Civics Polity

Local Government System

622 Questions

The local government system questions focus on the structure, functions, and constitutional provisions of Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. Test takers will explore the electoral processes and responsibilities of Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads. This topic is highly relevant for state-level civil services and UPSC examinations.

Panchayati Raj structureGram Panchayat functionsUrban local bodiesZilla Parishad electionConstitutional provisions

Local Government System Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge

Nepal

  1. Staten

  2. Storting

  3. Federal

  4. National Panchayat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Nepal's current parliament is the Federal Parliament, established after adopting a federal constitution in 2015. The 'National Panchayat' was the legislature during the absolute monarchy period (1960-1990) and is now obsolete. The other options are parliaments of Netherlands (Staten) and Norway (Storting), or generic terms.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Indian judicial system follows :

  1. Panchayat Raj

  2. Jury Trial

  3. Bench Trial

  4. Religious Heads
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

India follows the bench trial system where judges decide cases based on evidence and arguments, unlike jury trials where citizens decide verdicts. Jury trials were abolished in India after controversial verdicts.

Multiple choice

What is the special feature of the panchayat raj system?

  1. Sharing authority

  2. Decentralisation of power

  3. Assuming power by force

  4. Zero power
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Decentralisation of power means transfer of decision making power and assignment of accountability and responsibility for results.

Multiple choice

The basic unit of settlement recurring throughout India is village. Which of the following criteria is largely responsible for the selection of village sites?

  1. Behavioural patterns of the community

  2. Availability of flat land

  3. Essential resources like water and fuel

  4. Fuel resources and building materials
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Throughout Indian history, villages have been settled primarily based on access to essential resources, with water being the most critical factor. Fuel (firewood), agricultural land, and building materials are secondary considerations. Behavioral patterns don't determine settlement location. While flat land is desirable, it is not the primary criterion - many hill villages exist where water and resources are available.

Multiple choice

Who recommends to the Governor, the principles which should govern the distribution between the state and the panchayats of the net proceeds of the taxes, tolls and fees leviable by the state which may be divided between them?

  1. Zilla Parishad

  2. Chief Minister

  3. Finance Minister of the state

  4. State Finance Commission

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The State Finance Commission (constituted under Article 243I) recommends to the Governor the principles governing tax distribution between the state and panchayats. Zilla Parishad is a local body, not an advisory body. The Chief Minister and Finance Minister are political executives, not constitutional bodies authorized to make such recommendations under the 73rd Amendment framework.

Multiple choice

Consider the following Committees set up to study the structure, powers and functions to be assigned to Panchayati Raj Institutions:

  1. Santhanam Committee

  2. Ashok Mehta Committee

  3. Balwantrai Mehta Committee

  4. G.V.K. Rao Committee

Which one of the following is their correct chronological order?

  1. 3-4-2-1

  2. 2-1-3-4

  3. 3-1-2-4

  4. 2-4-3-1

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Balwantrai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system. Santhanam Committee (1962) dealt with administrative corruption, not PRI. Ashok Mehta Committee (1978) recommended constitutional status and two-tier system. G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) emphasized PRIs as implementing agencies for development programs. The correct order is: Balwantrai Mehta (1957) - Santhanam (1962) - Ashok Mehta (1978) - G.V.K. Rao (1985), which corresponds to 3-1-2-4.

Multiple choice

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee came out with “Democratic Decentralisation” which in common parlance is known as 'Panchayati Raj'. The following were the main recommendations:

(a) Establishment of three-tier system viz. Village, Panchyat Samiti and Zila Parishad. (b) Panchayat Samiti is the executive body and that of Zila Parishad is advisory and supervisory. (c) The District Collector is the chairman of Zila Parishad. (d) Village Panchayat and Panchayat Simiti will have directly elected representatives whereas Zila Parishad should be constituted with indirectly elected members.

Which of the above is/are incorrect?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b) and (c)

  3. Only (c) and (d)

  4. Only (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Village Panchayat will have directly elected members like State Assembly whereas both Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad will have members who are more educated and knowledgeable and hence, indirectly elected.

Multiple choice

The 73rd Amendment Act visualised “Democracy at grass root level”.

(a) Village assembly as the foundation of Public Relation System (b) Uniform three-tier structure (c) 1/3 of total seats in Panchayats for women (d) Pro-rates reservations for SCs and STs (e) Elections to the panchayat to be conducted under Election Commission of India

Which of the above are correct?

  1. Only (a), (b) and (c)

  2. Only (a), (b) and (e)

  3. Only (d), (c) and (e)

  4. Only (a), (b), (c) and (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Elections to the Panchayats at all levels are to be conducted by the State Election Commissions.

Multiple choice

K. Santhanam Committee was appointed to look into Panchayati Raj Institution Finance. Enumerate its recommendations. (a) Panchayat should have powers to levy tax on land revenues. (b) All grants and subventions to be mobilised at state level and sent to PRIs. (c) A Panchayat Raj Finance Corporation to be set up to look into financial resources of PRIs. (d) Home taxes were to be out of the purview of Panchayats.

Which of the above is/are correct?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (a) and (b)

  3. Only (a), (b) and (c)

  4. All of them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

As per K. Sanathanam Committee report, home taxes were also to be levied by Panchayats.

Multiple choice

Enumerate the main recommendations of the Ashok Mehta Committee.

(a) Three-tier system got replaced by two-tier system. (b) Zila Parishad assumed the role of executive body. (c) Official participation of all political parties in Panchayat elections at all levels took place. (d) Panchayati Raj institutions were divested of powers of taxations. (e) Nyaya Panchayats and Development Panchayats became separate bodies.

Which of the above is/are incongruous?

  1. (a)

  2. (b) and (e)

  3. (b), (c) and (e)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As per the recommendations of Ashok Mehta Committee, Panchayati Raj institutions were accorded compulsory powers for imposing taxes so as to mobilise their own resources.

Multiple choice

Which of the following bodies has been empowered to decide on the priority of work to be taken up under MGNREGA?

  1. Gram Panchayat

  2. Gram Sabha

  3. Zila Parishad

  4. State Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), the Gram Panchayat is the primary body responsible for planning and deciding the priority of works to be undertaken. While higher-level bodies like Zila Parishad and State Government have roles in approval and monitoring, the actual prioritization of work happens at the Gram Panchayat level as it is closest to the ground realities and community needs.

Multiple choice

Nirmal Gram Panchayat (NGP) Award is given for which of the following causes?

  1. Promoting rural health

  2. Promoting education in rural areas

  3. Promoting sanitation in rural reas

  4. Promoting use of computers in rural areas

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Nirmal Gram Panchayat Award is conferred by the Government of India to Panchayats that achieve 100% sanitation coverage. This includes toilets for all households, schools, and Anganwadi centers, plus solid waste management. It is part of the Total Sanitation Campaign (later Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan) to promote rural hygiene and eliminate open defecation.

Multiple choice

Consider the following parameters:

  1. Population of the area
  2. Density of the Population
  3. Revenue generated for local administration
  4. Percentage of employment in agricultural activities
  5. Economic importance of the area Which of the following parameters decide the area to be qualified as Municipality?

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 1, 3 and 5

  3. 1, 2, 3 and 5

  4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A transitional area, a smaller urban area or a larger urban area means such area as the governor may specify by public notification for this purpose with regard to the following factors:

Population of the area
Density of the population
Revenue generated for local administration
Percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities Economic importance or such other factors as the governor may deem fit.