Three Tier PR Structure — Set 6
Revenue & Panchayati Raj · तीन स्तरीय पंचायती राज · Questions 51–60 of 160
Article 243B of the Constitution requires every state to:
Correct Answer: B. B. Constitute Panchayats at village, intermediate, and district levels
Article 243B mandates that every state shall constitute Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels as specified in Article 243B(1). This was a revolutionary provision because before the 73rd Amendment, many states did not have active Panchayats. Article 243B(2) provides that states with populations below 20 lakh need not constitute an intermediate tier. The mandatory nature ensures Panchayati Raj exists across rural India.
Lord Ripon's 1882 Resolution is significant in Indian local governance because:
Correct Answer: B. B. It introduced elected local bodies in British India
Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 is considered the Magna Carta of local self-government in India, as it introduced the concept of elected local boards with non-official majorities in British India. Ripon believed that local self-government would serve as an instrument of political education for Indians. This was the beginning of representative institutions at the local level in India. The resolution laid the foundation for the Panchayati Raj movement that culminated in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992.
Article 243E provides for a fixed term of how many years for Panchayats?
Correct Answer: B. B. 5 years
Article 243E specifies that every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. The provision also mandates that elections to constitute a Panchayat must be completed before the expiry of its five-year term. If dissolved, fresh elections must be held within six months. A Panchayat constituted upon dissolution only serves the remainder of the original five-year term.
The Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar is given on:
Correct Answer: B. B. National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April)
The Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar is awarded on National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April) every year to recognize outstanding Panchayats. The award was instituted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to encourage best practices and healthy competition among Panchayats across India. Categories include best Gram Panchayat for child development, sanitation, education, natural resource management, etc. The award includes a cash prize and a certificate of appreciation.
Article 40 of the Constitution is related to Panchayati Raj as:
Correct Answer: B. B. A Directive Principle requiring states to organize village Panchayats
Article 40 of the Constitution is a Directive Principle of State Policy stating the State shall take steps to organize village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. This article was in the original 1950 Constitution but was non-justiciable. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992 gave legal force to this directive principle by making Panchayati Raj a constitutional obligation.
Panchayati Raj elections are held every:
Correct Answer: B. B. 5 years
Panchayati Raj elections are held every five years as mandated by Article 243E of the Constitution. The state government cannot extend the Panchayat term beyond five years. If a Panchayat is dissolved before its five-year term, fresh elections must be held within six months. The State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections to all Panchayati Raj institutions in a free, fair, and timely manner.
The head of Zila Parishad in Rajasthan is called:
Correct Answer: C. C. Pramukh
In Rajasthan, the head (chairperson) of the Zila Parishad is called Pramukh, while the deputy head is called Up-Pramukh. Rajasthan was the first state to implement Panchayati Raj in 1959. Different states use different titles for the same position: Adhyaksha in Bihar and Karnataka, Sabhadhipati in West Bengal, and President in some other states. The Pramukh of Zila Parishad plays a key role in district-level planning and development.
Sanitation and cleanliness at the village level is the responsibility of:
Correct Answer: B. B. Gram Panchayat
Sanitation and cleanliness at the village level is primarily the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat. This includes construction and maintenance of drains, maintenance of public toilets, solid waste management, and implementing schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission. The Gram Panchayat coordinates with state and central agencies for resources. It also creates awareness among villagers about hygiene and sanitation practices to improve public health at the grassroots level.
The Rajya Sabha equivalent does not exist in Panchayati Raj because:
Correct Answer: B. B. All Panchayat tiers are directly elected bodies
The Panchayati Raj system does not have an equivalent to the Rajya Sabha (indirect representation) because all three tiers of Panchayati Raj (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad) consist of directly elected members. Unlike Parliament which has both a directly elected Lok Sabha and an indirectly elected Rajya Sabha, Panchayati Raj is structured entirely on direct election principles. The Gram Sabha provides direct participation of all voters, making it even more democratic than any tier of Parliament.
Which constitutional body oversees Panchayat elections?
Correct Answer: B. B. State Election Commission
The State Election Commission, established under Article 243K of the Constitution, oversees and conducts elections to Panchayati Raj institutions. Each state has its own independent State Election Commission headed by a State Election Commissioner. This body is responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to all Panchayat tiers. The SEC is distinct from the Election Commission of India which handles parliamentary elections.