Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-II)

Total Questions: 60

11. Who presides over the meeting of Gram Sabha in Scheduled Areas? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (d) Schedule Tribe member present who is elected by Gram Sabha
Solution:According to PESA rules a person who is a member of a scheduled Tribe will be selected as chairperson for the meeting of the Gram Sabha for one year by consensus. In case of non-consensus, amongst the members present, the oldest lady from the scheduled tribes would be the Chairperson.

• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in every Panchayat (i.e. at all village, intermediate, and district levels) in the proportion of their population to the total population in the Panchayat area.
• The State Legislature shall provide for the reservation of offices of the Chairperson in the Panchayat at the village or any other level for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• The reservation of seats as well as the reservation of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, will cease to have effect after the expiration of the period specified in Article 334.
○ Presently, this reservation is to last till 2030.

12. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 refers to the - [I.A.S. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (c) Laying the foundation of strong and vibrant Panchayati Raj Institutions in the Country.
Solution:The salient features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 are as follows:
• Gram Sabha – The Act provides for a Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.
• Three-tier System – The Act provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in every State.
• Election of Chairperson and Members – The Act provides detailed provisions regarding the election of Chairperson and Members of Panchayats at every level.
• Reservation of Seats – The Act makes provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, and OBCs in every Panchayat.
• Duration of Panchayats – The Act provides for a five-year term of office to the Panchayat at every level from the date of its first meeting.
• Disqualifications of Members of Panchayats – It details conditions regarding disqualifications of members of panchayats.
• Powers and Functions – The State Legislature may endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.
• Finances of Panchayats – The State Legislature may authorize a Panchayat to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.
• Audit of Accounts – The State Legislature may make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.
• Application to Union Territories – The provisions of the Panchayats are applicable to the Union Territories. But, the President may direct that they would apply to a Union Territory subject to such exceptions and modifications as he/she may specify.

13. 73rd Amendment of the Constitution was implemented on 24 April, 1993. This amendment will encourage in Rajasthan- [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]

Correct Answer: (c) Self-Governance system
Solution:73rd Constitution Amendment Act is aimed at establishing local self-governance system under Panchayati Raj.

The salient features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 are as follows:
• Gram Sabha – The Act provides for a Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.
• Three-tier System – The Act provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj in every State.
• Election of Chairperson and Members – The Act provides detailed provisions regarding the election of Chairperson and Members of Panchayats at every level.
• Reservation of Seats – The Act makes provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, and OBCs in every Panchayat.
• Duration of Panchayats – The Act provides for a five-year term of office to the Panchayat at every level from the date of its first meeting.
• Disqualifications of Members of Panchayats – It details conditions regarding disqualifications of members of panchayats.
• Powers and Functions – The State Legislature may endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.
• Finances of Panchayats – The State Legislature may authorize a Panchayat to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.
• Audit of Accounts – The State Legislature may make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.
• Application to Union Territories – The provisions of the Panchayats are applicable to the Union Territories. But, the President may direct that they would apply to a Union Territory subject to such exceptions and modifications as he/she may specify.

14. Which of the following is related to the theme of ‘Grass Root Democracy’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (b) Panchayati Raj System
Solution:Grass Root Democracy is associated with decentralization in a democratic set up. On 2nd October, 1959, Jawahar Lal Nehru inaugurated Panchayati Raj System in Rajasthan. Since Panchayati Raj System aims to empower the local units of governance by decentralization of power, this system was acclaimed as Grass Root Democracy.

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.

15. Panchayati Raj System is a System of- [U.P. Lower Sub (Pre) 1998]

1. Local level self-governance.
2. Three-tier governance with Bio-relations.
3. Democratic Decentralization.
4. Hierarchy Construction.
Choose correct answer by using code given below:

 

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The Panchayati Raj System is a local self-governance system.
Balwant Rai Mehta called it as a 'System of Democratic
Decentralization.’ It is a three-tier system of governance
with bio-relations.

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.

16. The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]

1. People’s participation in development

2. Political accountability

3. Democratic decentralisation

4. Financial mobilization

Select the correct answer using the codes given

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:Panchayati Raj System was started on 2nd October, 1959 in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. Panchayats were given Constitutional status by 73rd Amendment Act- 1992. Its main objective is to increase the participation of people in the development of the country and implement democratic decentralization. Thus statement 1 and 3 are correct.

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.

17. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in [I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (b) Democratic decentralisation
Solution:Panchayati Raj System was started on 2nd October, 1959 in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. Panchayats were given Constitutional status by 73rd Amendment Act- 1992. Its main objective is to increase the participation of people in the development of the country and implement democratic decentralization. Thus statement 1 and 3 are correct

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.

18. The Panchayati Raj System was adopted to [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (b) decentralize the power of democracy
Solution:Panchayati Raj System was started on 2nd October, 1959 in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. Panchayats were given Constitutional status by 73rd Amendment Act- 1992. Its main objective is to increase the participation of people in the development of the country and implement democratic decentralization. Thus statement 1 and 3 are correct.

• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) refer to the system of ‘Rural Local Self-Governance’ in India i.e. a system of governance of Rural Areas through the representatives elected by the people.
• They have been established in all States as the third tier of government, aiming to build democracy at the grassroots level.
• This system ensures that local populations participate directly in the decision-making process, enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of rural development initiatives.

19. Which one of the following is not an attribute of a Local Government? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]

Correct Answer: (c) Central control
Solution:The statutory status, participation of local community and power to raise funds by taxation are the attributes of local government, but Central control is not one of them because the objective of the establishment of local governments is decentralization of power.

• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) refer to the system of ‘Rural Local Self-Governance’ in India i.e. a system of governance of Rural Areas through the representatives elected by the people.
• They have been established in all States as the third tier of government, aiming to build democracy at the grassroots level.
• This system ensures that local populations participate directly in the decision-making process, enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of rural development initiatives.

20. Panchayati Raj is mainly aimed at- [43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (c) Decentralization of power to villagers.
Solution:The principle aim of the Panchayati Raj System is the democratic decentralization of power to villages and to empower them to make policies according to their needs and to implement these policies.

• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) refer to the system of ‘Rural Local Self-Governance’ in India i.e. a system of governance of Rural Areas through the representatives elected by the people.
• They have been established in all States as the third tier of government, aiming to build democracy at the grassroots level.
• This system ensures that local populations participate directly in the decision-making process, enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of rural development initiatives.