Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-II)

Total Questions: 60

1. The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) To provide self-governance
(b) To recognize traditional rights
(c) To create autonomous regions
(d) To free tribal peoples from exploitation

Correct Answer: (c) To create autonomous regions

Solution:The Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act provides for institutions of local self-governance to recognize the traditional rights of the tribals and to free them from exploitation. Option (c) is incorrect as the Act does not have any provision for creating any autonomous regions.

2. In which of the following group of the States, PESA [Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act], 1996 is not enforceable? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Rajasthan-Telangana-Maharashtra
(b) Andhra Pradesh-Jharkhand-Odisha
(c) Assam-Meghalaya-Tamil Nadu
(d) Himachal Pradesh-Gujarat-Chhattisgarh

Correct Answer: (c) Assam-Meghalaya-Tamil Nadu

3. In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

1. Gram Sabha has the power to stop transfer of land in scheduled areas.

2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.

3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting license or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 1 and 2
(c) Only 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b) Only 1 and 2

Solution:In areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce and has power to ban transfer of land. It's necessary for issuing licenses/mining lease for minor minerals. However, in the case of other minerals, the recommendation of Gram Sabha is not required in Scheduled areas.

4. What is correct about the powers of Zila Panchayats of Scheduled Areas? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) To plan minor water bodies
(b) To control over institutions in all social sectors
(c) To control on tribal sub-plans
(d) To exercise other functions as conferred by State Govt.
(e) All of the above

Correct Answer: (e) All of the above

Solution:The Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 confers, among others, the powers listed below to Zila Panchayats:
(i) Planning minor water bodies
(ii) To control over institutions in all social sectors
(iii) To control on tribal sub-plans
(iv) To exercise other functions as conferred by State Government

5. 'Gram Sabha' means - [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Persons of the territorial area of a Panchayat
(b) Persons Specified by the notification of the District Authority
(c) Persons registered in electoral rolls related to a Panchayat area at the village level
(d) Members of Panchayats

Correct Answer: (c) Persons registered in electoral rolls related to a Panchayat area at the village level

Solution:The Gram Sabha has been envisaged as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj System. The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution provides for the Panchayat at the village level. Gram Sabha consists of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a Panchayat area constituted at the village level.

6. Which of the following statements is not true regarding 'Gram Sabha'? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2023]

(a) It has the powers and functions at the village level, like State Legislature has at the state level.
(b) Its Power are determined by the Central Government.
(c) It is a Village Assembly consisting of all registered voters in the area of Panchayat.
(d) (a) and (c) both

Correct Answer: (b) Its Power are determined by the Central Government.

Solution:Gram Sabha:
The term Gram Sabha is defined in the Constitution of India under Article 243(b). Gram Sabha is the primary body of the Panchayati Raj system and by far the largest. It is a permanent body. The Constitution mentions that Gram Sabha exercises such powers and performs such functions at the village level as the legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
Gram Sabha is the Sabha of the electorate. All other institutions of the Panchayati Raj like the Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat and Zilla Parishad, are constituted by elected representatives.
The decisions taken by the Gram Sabha cannot be annulled by any other body. The power to annul a decision of the Gram Sabha rests with the Gram Sabha only.

7. What is correct: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

(i) In a Gram Panchayat there can be more than one village.
(ii) Meeting of Gram Sabha held in each village.
(iii) Meeting of Gram Sabha held in the headquarter of Gram Panchayat.
(iv) Meeting of Gram Panchayat held in each village.
(v) Meeting of Gram Panchayat held in the headquarter of Gram Panchayat.

(a) (i), (iii), (iv)
(b) (ii), (iv), (v)
(c) (ii), (iii), (iv)
(d) (i), (ii), (v)

Correct Answer: (d) (i), (ii), (v)

Solution:Statement - Meeting of Gram Sabha can be held in each village by rotation (correct)
Statement - In Gram Panchayat there can be more than one village (correct)
Statement - Meeting of Gram Panchayat held in the headquarter of Gram Panchayat (correct).

8. What is not correct about Gram Sabha? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

i. 1/10 Quorum is essential for the meeting of Gram Sabha.
ii. The presence of 1/3 women is essential for the meeting of Gram Sabha.
iii. Sarpanch and Panchs are responsible for Quorum.
iv. The meeting of Gram Sabha can be adjourned in the absence of the Quorum.
v. Quorum is essential in adjourned meeting.
vi. The budget can be passed in the adjourned meeting where Quorum is not present.
vii. The audit report can be passed in the adjourned meeting where Quorum is not present.
viii. Sarpanch can be dismissed if Quorum is not present in five subsequent meetings of Gram Sabha.

Choose the incorrect statements using the code given below.

(a) i, ii
(b) iii, vii, viii
(c) iv, vi, vii
(d) v, vi, vii
(e) vi, vii, viii

Correct Answer: (d) v, vi, vii

Solution:According to Chhattisgarh Panchayati Raj Act 1993 as amended in 2004, a Gram Sabha must meet once every three months in a year. The presence of 1/10 of the total number of members of Gram Sabha, of whom 1/3 must be women, constitutes the quorum for a Gram Sabha meeting. The Sarpanch and Panchs shall be responsible for the quorum of the meeting of the Gram Sabha. Resolutions for the annual working plan, selection of beneficiaries, annual Budget, audit report and annual accounts and administrative report, shall be passed in the meeting which has a requisite quorum and in the case of absence of the quorum in five subsequent meetings of Gram Sabha, proceedings shall be initiated for the removal of Sarpanch. Thus, options (v), (vi) and (vii) are wrong.

9. Who will preside the meeting of the Gram Sabha in absence of the sarpanch and up-sarpanch in Madhya Pradesh? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Block Development Officer
(b) Secretary of Gram Panchayat
(c) For this purpose the oldest person of the respective Gram Panchayat elected by the members present in the Gram Sabha meeting
(d) For this purpose the Panch of the respective Gram Panchayat, elected by the members, present in the Gram Sabha Meeting

Correct Answer: (d) For this purpose the Panch of the respective Gram Panchayat, elected by the members, present in the Gram Sabha Meeting

Solution:The M.P. Panchayati Raj Avam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 states that, when both Sarpanch and Up-Sarpanch are not present, the Gram Sabha meeting will be presided over a Panch who elected by the members, present in the Gram Sabha Meeting.

10. Which section of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 has been amended to replace the expression 'Gram Vikas Adhikari' in place of 'Gram Sevak'? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) 88
(b) 89
(c) 91
(d) 90

Correct Answer: (b) 89

Solution:Section 89 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 has been amended to replace the expression 'Gram Vikas Adhikari' in place of 'Gram Sevak'.

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