunachal Pradesh since there is no population of Scheduled Castes in the state according to census-2011.
  • 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.

59. When was the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act passed by Indian Parliament? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (a) 1996
Solution:The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1996. On the basis of recommendations of Bhuria Committees, the PESA Act was enacted in ten States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana under Fifth Schedule areas that include (completely or partially) a number of districts.

60. Which Committee's report paved the way for the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, (PESA) 1996 for ensuring tribal self-rule for people living in Scheduled Areas of India? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Correct Answer: (c) Bhuria Committee
Solution:The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1996. On the basis of recommendations of Bhuria Committees, the PESA Act was enacted in ten States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana under Fifth Schedule areas that include (completely or partially) a number of districts.