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

The importance of Village Panchayats has been recognised by the fathers of the Indian Constitution. The provision for organising Village Panchayats exists in

  1. Preamble of the Constitution

  2. Chapter on Fundamental Rights

  3. Chapter on Directive Principles

  4. Amendments to the Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct answer is (4).  The 73rd Amendment 1992 added a new Part IX to the constitution titled “The Panchayats” covering provisions from Article 243 to 243(O); and a new Eleventh Schedule covering 29 subjects within the functions of the Panchayats. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct process for the removal of Pradhan of a Gaon Sabha?

  1. The Pradhan can be removed by majority of the villagers.

  2. The Pradhan can be removed by majority of the members of the Gram Sabha.

  3. The Pradhan can be removed by the majority of two-third of the members of the Gaon Sabha present and voting.

  4. The Pradhan can be removed by an order passed by District Deputy Collector.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Pradhan can be removed by the majority of two-third of the members of the Gaon Sabha present and voting.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts.

  1. The powers, authorities and responsibilities of Panchayats are mentioned in the Twelfth Schedule, inserted in the Constitution of India by 73rd Amendment Act, 1992.
  2. Powers and responsibilities of Panchayats include preparation of plan and implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice, and levying, collecting and appropriating taxes, duties, toll and fees.

Which of the above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act added Schedule Eleven to the Constitution, which deals with powers, authorities and responsibilities of Panchayati Raj institutions. The Twefth Schedule was added by 74th Amendment Act, 1992 and it deals with the powers, authorities and responsibilities of municipalities.

Multiple choice

Sub-district hospitals included under rural hospitals are known as:

  1. Taluk hospitals

  2. Specialty hospitals

  3. Sub-divisional hospitals

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rural hospitals have been set up and these include the sub-district hospitals which are known as the sub-divisional / taluk / specialty hospitals (estimated to be about 2000 in the country).

Multiple choice

A college student desires to get elected to the Municipal Council of his city. The validity of his nomination would depend on an important condition, among others, that

  1. he obtains permission from the principal of his college

  2. he is a member of a political party

  3. his name figures in the voters’ list

  4. he files a declaration owing allegiance to the Constitution of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Name in the voters' list is the important condition.

Multiple choice

The Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992, which aims at promoting the Panchayati Raj institutions in the country, provides for which of the following?

  1. Constitution of District Planning Committees
  2. State Election Commissions to conduct all panchayat elections
  3. Establishment of State Finance Commission

  1. 1 only

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 2 and 3

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

District Planning Committee comes under 74th Amendment not in 73rd Amendment.

Multiple choice

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which of the following is not identified as its objective?

  1. To provide self-governance

  2. To recognize traditional rights

  3. To create autonomous regions in tribal areas

  4. To free tribal people from exploitation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

PESA Act does not identify the freedom of tribal people from exploitation as its objective, but it automatically becomes a byproduct of its objectives.

Multiple choice

Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process of determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?

  1. State Forest Department

  2. District Collector/Deputy Commissioner

  3. Tehsildar/Block Development Officer/Mandal Revenue Officer

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

Section C of the Forest Dwellers Act provides a transparent three-step procedure for deciding on who gets rights. Firstly, the Gram Sabha makes a recommendation, i.e. who has been cultivating land for how long, which minor forest produce is collected, etc. The Gram Sabha plays this role because it is a public body where everyone can participate and hence, is fully democratic and transparent. The Gram Sabha’s recommendation goes through two stages of screening committees - the Taluka and the District level.

Multiple choice

In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is/are the role(s)/power(s) of the Gram Sabha?

  1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.
  2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.
  3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.

  1. 1 only

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 2 and 3

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

According to Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, Gram Sabha has all the mentioned powers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following was not proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the area of the Panchayati Raj?

  1. Thirty percent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all levels.

  2. The states will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

  3. The Panchayati Raj functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children.

  4. The elections will be held in six months time if Panchayati Raj bodies are superceded or dissolved by the state government.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement given under option (3) is not mentioned in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, but this norm is applied in Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Multiple choice

In which part of India's Constitution are the provisions of Panchayati Raj made?

  1. Part—5

  2. Part—7

  3. Part—8

  4. Part—9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The provisions of Panchayati Raj (Part IX) were added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. This part contains Articles 243 to 243O dealing with village-level governance through Panchayats. Parts V, VII, and VIII deal with the Union, States in Part B, and States in Part A of the First Schedule respectively, not local self-government.

Multiple choice

The source of maximum income to Panchayati Raj Institution is _____.

  1. government grants

  2. local taxes

  3. regional funds

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

Panchayati Raj Institutions in India receive the majority of their funding through government grants, as they have limited independent taxation powers. Local taxes provide some revenue but are insufficient, and regional funds are not a standard source.