Panchayati Raj and Community Development Archives

41. In which two Indian States of the four mentioned below, it is necessar

In which two Indian States of the four mentioned below, it is necessary to hold certain minimum educational qualifications to be eligible to contest Panchayat Elections?

1. Punjab

2. Haryana

3. Karnataka

4. Rajasthan

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2

2 and 4

2 and 3

1 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2017

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The correct option is B) 2 and 4.

As of 2015, states like Haryana and Rajasthan enacted laws requiring minimum educational qualifications for candidates contesting Panchayat elections. Haryana required matriculation for general category candidates and class 8th pass for women and Schedule Caste candidates contesting Sarpanch elections. Rajasthan required secondary school (Class 10) for Sarpanch candidates and middle school (Class 8) for Ward Panch candidates. Punjab and Karnataka did not have such state-wide mandatory educational requirements for Panchayat elections during that period.

These laws sparked debate regarding the right to contest elections and the value of formal education in local governance. The Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of the Haryana law in 2015, stating that prescribing minimum educational qualifications is not unreasonable.

42. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The elections

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. The elections to the Panchayat are conducted by the State Election Commission.
2. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
3. The State Legislatures have the power to make laws on all matters relating to Panchayat elections.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

2 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2021

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Statement 1 is correct. Article 243K(1) states that the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election Commission.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Article 243K(2) states that the State Election Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor of the State.
Statement 3 is correct. Article 243K(1) empowers the State Legislature, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, to make laws with respect to all matters relating to the elections to the Panchayats.

Panchayat elections are conducted by an independent constitutional body, the State Election Commission, appointed by the Governor, and the State Legislature has legislative power over related matters.

The conditions of service and tenure of the State Election Commissioner are determined by the Governor, subject to the provisions of any law made by the State Legislature. The State Election Commissioner can only be removed from office in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

43. Which of the following statements about the Panchayati Raj System are

Which of the following statements about the Panchayati Raj System are correct ?

1. All seats in a Panchayat are filled by persons chosen by direct election.
2. The ‘Gram Sabha’ consists of persons registered in the village electoral rolls.
3. The Chairperson of a Panchayat is elected in accordance with a law passed by each state.
4. All states in India have a three-tier system of Panchayats.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 4 only

1, 2 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

2, 3 and 4 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2021

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Statement 1 is correct. According to Article 243C(2), all the seats in a Panchayat are filled by persons chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area.
Statement 2 is correct. According to Article 243A, the Gram Sabha consists of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of a Panchayat at the village level.
Statement 3 is correct. According to Article 243C(4), the Chairperson of a Panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such manner as the State Legislature may, by law, provide, and the Chairpersons of a Panchayat at the intermediate level or district level shall be elected by, and from amongst, the elected members thereof. The specific method for electing the Chairperson at the village level is left to the state law.
Statement 4 is incorrect. Article 243B(2) provides that Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs. Also, some states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, as well as certain areas like hill areas of Manipur, Darjeeling district of West Bengal, etc., have different arrangements/exemptions regarding Panchayats.

Key aspects of Panchayati Raj system include direct election of members, composition and role of Gram Sabha, method of election of Chairperson decided by state law, and the possibility of a two-tier system in smaller states.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced the Panchayati Raj system in India. It added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. The three tiers envisaged are Village Panchayat, Intermediate Panchayat (Block Panchayat), and District Panchayat (Zila Parishad).

44. The provisions of the Constitution of India pertaining to the institut

The provisions of the Constitution of India pertaining to the institution of Panchayat do not apply to which one of the following States?

Meghalaya

Tripura

Assam

Goa

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2020

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Article 243M of the Constitution specifies areas where the provisions of Part IX (Panchayats) do not apply.

The States of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are explicitly exempted from the application of Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats.

The exemption is primarily due to the existence of traditional tribal councils and administrative structures in these states. The PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996) extends Part IX with modifications to Scheduled Areas in other states, but Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are generally outside the purview of the standard Panchayat system introduced by the 73rd Amendment.

45. The power to legislate on all matters relating to elections to Panchay

The power to legislate on all matters relating to elections to Panchayats lies with

the Parliament of India

the State Legislatures

the State Election Commission

the Election Commission of India

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2020

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According to Article 243K of the Constitution of India, the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats are vested in a State Election Commission.

However, the power to legislate on matters relating to these elections, such as delimitation of constituencies, reservation of seats, and electoral rolls preparation details, rests with the State Legislatures.

