Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-II)

Total Questions: 60

41. According to democratic decentralization recommended by Balwant Rai Mehta committee? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (a) Three-tier democratic Panchayati Raj institutions were to be set up at the village, block and district levels.
Solution:Some important committees, which recommended Local Self-Governments, are given below:

• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): This committee recommended the establishment of PRIs at the village, intermediate, and district levels. It also recommended that PRIs be given financial resources and powers to decide on local issues.
• Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): This committee recommended that PRIs be given more powers and resources and that they be made responsible for planning and implementing development projects at the local level.
• G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985): This committee recommended that PRIs be given greater autonomy and that they be made accountable to the people they serve. It also suggested that PRIs be given the power to levy taxes and fees.
• L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): The L.M. Singhvi committee recommended the need for constitutional recognition and legal framework for Panchayat Raj Institution and urban local bodies to strengthen the local self-governance in India.
• P.K. Thungon Committee (1989): It recommended constitutional recognition for the local government bodies.
• Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007): The principle of Subsidiary should be upheld, and there should be a clear delineation of functions for each level of local government.

42. The Panchayati Raj System was first started in India in the State of Rajasthan and [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (d) Andhra Pradesh
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

• 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.
• State’s provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level may contain:
○ the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice,
○ the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them, including those in relation to the 29 matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

43. Panchayati Raj was first introduced in October, 1959 in [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009, R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996, 43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Rajasthan
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

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.

44. The first Panchayati Raj System was inaugurated by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on 2nd October, 1959 in [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

Correct Answer: (c) Nagaur
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

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.

45. The first State to implement the Panchayati Raj System in India was - [U.P.P.C.S. (GIC) 2010]

Correct Answer: (e) Rajasthan
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

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.

46. The first State to adopt Panchayati Raj was — [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]

Correct Answer: (d) Rajasthan
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

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.

47. When and where was Panchayati Raj System in India introduced? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (b) 2-October, 1959, Nagaur (Rajasthan)
Solution:Rajasthan is the first State to establish the Panchayati Raj system on 2 October, 1959 in Nagaur district while Andhra Pradesh is the second State to establish the Panchayati Raj System.

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.

48. Who was the Chairman of the Committee which proposed Democratic Decentralisation and Panchayati Raj? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) Balwant Rai Mehta
Solution:• The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was formed in 1957 primarily to evaluate the working of the Community Development Programme (CDP) and the National Extension Service (NES) and suggest measures for their better working.
○ Note: CDP and NES were initiated in India in the early 1950s to promote rural development and bring about socio-economic changes through community participation and extension services.
• The Committee submitted its report in 1957, wherein it recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘Democratic Decentralization’ which ultimately came to be known as the ‘Panchayati Raj System’.
• In this context, some of the specific recommendations of the Balwant

Rai Mehta Committee are:
○ Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj System-
∗  Gram Panchayat at the village level,
∗  Panchayat Samiti at the block level and
∗  Zila Parishad at the district level. a. These three tiers should be organically linked through a device of indirect elections.
○ The Village Panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives, whereas the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members.
○ All planning and development activities should be entrusted to these bodies.
○ The Panchayat Samiti should be the Executive Body while the Zila Parishad should be the Advisory, Coordinating, and Supervisory Body.
○ The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zila Parishad.
○ There should be a genuine transfer of power and responsibility to these democratic bodies.
○ Adequate resources should be transferred to these local bodies to enable them to discharge their functions and fulfill their responsibilities.
○ A system should be evolved to effect further devolution of authority in the future.

49. The Decentralization System was recommended by [56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Balwant Rai Mehta
Solution:• The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was formed in 1957 primarily to evaluate the working of the Community Development Programme (CDP) and the National Extension Service (NES) and suggest measures for their better working.
○ Note: CDP and NES were initiated in India in the early 1950s to promote rural development and bring about socio-economic changes through community participation and extension services.
• The Committee submitted its report in 1957, wherein it recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘Democratic Decentralization’ which ultimately came to be known as the ‘Panchayati Raj System’.
• In this context, some of the specific recommendations of the Balwant

Rai Mehta Committee are:
○ Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj System-
∗  Gram Panchayat at the village level,
∗  Panchayat Samiti at the block level and
∗  Zila Parishad at the district level. a. These three tiers should be organically linked through a device of indirect elections.
○ The Village Panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives, whereas the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members.
○ All planning and development activities should be entrusted to these bodies.
○ The Panchayat Samiti should be the Executive Body while the Zila Parishad should be the Advisory, Coordinating, and Supervisory Body.
○ The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zila Parishad.
○ There should be a genuine transfer of power and responsibility to these democratic bodies.
○ Adequate resources should be transferred to these local bodies to enable them to discharge their functions and fulfill their responsibilities.
○ A system should be evolved to effect further devolution of authority in the future.

50. Establishment of the Panchayati Raj System was recommended by- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (d) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee Report 1957.
Solution:• The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was formed in 1957 primarily to evaluate the working of the Community Development Programme (CDP) and the National Extension Service (NES) and suggest measures for their better working.
○ Note: CDP and NES were initiated in India in the early 1950s to promote rural development and bring about socio-economic changes through community participation and extension services.
• The Committee submitted its report in 1957, wherein it recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘Democratic Decentralization’ which ultimately came to be known as the ‘Panchayati Raj System’.
• In this context, some of the specific recommendations of the Balwant

Rai Mehta Committee are:
○ Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj System-
∗  Gram Panchayat at the village level,
∗  Panchayat Samiti at the block level and
∗  Zila Parishad at the district level. a. These three tiers should be organically linked through a device of indirect elections.
○ The Village Panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives, whereas the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members.
○ All planning and development activities should be entrusted to these bodies.
○ The Panchayat Samiti should be the Executive Body while the Zila Parishad should be the Advisory, Coordinating, and Supervisory Body.
○ The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zila Parishad.
○ There should be a genuine transfer of power and responsibility to these democratic bodies.
○ Adequate resources should be transferred to these local bodies to enable them to discharge their functions and fulfill their responsibilities.
○ A system should be evolved to effect further devolution of authority in the future.