Q1. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was constituted in 1957 primarily to examine the working of which of the following?
Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies: RAS Prelims MCQs
65 RAS Prelims MCQs on local government cover the 73rd and 74th Amendments, the committees that led to them, the three-tier system, State Finance Commissions, the Eleventh Schedule and urban local bodies. The explanations give the Articles, dates and numbers that the exam asks for.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q2. Match List-I (Committees/Amendments) with
List-II (Key Recommendation/Feature):
List-I: (Committees/Amendments)
A. Balwantrai Mehta Committee
B. Ashok Mehta Committee
C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
D. 74th Constitutional Amendment
List-II: (Key Recommendation/Feature)
i. Constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies
ii. Three-tier Panchayati Raj system
iii. Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions
iv. Two-tier Panchayati Raj system
List-II (Key Recommendation/Feature):
List-I: (Committees/Amendments)
A. Balwantrai Mehta Committee
B. Ashok Mehta Committee
C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
D. 74th Constitutional Amendment
List-II: (Key Recommendation/Feature)
i. Constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies
ii. Three-tier Panchayati Raj system
iii. Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions
iv. Two-tier Panchayati Raj system
Explanation
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system, while the Ashok Mehta Committee suggested a two-tier model. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural areas. Similarly, the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act granted constitutional status and a framework for Urban Local Bodies, ensuring structured local governance across India.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
I. It added Part IX to the Constitution of India.
II. It provides for a fixed five-year term of office for Panchayats at all levels.
III. It makes the provision of reservation for Backward Classes mandatory at all three levels.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It added Part IX to the Constitution of India.
II. It provides for a fixed five-year term of office for Panchayats at all levels.
III. It makes the provision of reservation for Backward Classes mandatory at all three levels.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced Part IX to the Constitution, providing a formal structure for rural local governance. It mandates a fixed five-year term for Panchayats at all levels. While reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is compulsory, the provision for reserving seats for Backward Classes remains a voluntary power exercised by state legislatures.
Q4. Which of the following statements correctly differentiates the recommendations of the Ashok Mehta Committee from the Balwantrai Mehta Committee?
Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee, formed in 1977, significantly deviated from previous models by recommending the official participation of political parties at all levels of Panchayat elections. This was intended to bring transparency and organized competition. In contrast, the Balwantrai Mehta Committee focused on a three-tier system of democratic decentralization primarily driven by local community leaders.
Q5. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended the replacement of the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with a two-tier system.
Reason (R): The Committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body and the hub of planning at the district level.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended the replacement of the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with a two-tier system.
Reason (R): The Committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body and the hub of planning at the district level.
Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended replacing the existing three-tier Panchayati Raj system with a two-tier model consisting of Zila Parishads at the district level and Mandal Panchayats. The committee believed that the Zila Parishad should be the executive body responsible for planning at the district level, given its administrative capacity and better resource management potential.
Q6. Which of the following is an incorrect statement regarding the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act mandates that not less than one-third of the total number of seats in Panchayats must be reserved for women. Although some states have voluntarily increased this quota to fifty percent, the constitutional minimum remains thirty-three percent. Other provisions include establishing State Election and Finance Commissions to ensure regular elections and fiscal devolution.
Q7. Consider the following provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act:
I. Organization of Gram Sabhas in a village or group of villages.
II. Direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
III. Granting financial powers to Panchayats to levy and collect taxes.
IV. Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
Which of the above statement(s) represents compulsory (mandatory) provisions?
I. Organization of Gram Sabhas in a village or group of villages.
II. Direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
III. Granting financial powers to Panchayats to levy and collect taxes.
IV. Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
Which of the above statement(s) represents compulsory (mandatory) provisions?
Explanation
Compulsory provisions of the 73rd Amendment include the organization of Gram Sabhas and direct elections for all seats in Panchayats at various levels. It also mandates seat reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on population. However, granting specific financial powers to levy taxes or collect tolls remains a discretionary provision left to state legislatures.
Q8. Identify the correct pair regarding the three-tier Panchayati Raj system established under the 73rd Amendment:
Explanation
Under the 73rd Amendment, the Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate (block) level, the Gram Panchayat is at the village level and the Zila Parishad is at the district level. The Gram Sabha is the body of voters in a village.
Q9. Match List-I (Constitutional Article) with List-II (Subject Matter):
| Constitutional Article | Subject Matter |
|---|---|
| A. Article 243A | i. State Election Commission |
| B. Article 243K | ii. Gram Sabha |
| C. Article 243I | iii. Reservation of Seats |
| D. Article 243D | iv. State Finance Commission |
Explanation
Article 243A of the Constitution defines the powers and functions of the Gram Sabha at the village level. Article 243K provides for the constitution of a State Election Commission to oversee elections. Article 243I mandates a State Finance Commission for financial review, while Article 243D details the mandatory reservation of seats for various categories in Panchayats.
Q10. Consider the following tiers of the Panchayati Raj system:
I. Panchayat Samiti
II. Zila Parishad
III. Gram Panchayat
Which of the following represents the correct order of these tiers from the lowest (village) level to the highest (district) level?
I. Panchayat Samiti
II. Zila Parishad
III. Gram Panchayat
Which of the following represents the correct order of these tiers from the lowest (village) level to the highest (district) level?
Explanation
The hierarchical structure of the Panchayati Raj system begins with the Gram Panchayat at the village level, serving the smallest constituency. Above it sits the Panchayat Samiti, which functions at the intermediate or block level to coordinate local plans. Finally, the Zila Parishad operates at the district level, overseeing the overall developmental efforts of the entire region.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) National Extension Service and Community Development Programme |
| 2 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i |
| 3 | (a) I and II only |
| 4 | (d) Ashok Mehta recommended official participation of political parties at all levels of Panchayat elections. |
| 5 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 6 | (b) It guarantees a minimum of 50 percent reservation for women in all Panchayats. |
| 7 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 8 | (a) Panchayat Samiti - Intermediate level |
| 9 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 10 | (b) III, I, II |
Key facts from Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
- The Balwantrai Mehta Committee of 1957 examined the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service.
- The Eleventh Schedule lists 29 functional items for Panchayats.
- The Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate level; the Gram Panchayat is at the village level and the Zila Parishad at the district level.
- The 74th Amendment, which gave constitutional status to municipalities, came into force on 1 June 1993.
- The District Planning Committee is constituted under Article 243ZD.
- The Governor constitutes a State Finance Commission every five years; reservation for Backward Classes in Panchayats is a voluntary provision.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies?
This page has 65 practice MCQs on Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
How many subjects are in the Eleventh Schedule?
29 functional items, covering agriculture, minor irrigation, rural housing, drinking water, roads, education and other matters that may be transferred to Panchayats. It was added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.
When did the 74th Amendment come into force?
On 1 June 1993. It gave constitutional status to urban local bodies and added Part IXA, with the Twelfth Schedule listing their 18 functions. The 73rd Amendment for Panchayats had come into force earlier, in April 1993.
What is the sequence of urban local bodies?
From the transitional area to the largest city it is Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council and Municipal Corporation. The type of body depends on the population and the nature of the area.