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

Which of the following is not a local self governing institution?

  1. Town Area Committee

  2. Zila Parishad

  3. Food Corporation of India

  4. Municipal Corporation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Food Corporation of India is a statutory body under the central government responsible for food security and storage, not a local self-governing institution.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct?

  1. A Sarpanch is nominated by the President of Zila Parishad.

  2. A Sarpanch is nominated by the Collector or Deputy Commissioner of the district.

  3. A Sarpanch is elected by the members of Gram Panchayat from among themselves.

  4. A Sarpanch is elected by Gram Sabha.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Panchayati Raj system, the Sarpanch is elected by the members of the Gram Panchayat, who are themselves elected by the Gram Sabha.

Multiple choice

Mandal Panchayats were recommended by

  1. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

  2. Vengal Rao Committee

  3. Ashok Mehta Committee

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

The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) recommended a two-tier system of Panchayati Raj, which included the Mandal Panchayat at the block level.

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 are largely dependent on government grants from the state and central governments for their financial requirements, as their own tax-raising powers are limited.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct statement?

  1. A Sarpanch is elected by the Gram Sabha.

  2. A Sarpanch is nominated by the Collector or Deputy Commissioner of the district.

  3. A Sarpanch is elected by the members of Gram Panchayat from among themselves.

  4. A Sarpanch is nominated by the President of Zila Parishad.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A Sarpanch is elected by the members of Gram Panchayat from among themselves.

Multiple choice

The provision for organising village Panchayats exists in the

  1. Preamble of the Constitution

  2. chapter on Directive Principles

  3. chapter on Local Self Government in the Constitution

  4. chapter on Fundamental Rights

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

The original Constitution of India did not contain elaborate provisions with respect to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India, though village Panchayats as units of local administration had been functional since the early British days. As per Article 40 of the Constitution, a Directive exists in the Directive Principles of State Policy under which the State is required to take steps to organise village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. 

Multiple choice

Community participation will result in

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

  1. no political interference

  2. prosperity

  3. stifling the lone voices of resistance

  4. making the poor happy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The first line of the last paragraph explains it.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of 'romantic' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

  1. a feeling of love

  2. a feeling of excitement

  3. something fanciful

  4. imaginary or fictitious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The contextual meaning is something which is a cherished dream.

Multiple choice

To whom do the benefits of the Panchayati Raj go?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

  1. Scheduled castes

  2. Scheduled tribes

  3. De-notified tribes

  4. The preferred ones
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The rural elite means the preferred ones.

Multiple choice

Under the Panchayat System the rural elite has not been able to exploit in

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

  1. Tamil Nadu

  2. Andhra Pradesh

  3. West Bengal

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

It is clear from the last line of the first paragraph.