"Local Governance & Panchayati Raj" — Practice

Question 1

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) gave constitutional status to:
(a) Panchayati Raj Institutions (b) Municipalities (c) the Election Commission (d) the Finance Commission

Accepted Answer

(a) Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The 73rd Amendment added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule for rural local government; the parallel 74th Amendment did the same for urban Municipalities via Part IXA and the Twelfth Schedule.

Question 2

Which of the following states may choose NOT to constitute the intermediate (block-level) Panchayat tier?
(a) states with a population below 20 lakh (b) states with a population above 50 lakh (c) all Union Territories automatically (d) no state has this option

Accepted Answer

(a) states with a population below 20 lakh.

This is a specific, constitutionally provided exception to the otherwise mandatory three-tier Panchayat structure (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad).

Question 3

The Gram Sabha, as defined under Article 243A, consists of:
(a) all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat's area (b) only the elected members of the Gram Panchayat (c) the Sarpanch and ward members only (d) government officials posted in the village

Accepted Answer

(a) all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat's area.

The Gram Sabha is a direct-democracy body of all village electors, distinct from the elected Gram Panchayat that governs the village.

Question 4

As per the 73rd Amendment, what is the minimum proportion of total seats reserved for women in Panchayats?
(a) 1/3rd (b) 1/2 (c) 1/4th (d) there is no constitutional minimum, only state discretion

Accepted Answer

(a) 1/3rd.

At least one-third of total seats (including within SC/ST reserved seats) must be reserved for women, along with reservation of the Chairperson office at each level; several states have gone further and reserved 50% through state legislation.

Question 5

Elections to Panchayats and Municipalities are conducted by:
(a) an independent State Election Commission, appointed by the Governor (b) the Election Commission of India (c) the state's Chief Secretary (d) the District Magistrate of each district

Accepted Answer

(a) an independent State Election Commission, appointed by the Governor.

This is a separate constitutional body from the Election Commission of India, which instead conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.

Question 6

The State Finance Commission, which reviews the financial position of Panchayats and Municipalities, is constituted every 5 years by:
(a) the Governor (b) the President (c) the Chief Minister (d) the state legislature through a special resolution

Accepted Answer

(a) the Governor.

This is the local-government parallel to the Union's Finance Commission under Article 280 (constituted by the President) — the State Finance Commission serves the equivalent devolution-review function at the state-to-local level.

Question 7

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act added which Schedule to the Constitution?
(a) Twelfth Schedule (b) Eleventh Schedule (c) Tenth Schedule (d) Ninth Schedule

Accepted Answer

(a) Twelfth Schedule.

The Twelfth Schedule lists 18 subjects for Municipalities; the Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects), added by the 73rd Amendment, covers Panchayats.

Question 8

Which type of Municipality is constituted for an area transitioning from rural to urban?
(a) Nagar Panchayat (b) Municipal Corporation (c) Municipal Council (d) Zila Parishad

Accepted Answer

(a) Nagar Panchayat.

The 74th Amendment provides for three types of Municipalities based on the degree of urbanisation: Nagar Panchayat (transitional area), Municipal Council (smaller urban area), and Municipal Corporation (larger urban area).

Question 9

Ward Committees are mandatory for Municipalities with a population of:
(a) 3 lakh or more (b) 10 lakh or more (c) 1 lakh or more (d) 20 lakh or more

Accepted Answer

(a) 3 lakh or more.

This is distinct from the 10-lakh threshold that triggers a mandatory Metropolitan Planning Committee — the two thresholds are commonly confused with each other.

Question 10

A Metropolitan Planning Committee must be constituted for areas with a population of:
(a) 10 lakh or more (b) 3 lakh or more (c) 5 lakh or more (d) 50 lakh or more

Accepted Answer

(a) 10 lakh or more.

This committee coordinates metropolitan-area planning across multiple local bodies, distinct from the District Planning Committee, which every state must constitute regardless of population.

Question 11

The PESA Act, 1996, extends Panchayati Raj provisions with special modifications to:
(a) Fifth Schedule Scheduled Areas (b) Sixth Schedule tribal areas (c) all Union Territories (d) coastal regulation zones

Accepted Answer

(a) Fifth Schedule Scheduled Areas.

PESA empowers the Gram Sabha in these areas with stronger powers over natural resources, prior consultation before land acquisition, and consultation on minor mineral leases, to protect tribal customary rights.

Question 12

If a Panchayat is dissolved before completing its 5-year term, fresh elections must be held within:
(a) 6 months of dissolution (b) 1 year of dissolution (c) 3 months of dissolution (d) there is no fixed timeline

Accepted Answer

(a) 6 months of dissolution.

This rule under Article 243E applies identically to Municipalities under the parallel 74th Amendment provision.

Question 13

The District Planning Committee, mandated by the 74th Amendment, is responsible for:
(a) consolidating rural and urban development plans into a single district development plan (b) conducting local body elections (c) auditing Panchayat expenditure (d) reviewing tax devolution to states

Accepted Answer

(a) consolidating rural and urban development plans into a single district development plan.

Every state must constitute this committee, unlike the Metropolitan Planning Committee, which is required only for areas with population 10 lakh or more.

Question 14

The three-tier Panchayati Raj system was first recommended by which committee, before it later received constitutional status in 1992?
(a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1957 (b) Ashok Mehta Committee, 1978 (c) Sarkaria Commission, 1983 (d) Swaran Singh Committee, 1976

Accepted Answer

(a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1957.

This committee first recommended the three-tier structure; the Ashok Mehta Committee (1978) later reviewed and reformed its functioning, but constitutional status came only with the 73rd Amendment in 1992.

Question 15

How many subjects are listed in the Eleventh Schedule for devolution to Panchayats?
(a) 29 (b) 18 (c) 22 (d) 12

Accepted Answer

(a) 29.

The Eleventh Schedule (added by the 73rd Amendment) lists 29 subjects including agriculture, rural housing, drinking water and education; the Twelfth Schedule (74th Amendment, Municipalities) lists 18 subjects.

Practice — "Local Governance & Panchayati Raj"

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