Panchayati Raj and Municipalities FAQs

1. In which month and year was the Balwantrai Mehta Committee appointed?

2. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was appointed to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and which other scheme?

3. Who was the chairman of the committee that recommended the scheme of 'democratic decentralisation'?

4. In which month and year did the Balwantrai Mehta Committee submit its report?

5. The scheme of 'democratic decentralisation' recommended by the Balwantrai Mehta Committee ultimately came to be known by which name?

6. Consider the following recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee: (I) The panchayat samiti should be the executive body (II) The zila parishad should be the advisory, coordinating and supervisory body (III) The tiers should be organically linked through indirect elections Which of the above is/are correct?

7. According to the Balwantrai Mehta Committee, who should be the chairman of the zila parishad?

8. The Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended that the village panchayat should be constituted through which method of election?

9. The recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee were accepted by which body in January 1958?

10. Which state was the first to establish Panchayati Raj?

11. On which date was the Panchayati Raj scheme inaugurated in Rajasthan?

12. In which district was the Panchayati Raj scheme first inaugurated in Rajasthan?

13. Which state adopted Panchayati Raj in the same year as Rajasthan, immediately following it?

14. Which state adopted a two-tier system of Panchayati Raj, unlike most other states?

15. Which state adopted a four-tier system of Panchayati Raj?

16. In the Maharashtra–Gujarat pattern of Panchayati Raj, which body was relatively powerful, given that the district was the unit of planning and development?

17. What term is used for the judicial panchayats established by some states to try petty civil and criminal cases?

18. Who chaired the Committee on Rationalisation of Panchayat Statistics (1960)?

19. In which month and year was the Ashok Mehta Committee appointed?

20. The Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed by which government?

21. How many recommendations did the Ashok Mehta Committee make to revive the Panchayati Raj system?

22. The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended replacing the three-tier panchayati raj system with a two-tier system. What was the lower tier called?

23. As per the Ashok Mehta Committee, elections should be held within how many months from the date of an imperative supersession of a panchayati raj body?

24. Consider the following recommendations of the Ashok Mehta Committee: (I) Nyaya panchayats should be kept separate from development panchayats (II) Official participation of political parties should be allowed at all levels of panchayat elections (III) A minister for panchayati raj should be appointed in the state council of ministers Which of the above is/are correct?

25. According to the Ashok Mehta Committee, who should preside over the nyaya panchayats?

26. As per the Ashok Mehta Committee, who should organise and conduct panchayati raj elections?

27. Due to the collapse of the Janata Government, no central action was taken on the Ashok Mehta Committee recommendations; however, which three states took steps to revitalise Panchayati Raj based on some of its recommendations?

28. The Committee to review the Administrative Arrangements for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Programmes was appointed in which year?

29. The G.V.K. Rao Committee was appointed by which body?

30. The G.V.K. Rao Committee described the weakening of Panchayati Raj institutions due to bureaucratisation of development administration using which phrase?

31. Which post did the G.V.K. Rao Committee recommend creating, to be in charge of all development departments at the district level?

32. The G.V.K. Rao Committee found that elections to Panchayati Raj institutions had become overdue for one or more tiers in how many states?

33. With reference to district planning committees of the 1970s-80s, consider the following pairs: (I) Dantwala Committee – Block-Level Planning (1978) (II) Hanumantha Rao Committee – District Planning (1984) Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

34. The Hanumantha Rao Committee recommended that separate district planning bodies be set up under the District Collector or which other authority?

35. The L.M. Singhvi Committee was appointed in 1986 by which government?

36. The L.M. Singhvi Committee's concept paper on revitalising Panchayati Raj called which body the embodiment of direct democracy?

37. Consider the following recommendations of a 1986 committee on Panchayati Raj: (I) A new chapter should be added to the Constitution for Panchayati Raj institutions (II) Judicial tribunals should be established in each state to adjudicate panchayat election disputes (III) Nyaya Panchayats should be established for a cluster of villages Which of the above is/are correct?

38. The Thungon Committee, constituted in 1988, was a sub-committee of which body?

39. Who chaired the 1988 sub-committee examining the political and administrative structure in the district for district planning?

40. As per the Thungon Committee, what should be the fixed tenure of Panchayati Raj bodies?

41. A 1988 committee recommended that the state-level planning and co-ordination committee for Panchayati Raj be chaired by whom?

