Q71. Which official represents the lowest rung of the state revenue administration hierarchy who interacts directly with the cultivators on a daily basis?
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 71–80 of 82 questions
Q72. 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 Tehsildar is entrusted with the task of conducting crop cutting experiments.
Reason (R): Crop cutting experiments are essential to estimate the average yield of crops, which forms the basis for crop insurance claims and land revenue adjustments.
Assertion (A): The Tehsildar is entrusted with the task of conducting crop cutting experiments.
Reason (R): Crop cutting experiments are essential to estimate the average yield of crops, which forms the basis for crop insurance claims and land revenue adjustments.
Explanation
The Tehsildar is responsible for conducting crop-cutting experiments, which provide a scientific basis for estimating average agricultural yields. This data is crucial for the government to determine the level of production and calculate fair crop insurance claims for farmers. Additionally, these experiments help in deciding whether land revenue should be adjusted or remitted during years of poor harvest, ensuring economic justice for cultivators.
Q73. In the context of rural development, what is the role of a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO)?
Explanation
In the field of rural development, the Sub- Divisional Officer plays a key role in coordinating various projects at the sub-divisional level. They work to resolve local land disputes that might otherwise delay or stop essential infrastructure and developmental work. By ensuring smooth administrative support and inter-departmental cooperation, the SDO facilitates the effective implementation of state schemes aimed at improving the lives of rural citizens.
Q74. Consider the following statements regarding the District Planning Committee (DPC):
I. DPC is constituted at the district level in every state.
II. A substantial majority of its members are elected from amongst the elected members of the Zila Parishad and Municipalities.
III. The DPC prepares a draft development plan for the district as a whole.
IV. DPCs were given constitutional status by the 74th Amendment Act.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. DPC is constituted at the district level in every state.
II. A substantial majority of its members are elected from amongst the elected members of the Zila Parishad and Municipalities.
III. The DPC prepares a draft development plan for the district as a whole.
IV. DPCs were given constitutional status by the 74th Amendment Act.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The District Planning Committee is a constitutionally mandated body that prepares comprehensive development plans for the entire district. It ensures that the needs of both rural Panchayats and urban Municipalities are integrated into a single draft plan. Most of its members are elected from local government bodies, promoting democratic participation. This structure, established by the 74th Amendment Act, is essential for decentralized and coordinated regional planning.
Q75. Which of the following actions is a constraint on the powers of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate?
Explanation
A Sub-Divisional Magistrate possesses various powers to maintain public order, including ordering the dispersal of unlawful assemblies and conducting inquests into unnatural deaths. However, they do not have the legal authority to sentence an individual to life imprisonment. Such severe judicial punishments are strictly reserved for the Sessions Judge within the judicial system, as the SDM’s role is limited to executive and preventive magistracy.
Q76. Identify the correct pair representing a revenue official and their typical immediate superior in the field.
Explanation
In the revenue hierarchy, the Revenue Inspector, also known as the Girdawar, reports directly to the Tehsildar or the Naib Tehsildar. The Inspector supervises the work of Patwaris and ensures that land records are accurate before they are submitted to the tehsil office. this immediate superior-subordinate relationship is vital for maintaining the integrity of the data collected at the village level and ensuring administrative efficiency.
Q77. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
| Disaster Management Tier | Key Functionary/Authority |
|---|---|
| A. National level | i. Tehsildar / SDO |
| B. State level | ii. District Collector |
| C. District level | iii. Chief Minister |
| D. Local operational level | iv. Prime Minister |
Explanation
Disaster management is organized across multiple levels: the Prime Minister leads at the national level, and the Chief Minister heads the state-level authority. At the district level, the District Collector serves as the primary chairperson. Local operations are typically managed by the Tehsildar or SDO. This multi-tiered structure ensures a coordinated and effective response to emergencies, from high-level policy making to ground-level relief.
Q78. Arrange the general steps of revenue recovery undertaken by a Tehsildar in sequential order:
I. Attachment and sale of immovable property
II. Issue of a writ of demand (Notice)
III. Attachment and sale of movable property
IV. Arrest and detention of the defaulter
I. Attachment and sale of immovable property
II. Issue of a writ of demand (Notice)
III. Attachment and sale of movable property
IV. Arrest and detention of the defaulter
Explanation
The process of revenue recovery follows a specific legal sequence to ensure fairness. It typically begins with a writ of demand or notice to the defaulter. If payment is not made, the Tehsildar may proceed to the attachment and sale of movable property, followed by the arrest and detention of the individual. The final and most serious step involves the attachment and sale of the defaulter’s immovable property.
Q79. What defines the primary jurisdictional area of a Patwari?
Explanation
The primary jurisdictional area of a Patwari is known as a Patwar Circle, or Halka. This unit typically consists of one or more villages where the Patwari is responsible for all revenue-related tasks, including maintaining the Record of Rights and recording crop data. This localized jurisdiction allows the Patwari to have an intimate knowledge of the land and the needs of the local farming community.
Q80. Consider the following issues that impact the effectiveness of a District Collector:
I. Over-centralization of powers at the state headquarters.
II. Rapid urbanization and complex metropolitan challenges.
III. Increasing political interference in local administrative matters.
IV. Growth of independent parallel agencies for specific projects.
V. Lack of modern technological integration in land records.
Which of the above statement(s) correctly identifies the modern challenges faced by district administration?
I. Over-centralization of powers at the state headquarters.
II. Rapid urbanization and complex metropolitan challenges.
III. Increasing political interference in local administrative matters.
IV. Growth of independent parallel agencies for specific projects.
V. Lack of modern technological integration in land records.
Which of the above statement(s) correctly identifies the modern challenges faced by district administration?
Explanation
Modern district administration faces numerous challenges, including political interference, rapid urbanization, and the growth of parallel agencies that can complicate coordination. Additionally, over-centralization and the need for better technological integration in land records impact the Collector’s effectiveness. These complex issues require a flexible and modern approach to governance, highlighting the need for continuous reform and adaptation within the established district administrative framework.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 71 | (c) Patwari |
| 72 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 73 | (d) Coordinates sub-divisional development and resolves land disputes impeding projects. |
| 74 | (d) I, II, III and IV |
| 75 | (c) Sentence of life imprisonment. |
| 76 | (d) Revenue Inspector (Girdawar) - Tehsildar / Naib Tehsildar |
| 77 | (a) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i |
| 78 | (d) II, III, IV, I |
| 79 | (b) A Patwar Circle (Halka) |
| 80 | (d) I, II, III, IV and V |
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.