PR Committees & Balwantrai — Set 8

Correct Answer: A. Community Development Programme's failure due to lack of people's participation led to demand for Panchayati Raj institutions

The Community Development Programme launched in 1952 failed largely due to lack of genuine people's participation, and this failure led to the demand for Panchayati Raj institutions. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee examined why the Community Development Programme was not delivering expected results and found that top-down administration without democratic institutions could not mobilize community participation. The committee recommended Panchayati Raj as the institutional framework for democratic decentralization and people's participation in development.

Correct Answer: A. Functions, Funds, and Functionaries

The 3 Fs essential for meaningful Panchayati Raj devolution are Functions, Funds, and Functionaries. Functions means actual powers and duties being transferred to panchayats. Funds means adequate financial resources through own taxes, grants, and transfers. Functionaries means government staff being transferred to report to elected panchayats. Without all three elements devolution remains incomplete. Many states have transferred some functions but without matching funds or staff making panchayats responsible without resources.

Correct Answer: A. Rajasthan in October 1959 became a model for other states following Balwantrai Mehta recommendations with Nehru inaugurating the system

Rajasthan in October 1959 became a model for other states following Balwantrai Mehta recommendations when Prime Minister Nehru inaugurated the Panchayati Raj system at Nagaur in Rajasthan. This historic event launched the post-independence democratic decentralization experiment. Andhra Pradesh followed immediately after in November 1959. Rajasthan's pioneering role established the national momentum for Panchayati Raj. The success and limitations of early Panchayati Raj in states like Rajasthan provided lessons for subsequent reforms.

Correct Answer: A. Chairpersons offices at village block and district levels shall be reserved for SCs STs and women as determined by state law

Under Article 243D(4), the 73rd Amendment provides that chairperson offices of panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels shall be reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women as may be determined by the state legislature. States have varying provisions for reservation of sarpanch and pramukh positions. Women's reservation for chairpersons has created a large number of elected women leaders across India. The rotation of reserved chairpersonships ensures diversity in panchayat leadership.

Correct Answer: A. Gram Panchayats issue domicile certificates, caste certificates, income certificates, and maintain birth and death registers

Gram Panchayats play an important administrative role in issuing domicile certificates, maintaining birth and death registers, and often assisting in applications for caste and income certificates. They are the primary civil registration authority for rural areas. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act makes panchayats responsible for maintaining vital statistics. Birth and death certificates issued by gram panchayats are used for school admissions, property transactions, pension claims, and other legal purposes.

Correct Answer: A. Multiple including Balwantrai Mehta 1957, Ashok Mehta 1977, GVK Rao 1985, and L.M. Singhvi 1986

Multiple committees preceded the 73rd Constitutional Amendment including the Balwantrai Mehta Committee 1957, Ashok Mehta Committee 1977, GVK Rao Committee 1985, and L.M. Singhvi Committee 1986. Each committee examined different aspects of Panchayati Raj and contributed to the cumulative policy thinking that led to the amendment. The committees' recommendations formed the intellectual foundation for the constitutional framework of the 73rd Amendment. Political will at the national level under Rajiv Gandhi then P.V. Narasimha Rao translated this thinking into constitutional action.

Correct Answer: A. Special development plans and funds specifically for tribal areas with panchayat involvement under PESA framework

The Tribal Sub-Plan approach involves special development plans and funds specifically for tribal areas with panchayat involvement under the PESA framework. Tribal Sub-Plans allocate funds proportional to tribal population in state budgets. Under PESA, gram sabhas in scheduled areas have special powers over natural resources, land acquisition, and money-lending to protect tribal interests. The combination of TSP and PESA aims at combining financial resources with institutional empowerment for tribal development.

Correct Answer: A. Government-appointed administrative officer who maintains records, accounts, and assists the elected sarpanch in administration

The Panchayat Secretary is a government-appointed administrative officer who maintains records, accounts, and assists the elected sarpanch in the day-to-day administration of the gram panchayat. The Panchayat Secretary is the link between the elected panchayat and the state administration. They maintain scheme registers, muster rolls, and financial accounts. In many states the quality of panchayat administration depends significantly on the capacity and integrity of the Panchayat Secretary.

Correct Answer: A. Using gram panchayats as platforms to converge multiple development schemes beyond their traditional functions

The Panchayat Plus concept involves using gram panchayats as platforms to converge multiple development schemes beyond their traditional functions. Rather than panchayats only performing civic functions, they are used as institutional platforms for delivery of central and state schemes covering health, education, agriculture, sanitation, and livelihoods. The Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) embodies this convergence approach. Using panchayats as delivery platforms can improve coordination and reduce transaction costs of multiple development schemes.

Correct Answer: A. Constitutional status would protect panchayats from dissolution by state governments and ensure regular elections

The L.M. Singhvi Committee recommended constitutional status for panchayats based on the principle that such status would protect panchayats from dissolution by state governments and ensure regular elections. Before the 73rd Amendment panchayats were purely creatures of state law and could be suspended or dissolved by state governments without elections for years. Constitutional status meant that elections had to be held within specific timeframes and the State Election Commission had to be an independent body.