42. The Committee on Policy and Programmes, chaired by V.N. Gadgil, was constituted in 1988 by which political party?

43. Consider the following recommendations of the Gadgil Committee: (I) A three-tier system with panchayats at the village, block and district levels (II) Direct election of members at all three levels (III) Establishment of a State Election Commission for conducting elections to the panchayats Which of the above is/are correct?

44. The recommendations of which committee became the basis for drafting the amendment bill that conferred constitutional status on Panchayati Raj institutions?

45. The Rajiv Gandhi Government introduced which Constitutional Amendment Bill in July 1989 to constitutionalise Panchayati Raj institutions?

46. The 64th Constitutional Amendment Bill of 1989, though passed by the Lok Sabha, failed to pass in which House?

47. Under whose Prime Ministership was a fresh constitutional amendment bill on Panchayati Raj introduced in the Lok Sabha in September 1990, which later lapsed due to the fall of the government?

48. In which month and year did the Narasimha Rao Government introduce the constitutional amendment bill that finally emerged as the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992?

49. On which date did the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 come into force?

50. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on which date?

51. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act added which new Part to the Constitution of India?

52. The 73rd Amendment Act added which new Schedule to the Constitution?

53. The 73rd Amendment Act gave practical shape to which Article of the Constitution, which forms part of the Directive Principles of State Policy?

54. The provisions of the 73rd Amendment Act are grouped into which two categories?

55. The Gram Sabha, as provided under the 73rd Amendment Act, consists of persons registered in the electoral rolls of which unit?

56. The 73rd Amendment Act provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj at which levels?

57. A state having a population not exceeding what figure may choose not to constitute panchayats at the intermediate level?

58. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, members of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels shall be elected in what manner?

59. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, the chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels shall be elected in what manner?

60. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, the manner of election of the chairperson of a panchayat at the village level is determined by whom?

61. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, what is the minimum age prescribed for contesting elections to panchayats?

62. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in panchayats is made in proportion to what?

63. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, what is the minimum proportion of seats reserved for women in panchayats at each level?

64. The reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in panchayats shall cease to have effect after the expiration of the period specified in which Article?

65. The reservation of seats in panchayats for Scheduled Castes is not applicable to which state, since it is inhabited fully by indigenous tribal people?

66. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, what is the term of office of a panchayat at every level, from the date of its first meeting?

67. If a panchayat is dissolved before completing its term, fresh elections must be completed before the expiry of what period from the date of dissolution?

68. A panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution remains in office for what duration?

69. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, questions relating to disqualification of panchayat members shall be referred to which authority?

70. The State Election Commissioner responsible for panchayat elections is appointed by whom?

71. A State Election Commissioner cannot be removed by the Governor except in the manner and on grounds prescribed for the removal of which official?

72. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, the Governor must constitute a finance commission to review the financial position of panchayats after every how many years?

73. Consider the following statements regarding the application of Part IX of the Constitution: (I) The provisions of Part IX apply to Union Territories, subject to exceptions the President may specify (II) The Act does not apply to the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram (III) Parliament may extend the provisions of Part IX to scheduled and tribal areas, subject to exceptions it may specify Which of the above is/are correct?

74. Within what maximum period from the commencement of the 73rd Amendment Act were states required to adopt the new panchayati raj system?

75. Under the 73rd Amendment Act, the validity of a law relating to the delimitation of panchayat constituencies cannot be questioned in which forum?

76. Which Act, enacted by Parliament in 1996, extended the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to the Fifth Schedule areas?

77. How many Indian states currently have Fifth Schedule Areas?

78. Under the PESA Act, what is the minimum proportion of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in every Panchayat in the Scheduled Areas?

79. Under the PESA Act, seats of Chairpersons of Panchayats at all levels in the Scheduled Areas shall be reserved for whom?

80. Under the PESA Act, the state government may nominate Scheduled Tribes having no representation in the intermediate or district Panchayat, subject to what ceiling?

81. Under the PESA Act, whose recommendation is mandatory for the grant of a prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in Scheduled Areas?

82. Consider the following features of the PESA Act, 1996: (I) Panchayats in Scheduled Areas must obtain certification from the Gram Sabha for utilisation of funds (II) The State Legislature shall endow Panchayats with ownership of minor forest produce (III) The State Legislature shall design district-level administrative arrangements in Scheduled Areas following the pattern of the Sixth Schedule Which of the above is/are correct?

