Panchayati Raj and Community Development (Part-II)

Total Questions: 60

51. Which committee had, first of all, recommended three- tier Panchayati Raj system in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012, Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (c) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
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.

52. The three-tier system of Panchayati Raj was initially recommended by [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
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.

53. Which one of the following committees is not concerned with Panchayati Raj Institution? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (a) P.V.N. Rao Committee
Solution:In 1957, the National Development Council constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to look into the working of community development programmes.

Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in 1977.

G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed in 1985.

L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986.

C.H. Hanumantha Rao Committee was appointed in 1983.

54. Which of the following committees were appointed to inquire into the working of Panchayati Raj Institution in India? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

I. L. M. Singhvi Committee

II. G.V.K. Rao Committee

III. Ashok Mehta Committee

IV. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

Select the correct answer:

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above
Solution:In 1957, the National Development Council constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to look into the working of community development programmes.

Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in 1977.

G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed in 1985.

L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986.

C.H. Hanumantha Rao Committee was appointed in 1983.

55. Match List-1 with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: [66ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2020]

List-I (Years)List-II (Panchayati Raj Committees)
A. C.H. Hanumantha Rao1. 1985
B. G.V.K. Rao +162. 1986
C. Ashok Mehta3. 1984
D. L.M. Singhvi4. 1957
E. Balwant Rai Mehta5. 1978

 

ABCDE
(a)45132
(b)24135
(c)53241
(d)31524
(e)Noneoftheabove
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:In 1957, the National Development Council constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to look into the working of community development programmes.

Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in 1977.

G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed in 1985.

L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986.

C.H. Hanumantha Rao Committee was appointed in 1983.

56. Consider the following Committees on Panchayati Raj and arrange these in chronological order: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021, U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015, U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

I. Ashok Mehta Committee

II. L.M. Singhvi Committee

III. B.R. Mehta Committee

IV. V.K.R.V. Rao Committee

Select the correct answer from the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (b) III, I, IV, II
Solution:In 1957, the National Development Council constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to look into the working of community development programmes.

Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in 1977.

G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed in 1985.

L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986.

C.H. Hanumantha Rao Committee was appointed in 1983.

57. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

 

List-I (Committees)List-II  (Year)
A. P.K. Thungan1. 1957
B. Ashok Mehta2. 1986
C. B.R. Mehta3. 1977
D. L.M. Singhvi4. 1988

 

ABCD
(a)1342
(b)2134
(c)4123
(d)4312
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:In 1957, the National Development Council constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to look into the working of community development programmes.

Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in 1977.

G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed in 1985.

L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986.

C.H. Hanumantha Rao Committee was appointed in 1983.

58. Which of the following Committee is not associated with Panchayati Raj System? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) V.K.R.V. Rao Committee
Solution:V. K. R. V. Rao Committee is not related to the Panchayati Raj System. Vijayanedra Kasturi Ranga Varadaga Rao was a prominent Indian economist. He headed the United Nations Commission for Economic Development and served as a member of the Committee for National Income.

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.

59. Which one of the following Committees is not associated with Panchayati Raj System in India? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

Correct Answer: (a) Dinesh Goswami Committee
Solution:Dinesh Goswami Committee is not related to the Panchayati Raj System. It was constituted in 1990 to give a recommendation on Electoral Reforms. Other three committees are related to Panchayati Raj system.

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.

60. Which model was recommended by Ashok Mehta Committee for Panchayati Raj System? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Two-tier
Solution:Ashoke Mehta committee was constituted in 1977, which submitted its report in August 1978. The committee in its report had recommended for 'two tier' system in place of 'three tier' system. The two-tier system or model was - Zila Parishad at the district level and Mandal Panchayat at the Mandal level which was consisted of a group of villages covering a population of 15000 to 20000.

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.