PR Committees & Balwantrai — Set 13

Correct Answer: A. Article 243J empowers state legislatures to make provisions for maintenance of accounts and their audit by panchayats

Article 243J empowers state legislatures to make provisions for maintenance of accounts and their audit by panchayats. States have established audit systems for gram panchayats including audit by district authorities, state finance departments, and the Comptroller and Auditor General. The CAG has a mandate to audit panchayat accounts where central grants are involved. Financial transparency through proper accounting and audit is essential for panchayat accountability. Digital accounting systems like PFMS are increasingly used to track panchayat fund utilization.

Correct Answer: A. Ensuring that all rural households are covered by gram panchayat services and no village or hamlet is left without panchayat governance

Gram Panchayat saturation means ensuring that all rural households are covered by gram panchayat services and no village or hamlet is left without panchayat governance. India has over 2.5 lakh gram panchayats covering virtually all rural areas. Some remote hamlets may still be without adequate panchayat coverage. The goal of saturation is that every family has access to basic gram panchayat services including water, sanitation, roads, and social security. Financial and human resource transfers to gram panchayats should ensure saturation of service delivery.

Correct Answer: A. It commits gram panchayats to specific service standards timelines and grievance redressal making them accountable to citizens

The Model Panchayat Citizens Charter promotes gram panchayat accountability by committing gram panchayats to specific service standards, timelines, and grievance redressal mechanisms. Citizens can hold panchayats accountable for deviations from the charter commitments. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has promoted adoption of Citizens Charters by gram panchayats. A charter specifies what services the panchayat will provide, within what timeframe, and how citizens can seek redress if services are not provided. This creates a performance contract between the panchayat and its citizens.

Correct Answer: A. Rural development should be integrated with panchayat institutions for better implementation and accountability

The Dandekar Committee 1983 recommended that rural development should be integrated with panchayat institutions for better implementation and accountability. The committee examined rural poverty programmes and found that administrative implementation without democratic oversight was prone to leakages and inefficiency. It advocated for involving panchayats in the identification of beneficiaries and monitoring of schemes. This thinking contributed to the eventual strengthening of panchayats through the 73rd Amendment and their designation as implementing agencies for major rural schemes.

Correct Answer: A. Decisions should be made at the lowest possible level of governance where the gram panchayat handles matters best dealt locally

The principle of subsidiarity in Panchayati Raj holds that decisions should be made at the lowest possible level of governance where the gram panchayat handles matters best dealt with locally. This means that issues affecting only one village should be decided by the gram panchayat, issues affecting several villages by the panchayat samiti, and so on. The 73rd Amendment embodied subsidiarity by establishing three tiers of governance. Genuine devolution requires applying the subsidiarity principle so that higher tiers of government do not retain functions that lower tiers can handle effectively.

Correct Answer: A. Finance Commission grants for local bodies have a specific component earmarked exclusively for rural local bodies primarily gram panchayats

Finance Commission grants for local bodies have a specific component earmarked exclusively for rural local bodies primarily gram panchayats. The 15th Finance Commission allocated approximately 60% of local body grants to rural local bodies (predominantly gram panchayats) and 40% to urban local bodies. Within rural local body grants a portion is for intermediate and district panchayats. These grants along with state devolution are critical for panchayat financial viability and service delivery capacity.

Correct Answer: A. To develop capable and accountable gram panchayats by 2022 for delivering basic services and implementing sustainable development goals

The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) aims to develop capable and accountable gram panchayats by enhancing governance capacities and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at local level. RGSA focuses on capacity building of elected representatives and panchayat functionaries, e-enablement through digital tools, construction of panchayat bhavans, and linking gram panchayats to SDG goals. The programme recognizes that panchayats are key institutions for achieving grassroots level sustainable development and the 17 SDGs.

Correct Answer: A. Panchayat bhavans provide dedicated space for panchayat meetings, records storage, and citizen services delivery making governance more effective

Panchayat bhavans or gram panchayat buildings provide dedicated space for panchayat meetings, records storage, and citizen services delivery making panchayat governance more effective and accessible. Many gram panchayats previously functioned from the sarpanch's home or rented premises. Finance Commission grants and state schemes have funded construction of panchayat bhavans across India. A dedicated building gives the gram panchayat institutional identity, enables records management, and provides a permanent accessible location for citizens to access services.

Correct Answer: A. A) Lists 29 subjects for devolution to Panchayats

The 11th Schedule was added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 and lists 29 subjects that may be entrusted to Panchayats. These subjects include agriculture, land improvement, minor irrigation, animal husbandry, fisheries, social forestry, primary and secondary education, health, and poverty alleviation programmes. However, actual devolution of these subjects depends on the respective state legislation. This schedule forms the basis of functional devolution to Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Correct Answer: C. C) Article 243D

Article 243D of the Indian Constitution provides for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women in Panchayats at all three tiers. The Constitution mandates not less than one-third of the total seats be reserved for women. Several states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan have further extended this to 50%. This provision aims to ensure political representation of women at the grassroots level.