83. On which date did the PESA Act receive the assent of the President?

84. Grants from the Union Government to Panchayats, based on Central Finance Commission recommendations, are provided under which Article?

85. Devolution of funds from the State Government to Panchayats, based on State Finance Commission recommendations, is provided for under which Article?

86. Which tier of Panchayati Raj is comparatively better positioned in own resource generation, since it has a tax domain of its own?

87. The reason for ineffective PRI performance described as Gram Panchayat Sarpanches spending extraordinary time visiting Block Offices for funds/technical approval reflects which factor?

88. Which Article of the Constitution deals with the "Composition of panchayats"? # Batch 4 — Chapter 40: Municipalities (Types of Urban Bodies, Personnel, Revenue, Central Council)

89. Which authority in a municipal corporation is responsible for implementing the decisions taken by the council and its standing committees?

90. Who heads the Council of a municipal corporation?

91. In a majority of states, the Mayor of a municipal corporation is elected for what term?

92. Who heads the Council of a municipality?

93. Which power does the president/chairman of a municipality possess, unlike the largely ceremonial Mayor of a municipal corporation?

94. Who is responsible for the day-to-day general administration of a municipality?

95. Consider the following regarding a Notified Area Committee: (I) It is created for a fast-developing town due to industrialisation, or a town not yet fulfilling the conditions for a municipality (II) It is established by a notification in the government gazette (III) All its members, including the chairman, are nominated by the state government Which of the above is/are correct?

96. A Notified Area Committee is best described as which type of body?

97. A Town Area Committee is set up for the administration of what kind of area?

98. A Town Area Committee is created by what instrument?

99. Who chaired the Rural-Urban Relationship Committee (1963-66)?

100. Under which Act is a cantonment board set up?

101. A cantonment board works under the administrative control of which ministry of the Central government?

102. Unlike municipal corporations, municipalities, notified area committees and town area committees, a cantonment board is created and administered by which level of government?

103. How many cantonment boards currently exist in the country?

104. Who is the ex-officio president of a cantonment board, presiding over its meetings?

105. The vice-president of a cantonment board is elected by the elected members for what term?

106. The executive officer of a cantonment board, who belongs to a central cadre, is appointed by whom?

107. How many members elected by the people of the cantonment area sit on a Category I cantonment board?

108. On a Category I cantonment board, the first class magistrate is nominated by whom?

109. Which category of cantonment board covers a civil population above 50,000?

110. A township form of urban government is established by which entity?

111. Who administers a township, appointed by the enterprise concerned?

112. A township form of urban government is best described as what?

113. A port trust is created by which instrument?

114. What is the composition of a port trust's membership?

115. What are the purposes of a port trust?

116. Special purpose agencies set up by states are described as what type of bodies, as distinct from area-based urban bodies?

117. Which of the following is an example of a special purpose agency (functional local body)?

118. Special purpose agencies are established either as statutory bodies by an act of state legislature or as what else?

119. Are special purpose agencies subordinate to municipal corporations or municipalities?

120. Under which municipal personnel system does each local body appoint, administer and control its own personnel, with no transferability to other local bodies?

121. Under which municipal personnel system does the state government create state-wide cadres of municipal personnel, transferable between local bodies within the state?

122. Under which municipal personnel system is there no distinction between local civil service and state civil service, with personnel transferable between local bodies and state government departments?

123. With reference to municipal personnel systems in India, consider the following pairs: (I) Unified Personnel System – prevalent in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (II) Integrated Personnel System – prevalent in Odisha and Karnataka (III) Separate Personnel System – prevalent in Punjab and Haryana Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

124. In which year was the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government, Mumbai, constituted?

125. The Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, New Delhi, and its Regional Centres were set up on the recommendation of which committee?

126. In which year was the National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi, established?

127. In which year was the Human Settlement Management Institute, New Delhi, established?

128. Which is described as the most important source of tax revenue for urban local bodies?

129. Devolution of funds to urban local bodies from the state government is made on the basis of the recommendations of which body?

130. Urban local bodies can borrow from financial institutions or other bodies only with whose approval?

131. In which year was the Central Council of Local Government set up?

132. What was the Central Council of Local Government originally known as?

133. Until which year did the Central Council of Local Government deal with both rural and urban local governments, before confining itself to urban matters only?

134. Who acts as the Chairman of the Central Council of Local Government? .

21. Panchayati Raj and Municipalities