PR Committees & Balwantrai — Set 14

Correct Answer: A. A) Hilly and tribal areas under Fifth Schedule

PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996) was enacted to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to the Scheduled (tribal) areas under the Fifth Schedule. The Act covers ten states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. PESA empowers tribal communities by granting Gram Sabhas special powers over natural resources, minor forest produce, and land acquisition. It recognises the customary rights of tribal communities.

Correct Answer: B. B) 21 years

Article 243F of the Indian Constitution specifies that a person must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible to contest elections for membership of a Panchayat. This is the same age requirement as for the State Legislative Assembly. The disqualification criteria for Panchayat membership are determined by the respective state legislature. This provision ensures that young adults can participate in grassroots democracy through the Panchayati Raj system.

Correct Answer: C. C) Article 243E

Article 243E of the Constitution specifies the duration of Panchayats, fixing their tenure at five years from the date of appointment of the first meeting. It further provides that elections to constitute a Panchayat must be completed before the expiry of its duration or before the expiration of six months from the date of dissolution. If a Panchayat is dissolved, fresh elections must be held within six months. This provision ensures continuity and democratic functioning at the grassroots level.

Correct Answer: B. B) To consolidate plans of panchayats and municipalities for district development

Article 243-ZD provides for the constitution of District Planning Committees (DPCs) in every state to consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and Municipalities in the district. The DPC prepares a draft development plan for the district as a whole, covering spatial planning and economic development. At least four-fifths of the members of the DPC must be elected members of Panchayats and Municipalities in the district. The DPC serves as a crucial link between the grassroots planning by local bodies and higher-level state planning processes.

Correct Answer: B. B) Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan

The Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) is the central element of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the flagship scheme for strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions. Under GPDP, each Gram Panchayat is required to prepare a comprehensive plan for economic development and social justice. The plan covers all government schemes and resources available at the village level. Gram Sabhas play a central role in preparing and approving the GPDP, making it a truly participatory exercise in grassroots planning.

Correct Answer: B. B) Rajasthan

Rajasthan was the first state to implement the Panchayati Raj system on October 2, 1959, at Nagaur district, following the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself inaugurated the Panchayati Raj system in Rajasthan. Shortly after, Andhra Pradesh became the second state to adopt the system. Rajasthan's early adoption of the three-tier structure set a precedent for other states and is celebrated as the birth of modern Panchayati Raj in India.

Correct Answer: B. B) Mandal Panchayat and Zila Parishad

The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) recommended a two-tier Panchayati Raj system consisting of Mandal Panchayat at the lower level (covering a population of 15,000–20,000) and Zila Parishad at the district level. The committee recommended the abolition of the intermediate tier (Panchayat Samiti/Block level). It also recommended that political parties should participate openly in Panchayat elections. The committee emphasised that the district should be the basic unit of planning and development, strengthening the Zila Parishad as the primary institution.

Correct Answer: A. A) Functions, Finance, and Functionaries

The 'three Fs' in Panchayati Raj decentralisation refer to Functions, Finance, and Functionaries — the three essential elements that must be devolved to Panchayats for meaningful decentralisation. Functions refer to the transfer of subjects from the 11th Schedule, Finance refers to adequate financial resources through grants and own revenue, and Functionaries refers to the posting of government staff under the Panchayat. Without devolution of all three Fs, Panchayats remain hollow institutions without real capacity to deliver services. The Balwantray Mehta, GVK Rao, and subsequent committees all stressed the need for genuine devolution of the three Fs.

Correct Answer: D. D) 15th Finance Commission

The 15th Finance Commission (2021–26), chaired by N.K. Singh, introduced a system of tied and untied grants for Panchayats, with a portion designated as performance-based grants. The Commission recommended Rs. 2,36,805 crore for local bodies over the period 2021–26. It maintained a split between basic grants (for all Panchayats) and tied grants (to be spent on sanitation and drinking water). The 15th Finance Commission also recommended grants for urban local bodies and introduced criteria based on population and area for fund allocation among states.

Correct Answer: C. C) Six months

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, state laws typically require that Gram Sabha meetings be held at least twice a year (once in six months). However, many states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu have amended their Panchayati Raj Acts to mandate four Gram Sabha meetings per year, once every quarter. The Gram Sabha is the foundation of democratic decentralisation and provides citizens a direct platform for participatory governance. Quorum requirements for Gram Sabha meetings vary by state, typically ranging from 10% to one-tenth of the enrolled voters.