While the State Election Commission conducts the elections, the legal framework governing these elections, including qualifications, disqualifications, etc., is provided by laws made by the respective State Legislatures under Article 243K(2).

46. Which one of the following statements with regard to the functioning o

Which one of the following statements with regard to the functioning of the Panchayats is not correct?

Panchayats may levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, etc.

A person who has attained the age of 25 years will be eligible to be a member of a Panchayat.

Every Panchayat shall ordinarily continue for five years from the date of its first meeting.

A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution shall continue only for the remainder of the full period.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2020

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Article 243F of the Constitution of India, relating to disqualifications for membership of a Panchayat, states that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of a Panchayat if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by the Legislature of the State or if he has attained the age of twenty-one years. Therefore, a person who has attained the age of 21 years (not 25 years) is eligible to be a member of a Panchayat, provided they are not otherwise disqualified. Option B is incorrect.

– Article 243H allows State Legislatures to authorise Panchayats to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees. (Option A is correct)
– Article 243E stipulates that every Panchayat shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless sooner dissolved. (Option C is correct)
– Article 243E(4) states that a Panchayat constituted after a premature dissolution shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued had it not been so dissolved. (Option D is correct)

The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions in India. It added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.

47. Which one of the following is not correct about the Panchayats as la

Which one of the following is not correct about the Panchayats as laid down in Part IX of the Constitution of India?

The Chairperson of a Panchayat needs to be directly elected by people in order to exercise the right to vote in the Panchayat meetings.

The State Legislature has the right to decide whether or not offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats are reserved for SCs, STs or women.

Unless dissolved earlier, every Panchayat continues for a period of five years.

The State Legislature may by law make provisions for audit of accounts of the Panchayats.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2019

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Part IX of the Constitution (Panchayats) does not mandate that the Chairperson of a Panchayat must be directly elected by people in order to exercise the right to vote in Panchayat meetings. Article 243C(2) states that the Chairperson of a Panchayat at the intermediate and district level shall be elected by and from amongst the elected members thereof (indirect election). The mode of election for the Chairperson of a village Panchayat is determined by the State Legislature. Even if indirectly elected, Chairpersons who are members of the Panchayat body are generally entitled to vote in its meetings, unless specified otherwise by state law. Therefore, linking the right to vote in meetings solely to direct election is incorrect as per constitutional provisions and common practice.

– The mode of election of the Chairperson varies with the level of Panchayat (village, intermediate, district) and is determined by State law, not always direct election.
– The right of a Chairperson to vote in Panchayat meetings depends on their status as a member and applicable state law, not necessarily on being directly elected.

– Option B is correct: Article 243D(4) allows the State Legislature to provide for reservation of offices of Chairpersons in Panchayats for SCs, STs, and women.
– Option C is correct: Article 243E provides for a five-year term for every Panchayat unless dissolved earlier.
– Option D is correct: Article 243J empowers the State Legislature to make provisions by law for the audit of accounts of the Panchayats.

48. Which of the following statements with regard to Panchayats in India a

Which of the following statements with regard to Panchayats in India are correct?

Seats in a Panchayat are filled by direct election from the territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area.
The Gram Sabha is the body of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village within the Panchayat area.
The Panchayats work on the principle of constitutional autonomy.
The State Legislature may by law endow the Panchayats with the power and authority to enable them to function.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

2, 3 and 4

1, 2 and 4

1 and 4 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2017

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Statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct regarding Panchayats in India as per the constitutional provisions (Part IX). Statement 1 is correct; Article 243C(2) mandates that all seats in a Panchayat are filled by direct election from territorial constituencies. Statement 2 is correct; Article 243(b) defines Gram Sabha as the body of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village within the Panchayat area. Statement 4 is correct; Article 243G empowers the State Legislature to endow Panchayats with such powers and authority as necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government. Statement 3 is incorrect; while Panchayats are constitutional bodies of local self-government, they do not function on the principle of complete constitutional autonomy; their powers, structure, and finances are subject to the laws passed by the State Legislature.

– Panchayat members are directly elected.
– Gram Sabha consists of registered voters in a village.
– State Legislatures determine the powers and authority of Panchayats.
– Panchayats function under the framework of the Constitution and state laws, not with complete autonomy.

Part IX of the Constitution, added by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, provides the framework for Panchayati Raj Institutions in India, making them constitutional bodies and defining their basic structure, composition, duration, reservations, powers, and finances, largely implemented through state legislation.