Civics Polity

Local Government System

642 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 political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Democratic decentralization in India means __________.

  1. Establishment of Panchayati Raj

  2. More financial decentralization in favour of the states

  3. Decentralisation of power in bureaucratic structures

  4. Distribution of powers among three organs of the government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  • On basis of decentralization, three-tier Panchayat Raj system has been introduced.
  • When power is taken away from central and state governments and given to local government, it is called decentralization.
  • Decentralisation of powers is the sharing of powers among local self-governing bodies. It helps in proper functioning of government and can be reached to even remote parts of the country.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Under Panchayat Raj system the lowest unit is __________.

  1. Zila Parishad

  2. Gram Sabha

  3. Vikas Khand Samiti

  4. Gram Panchayat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

  • Under Panchayat Raj system the lowest unit is gram Sabha.
  • A Gram Sabha consists of members that include every adult of the village. It is generally formed in villages with population at least exceeding 1500 people.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

The provision for organising village Panchayats is mentioned in __________.

  1. The Preamble of the Constitution

  2. The Directive Principles of State Policy

  3. The Chapter of Fundamental Rights

  4. The Chapter of Fundamental Duties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Article  40 of the Constitution which enshrines one of the Directive Principles of State Policy lays down that the State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. In the light of the experience in the last forty years and in view of the shortcomings which have been observed, it is considered that there is an imperative need to enshrine in the Constitution certain basic and essential features of Panchayati  Raj Institutions to impart certainty, continuity, and strength to them.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Which local government works at district level?

  1. Zila Parishad

  2. Sabha Parishad

  3. Block Parishad

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Local Governance in India has been formalized under the Panchayati Raj System since 1992. The Panchayati Raj system is a three-tier system with elected bodies at the village, taluka and district levels.

The Zila Panchayat or District Council or Zilla Parishad or District Panchayat is the third tier of the Panchayati Raj system. Zila Parishad is an elected body. 

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Panchayat Raj System is based on __________.

  1. Community development

  2. Corporate responsibility

  3. Democratic decentralization

  4. Political education
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Democratic decentralization covers a system of governance in which citizens of any locality possess the right to hold local public officials accountable through various democratic means.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Which of the following statements is not correct?

  1. Zilla Parishads consist of chairpersons of Block Samitis, MLAs and MPs of that area

  2. Seats are reserved for SC, ST, backward classes and women in Panchayats, Block Samities and Zilla Parishads

  3. Nyaya Panchayats are created at Zilla Parishad level

  4. Gram Adhikari is appointed by the State Government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A Nyaya Panchayat is a system of dispute resolution at and is created at the village level in India. Nyaya panchayats can be endowed with functions based on broad principles of natural justice and can tend to remain procedurally as simple as possible. They can be given civil and minor criminal jurisdiction. But they should never follow civil and criminal procedure code in toto.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Who is the Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti?

  1. Administrative Officer

  2. Block Development Officer

  3. Member of Legislative Assembly

  4. Member of Parliament
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Block Development Officer (BDO) is the Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti. He runs the day to day administration of the Samiti. Besides this, there is a Panchayat Officer. The Executive Officer and the Panchayat Officer work in co-operation with each other. Though there are specialised officers for each department in the Panchayat Samiti, BDO has to ensure that there is coordination among various wings.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Which is the tehsil, taluka or block level of rural local-self government system in India? 

  1. Zilla Parishad

  2. Panchayat Samiti

  3. Gram Panchayat

  4. Gram Sabha
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Panchayat Samiti is the tehsil or taluka or block level of rural local-self government system in India. They form the middle level of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India. It acts as a link between Village Panchayats (Gram Panchayats) and Zila Parishad (District Council). Thus, it acts primarily as a coordinating agency between the two extremes.

Multiple choice political science village panchayats panchayati raj panchayati raj institution rural local self-governments introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee emphasized on which part of Panchayati Raj?

  1. Division and District level

  2. Village, Block and District

  3. Village, District and State level

  4. Village, Division and National level
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was appointed by the government of India in 1957. It aimed to examine the working of Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working. It recommended ‘democratic decentralization’

One of the recommendations of the Committee was- Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. These tiers should be organically linked through a device of indirect elections.

Multiple choice political science local self-government-urban local self - government - urban local self government - urban local self government- urban

Of the following which is not a local self governing institution ?

  1. Town Area Committee

  2. Zilla Parishad

  3. Food Corporation of India

  4. Municipal Corporation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Town Area Committee - Type of Urban local body
  • Zila Parishad - District level panchayat council- Third tier of Panchayat local body.
  • Municipal Corporation - Type of Urban local body.
  • Food Corporation of India - Central government organization - Helps in supply chain management of food grains in the country.
Multiple choice political science local self-government-urban local self - government - urban local self government - urban local self government- urban

The villages that are in the process of becoming towns have a ______________.

  1. Municipal Corporation

  2. Municipal Council

  3. Nagar Panchayat

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

A Nagar Panchayat is a form of an urban political unit  that administers population more than 11000 and less than 25000.The villages that are in the process of becoming towns have a Nagar Panchayat to look after the basic needs of the residents.

Multiple choice political science local self-government-urban local self - government - urban local self government - urban local self government- urban

The Municipal Councils deal with the State Government _________.

  1. Directly

  2. Through the District Administration

  3. Through Central Government

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of Constitution 1992 made the provision of Local self Government. Municipal Council (Municipality) is an urban local Body. The size of the Municipality is determined by the State Government. The town is divided into wards according to population and members are elected from each ward. The Executive Officer appointed by the State government to conduct administrative work. It interacts directly with state government through its administrative part in the District.

Multiple choice political science our panchayat introduction to local self-government local self governing bodies panchayati raj community and community development our district physical geography of rajasthan

The correct order of the rural local bodies is __________.

  1. Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations

  2. Block Samitis, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations

  3. Panchayats, Block Samities and Zilla Parishads

  4. Block Samitis, Municipal Corporation and Zilla Parishads
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Zilla Panchayat or District Council or Zilla Parishad or District Panchayat is the third tier of the Panchayati Raj system. Zilla Parishad is an elected body. Block Pramukh known as the president of Panchayat Samiti of a block are also represented in Zilla Parishad.