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 21–30 of 82 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q21. Read the following statements regarding village-level administration and select the correct answer: Statement I: The Patwari is the village-level functionary responsible for maintaining land records. Statement II: The Patwari is also responsible for collecting agricultural statistics and reporting calamities.
Explanation
The Patwari is the primary village-level official responsible for the meticulous maintenance of land records. Their duties extend beyond record-keeping to include the collection of vital agricultural statistics and reporting natural calamities to higher authorities. This role is fundamental to the entire revenue system, as the data provided by the Patwari forms the basis for government planning and relief measures.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q22. Consider the following functions related to a Tehsildar: I. Registration of agricultural land mutations. II. Issuance of caste and domicile certificates. III. Recovery of land revenue arrears. IV. Sanctioning massive industrial loans. Which of the above function(s) is/are incorrect for a Tehsildar?
Explanation
Tehsildars handle essential local tasks such as registering land mutations, issuing caste certificates, and recovering land revenue arrears. However, they do not have the authority to sanction massive industrial loans, which are managed by specialized financial institutions or higher-level industrial departments. Their focus remains primarily on revenue administration and providing basic administrative services to the rural and semi-urban population at the tehsil level.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q23. Under the provisions of the Constitution, what is the primary mandate of the District Planning Committee (DPC)?
Explanation
The primary mandate of the District Planning Committee is to consolidate the various development plans prepared by rural Panchayats and urban Municipalities within the district. This ensures a synchronized approach to regional development, bridging the gap between rural and urban needs. By creating a draft development plan for the entire district, the DPC facilitates a more cohesive and efficient allocation of resources.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q24. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the District Planning Committee (DPC) in Rajasthan.
Explanation
In Rajasthan, the Zila Pramukh, who is an elected representative, serves as the Chairperson of the District Planning Committee. This structure emphasizes democratic decentralization as mandated by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. While the District Collector is involved in the committee’s functioning, they do not hold the chair. The DPC remains responsible for coordinating development efforts between various local government bodies.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q25. Read the following statements and select the correct answer: Statement I: The Divisional Commissioner system helps in decentralizing state-level supervision. Statement II: It provides an intermediate level of grievance redressal above the District Collector.
Explanation
The Divisional Commissioner system decentralizes state-level supervision by providing a regional authority to oversee multiple districts. This intermediate level of administration allows for more direct monitoring of government projects and offers an accessible platform for grievance redressal above the district level. By supervising District Collectors, the Divisional Commissioner ensures that state policies are implemented uniformly and efficiently across the entire division.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q26. Identify the correct statement regarding the powers of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
Explanation
The Sub-Divisional Officer holds the additional responsibility of serving as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. In this capacity, they are empowered to maintain public order and peace within their jurisdiction. While they handle revenue and developmental tasks, their magisterial powers allow them to take immediate action during local disturbances, ensuring that the rule of law is maintained at the sub-divisional level.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q27. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
Role in Elections
Officer usually appointed
A. Chief Electoral Officer
i. District Collector
B. District Election Officer
ii. Senior State-level IAS Officer
C. Returning Officer (Assembly Constituency)
iii. Sub-Divisional Officer
D. Electoral Registration Officer
iv. Tehsildar / SDO
Explanation
Election administration involves various officers: a senior IAS officer acts as the Chief Electoral Officer at the state level, and the District Collector serves as the District Election Officer. The Sub- Divisional Officer is typically the Returning Officer for an assembly constituency, while the Tehsildar often functions as the Electoral Registration Officer. This team ensures the orderly conduct of elections and voter registration.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q28. What is the fundamental definition of ‘Revenue Recovery’ in the context of a Tehsildar’s duties?
Explanation
Revenue recovery is a legal process used by the Tehsildar to collect unpaid taxes, land revenue, and other government dues. When individuals fail to pay their liabilities, these amounts are treated as revenue arrears. The Tehsildar uses specific statutory powers, such as issuing notices or attaching property, to ensure that the state receives the funds necessary for public administration and development.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q29. Find the odd one out among the following functions performed by a District Collector.
Explanation
The power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights is a constitutional authority reserved exclusively for the High Courts and the Supreme Court of India. A District Collector, while performing many vital roles such as census coordination, public distribution management, and VVIP protocol duties, does not possess this judicial power. Their functions are primarily executive, administrative, and related to local revenue management.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan Polity and Administration · Field and District Administration
Q30. Consider the following statements regarding the relationship between the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP): I. The SP functions under the general guidance and control of the District Magistrate in matters of law and order. II. The internal administration of the police force is the exclusive domain of the SP. III. The District Magistrate writes the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of the SP in Rajasthan. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The relationship between the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police is one of mutual cooperation and oversight. While the SP manages the internal administration of the police, they operate under the general guidance of the District Magistrate for law and order. In Rajasthan, the Magistrate also writes the Annual Confidential Report of the SP, emphasizing the Magistrate’s ultimate responsibility for district security.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
21
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
22
(c) IV only
23
(b) To consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and Municipalities in the district.
24
(a) The District Collector is the ex-officio Chairperson of the DPC in Rajasthan.
25
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
26
(b) The SDO functions as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate for maintaining public order.
27
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv
28
(d) Legal mechanism to realize unpaid taxes and dues as revenue arrears.
29
(a) Issuing writs for enforcement of Fundamental Rights
30
(d) I, II and III
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.
