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.
Showing 51–60 of 65 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q51. Read the following statements regarding local self-government: Statement I: The State Legislature may endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government. Statement II: The 73rd Amendment makes it mandatory for the State Legislature to devolve all 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule to the Panchayats. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Constitution allows state legislatures to endow local bodies with the powers necessary to function as institutions of self-government. However, the 73rd Amendment does not make it mandatory for states to devolve all twenty-nine subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule. The degree of devolution remains a discretionary matter for each state, leading to significant variations in the powers held by Panchayats.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q52. Match List-I (Key Concept/Term) with List-II (Associated Context):
Key Concept/Term
Associated Context
A. Democratic Decentralization
i. Balwantrai Mehta Committee
B. 3Fs Challenge
ii. Gram Sabha
C. Direct Democracy
iii. Nagar Panchayat
D. Transitional Area
iv. Funds, Functions, Functionaries
Explanation
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee introduced the concept of democratic decentralization. The "3Fs" represent the three core challenges for local bodies: Funds, Functions, and Functionaries. Direct democracy is best exemplified by the Gram Sabha in rural areas. Finally, the concept of a transitional area refers to those regions moving from rural to urban status, which are governed by a Nagar Panchayat.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q53. Consider the following systemic features of Panchayati Raj: I. Constitution of Gram Sabha. II. Direct elections to all seats at all tiers. III. 33% reservation for women. IV. Constitution of State Election Commission. V. Constitution of State Finance Commission. Which of the above statement(s) was made mandatory by the 73rd Amendment Act?
Explanation
The 73rd Amendment Act introduced several mandatory provisions to ensure a uniform Panchayati Raj system.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q54. In which year did the Balwantrai Mehta Committee submit its report outlining the scheme of ‘democratic decentralisation’?
Explanation
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was appointed in early 1957 to review the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service. After a thorough investigation, the committee submitted its influential report in November 1957. The report recommended a three-tier system of local self-government, which laid the foundation for the contemporary Panchayati Raj system in India through its plan for democratic decentralization.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q55. Which of the following was NOT recommended by the Ashok Mehta Committee?
Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee made several key recommendations, such as separating Nyaya Panchayats from development activities and preventing the arbitrary supersession of local bodies. They also suggested appointing a dedicated minister for Panchayati Raj at the state level. However, the committee did not recommend the complete abolition of the Gram Sabha, although it did propose a shift toward a two-tier system.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q56. Identify the correct statement regarding the tenure of Panchayats under the 73rd Amendment:
Explanation
According to the 73rd Amendment, the tenure of a Panchayat is five years. If a Panchayat is dissolved prematurely, fresh elections must be conducted within a period of six months from the date of its dissolution. However, if the remaining term of the dissolved Panchayat is less than six months, it is not mandatory to hold elections for that short period.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q57. Read the following statements regarding the reservation of offices of chairpersons in Panchayats: Statement I: The offices of the chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the SCs and STs in proportion to their population. Statement II: The state legislature is not authorized to reserve chairperson offices for backward classes. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Constitution mandates the reservation of the offices of chairpersons in Panchayats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on their population ratio. While this is a compulsory provision, the 73rd Amendment also authorizes state legislatures to make additional provisions for the reservation of chairperson offices for Backward Classes. This means the state has the discretionary power to include other disadvantaged groups.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q58. Find the odd one out among the following local bodies, as it is NOT explicitly structured and governed by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act:
Explanation
Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Corporations are the three main types of Urban Local Bodies formally structured and granted constitutional status under the 74th Amendment Act. Cantonment Boards, however, are established for the administration of civilian populations in military areas and are governed by the Cantonments Act, a piece of central legislation managed by the Union Ministry of Defence.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q59. An urban local body is given the responsibility for "Slum improvement and upgradation," while a rural local body handles "Rural housing". These functions are respectively listed in the:
Explanation
The management of slum improvement and upgradation is an urban function specifically listed as one of the eighteen items in the Twelfth Schedule for Municipalities. Conversely, rural housing is a developmental subject listed as one of the twenty-nine items in the Eleventh Schedule for Panchayats. These schedules clearly distinguish the functional responsibilities between urban and rural local government bodies.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Local Government: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies
Q60. Following the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act was enacted and implemented in the state in which year?
Explanation
Following the passage of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1992, all states were required to bring their local laws into conformity with the new constitutional provisions. In response, the state of Rajasthan enacted the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act in 1994.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
51
(a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect.
52
(a) A-i, B-iv, C-ii, D-iii
53
(d) I, II, III, IV, and V
54
(a) 1957
55
(c) The Gram Sabha should be abolished entirely as an institution.
56
(a) If a Panchayat is dissolved, elections must be held within six months of its dissolution.
57
(a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect.
58
(b) Cantonment Board
59
(d) 12th Schedule and 11th Schedule
60
(a) 1994
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.
