Q1. Who among the following created the office of the District Collector in India in the year 1772?
Field and District Administration: RAS Prelims MCQs
82 RAS Prelims MCQs on field and district administration cover the Collector, the Tehsildar, the Revenue Inspector and the Patwari. The questions ask for the origin of the Collector’s office, revenue functions and terms, disaster management and law and order powers, and how land records connect to a farmer’s credit.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 82 questions
Q2. Identify the correct statement regarding the historical legacy of the District Collector in British India.
Explanation
Historically, the office of the District Collector was primarily designed as a revenue-focused institution for the East India Company. Its initial objective was to ensure the efficient extraction of land revenue to fund colonial operations. Over time, the role expanded to include various executive and judicial responsibilities, becoming the cornerstone of British administrative hierarchy throughout colonial India.
Q3. Read the following statements and select the correct answer:
Statement I: The structural framework of district administration in Rajasthan is a direct continuation of the British colonial model.
Statement II: The princely states of Rajputana completely rejected the British administrative hierarchy and maintained isolated indigenous systems until 1947.
Statement I: The structural framework of district administration in Rajasthan is a direct continuation of the British colonial model.
Statement II: The princely states of Rajputana completely rejected the British administrative hierarchy and maintained isolated indigenous systems until 1947.
Explanation
The administrative framework of Rajasthan retains several structural elements from the British colonial era, particularly the hierarchy of revenue administration. While many princely states initially maintained indigenous systems, they gradually adopted British administrative patterns well before 1947. This hybrid evolution ensured a standardized governance model across the state, integrating modern bureaucracy with historical administrative boundaries and legacy structures.
Q4. Which concept best defines the role of a Divisional Commissioner in the administrative hierarchy?
Explanation
A Divisional Commissioner serves as a vital intermediary link between the state government and the various district administrations within a division. This official provides general supervision and guidance to District Collectors, ensuring effective implementation of government policies. The role focuses on inter-district coordination, overseeing revenue administration, and maintaining overall administrative efficiency at the regional level of governance.
Q5. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
| Administrative Unit | Head Official |
|---|---|
| A. Division | i. Tehsildar |
| B. District | ii. Sub-Divisional Officer |
| C. Sub-Division | iii. Divisional Commissioner |
| D. Tehsil | iv. District Collector |
Explanation
The administrative hierarchy in Rajasthan is structured such that the Divisional Commissioner heads the division, while the District Collector leads the district administration. Below the district level, the Sub-Division is managed by the Sub-Divisional Officer. The Tehsil, which is a crucial unit for revenue collection and land records, is overseen by the Tehsildar as the primary executive officer.
Q6. Which of the following divisions in Rajasthan was not created during the 2023 administrative reorganization?
Explanation
During the administrative restructuring in 2023, the government of Rajasthan established three new divisions: Banswara, Pali, and Sikar. In contrast, Ajmer is one of the older, pre-existing divisions that was already part of the state’s administrative setup. This reorganization aimed to streamline regional management and enhance the delivery of public services by creating smaller, more manageable administrative units.
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the appointment and jurisdiction of the Divisional Commissioner:
I. The Divisional Commissioner is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
II. The post of Divisional Commissioner in Rajasthan was abolished in 1962 and revived in 1987.
III. A Divisional Commissioner holds direct administrative control over the state police headquarters.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The Divisional Commissioner is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
II. The post of Divisional Commissioner in Rajasthan was abolished in 1962 and revived in 1987.
III. A Divisional Commissioner holds direct administrative control over the state police headquarters.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Divisional Commissioner is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer responsible for regional oversight. In Rajasthan, this post has a varied history, having been abolished in 1962 during an administrative reform phase and later revived in 1987. While they oversee general administration, they do not hold direct command over the state police headquarters, which is a separate department.
Q8. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the powers and functions of the Divisional Commissioner in Rajasthan.
Explanation
The Divisional Commissioner acts as a supervisor and coordinator for various departments and District Collectors within their specific division. However, they do not possess the legal authority to transfer Indian Administrative Service officers across the state. Such personnel management and transfer decisions are exclusively handled by the state government through the Department of Personnel and the Chief Minister’s office.
Q9. The following question consists of two statements: one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer:
Assertion (A): The Divisional Commissioner plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order in the division.
Reason (R): The Divisional Commissioner organizes inter-district coordination meetings involving Collectors and Range Inspector Generals of Police.
Assertion (A): The Divisional Commissioner plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order in the division.
Reason (R): The Divisional Commissioner organizes inter-district coordination meetings involving Collectors and Range Inspector Generals of Police.
Explanation
The Divisional Commissioner plays a critical role in maintaining law and order by ensuring effective communication between the district administration and the police. By organizing inter-district coordination meetings involving Collectors and Range Inspector Generals of Police, they facilitate a synchronized approach to security challenges. This coordination is essential for managing large-scale events and addressing regional peace concerns.
Q10. Which of the following correctly describes the role of the Divisional Commissioner as an appellate authority?
Explanation
In the revenue hierarchy, the Divisional Commissioner serves as a significant appellate authority. They are empowered to hear and decide upon appeals filed against specific revenue-related orders passed by the District Collectors within their jurisdiction. This function ensures a multi-tiered review process, providing a mechanism for grievance redressal and ensuring that legal procedures are correctly followed in district administration.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Warren Hastings |
| 2 | (a) The office was originally designed to extract maximum land revenue for the East India Company. |
| 3 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false. |
| 4 | (d) Coordinating authority between state government and district administration. |
| 5 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i |
| 6 | (d) Ajmer |
| 7 | (a) I and II |
| 8 | (c) Has the power to transfer any Indian Administrative Service officer within the state. |
| 9 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 10 | (d) Primary appellate authority against specific orders of the District Collector. |
Key facts from Field and District Administration
- Warren Hastings created the office of the District Collector in 1772.
- The Collector is Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and manages government lands and estates under revenue administration.
- The District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate is empowered to act in a communal riot, and the District Magistrate chairs the monthly crime review meeting.
- The Revenue Inspector (Girdawar or Kanungo) controls the Patwari and links village and Tehsil administration.
- Girdawari is the assessment of crop conditions and harvest.
- Revenue recovery is the legal mechanism to realise unpaid taxes and dues as arrears of revenue.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Field and District Administration?
This page has 82 practice MCQs on Field and District Administration (Rajasthan Polity and Administration). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who created the office of the District Collector?
Warren Hastings, in 1772. The Collector was first meant to collect revenue and later became the main officer of the district, combining revenue, magisterial and developmental functions, and he still heads the district.
Who controls the Patwari?
The Revenue Inspector, also called the Girdawar or Kanungo. He supervises the Patwari’s land records and acts as the link between the village and the Tehsil, so that errors in village records can be corrected.
What is Girdawari?
Girdawari is the field inspection and recording of crop conditions and harvest by revenue staff. These records are the basis for assessing land revenue, relief in a crop failure and claims for farm credit.