Local Government

1.Local Government in India

• Meaning of Panchayati RajImportance 3/5UPSC 2017
  What does Panchayati Raj mean, and what work is it entrusted with? Understand who set the system up in the states, and how that differs from the later constitutional amendment that gave it constitutional status.
• Local Government in the State ListImportance 4/5UPSC 1995, 2001
  Under which List of the Seventh Schedule does local government fall, and at which entry number? Be able to explain why the states, and not the Centre, make the laws that create local bodies.
• Meaning of Urban Local GovernmentImportance 2/5
  Remember what urban local government means. Who marks out the urban area in which an urban local government works?
• Union Ministries Dealing with Urban Local GovernmentImportance 3/5
  Which three Union ministries deal with urban local government? Remember which kind of body, or which area, each ministry looks after (for example, cantonment boards and Union Territories).

2.Evolution of Panchayati Raj

• Appointment and Purpose of the Balwantrai Mehta CommitteeImportance 4/5UPSC 2015, 2017
  Remember when the committee was appointed and when it reported. Which two programmes was it asked to examine? Know the name of the scheme it proposed, which later came to be called Panchayati Raj.
• Recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta CommitteeImportance 5/5UPSC 2015
  Read and remember all eight recommendations, especially the tiers, which tiers are elected directly and which indirectly, and the Collector's role. You should be able to explain how the tiers were linked, and how the executive role of the panchayat samiti differs from the role of the zila parishad.
• Acceptance by the NDC and the First States to Adopt Panchayati RajImportance 4/5UPSC 1998
  Who accepted the committee's report, and did they ask every state to follow one fixed pattern? Remember the first state to start Panchayati Raj, the district, the date and who inaugurated it. Which state followed in the same year?
• Differences in State Patterns Before 1992Importance 3/5UPSC 2000
  How did states differ in the number of tiers (for example, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal)? Understand the difference between the Rajasthan–Andhra Pradesh pattern and the Maharashtra–Gujarat pattern. What were nyaya panchayats?
• Study Teams and Committees, 1960–1976Importance 2/5
  Be aware of the main study teams and who chaired them. Pay special attention to Diwakar (Gram Sabha), Santhanam (finances and elections) and Rajgopal (nyaya panchayats).
• Appointment of the Ashok Mehta CommitteeImportance 4/5
  Which government appointed this committee, and why? Remember when it was appointed, when it reported, and how many recommendations it made.
• Recommendations of the Ashok Mehta CommitteeImportance 5/5
  Read and remember the main recommendations: the tiers and the mandal panchayat, the district as the unit, the role of political parties, taxation powers, supersession, nyaya panchayats and constitutional recognition. How does its system differ from the Balwantrai Mehta pattern? Understand why the district was seen as the first point of decentralisation.
• Fate of the Ashok Mehta RecommendationsImportance 3/5
  Why could the Centre not act on the recommendations? Which states took steps to revive Panchayati Raj based on some of these recommendations?
• Appointment of the G.V.K. Rao Committee and Its DiagnosisImportance 4/5
  Which body appointed the committee, and in which year? What problem did it find in how development was run, and what label was given to the resulting condition of Panchayati Raj institutions? Understand how this problem weakened them.
• Recommendations of the G.V.K. Rao CommitteeImportance 4/5
  Remember its five recommendations, especially the role of the Zila Parishad and the new post of District Development Commissioner. In how many states had elections become overdue for one or more tiers?
• Role of the District Collector: G.V.K. Rao vs Dantwala and Hanumantha Rao CommitteesImportance 3/5
  Remember the Dantwala Committee (block-level planning) and the Hanumantha Rao Committee (district planning), with their years. Understand how the Hanumantha Rao Committee saw the Collector's role, and how that differs from committees that gave Panchayati Raj institutions the lead role in development.
• Recommendations of the L M Singhvi CommitteeImportance 4/5
  Who appointed this committee, in which year, and what was it asked to prepare? Remember its five recommendations, including constitutional recognition, judicial tribunals and the phrase it used for the Gram Sabha.
• Recommendations of the Thungon CommitteeImportance 3/5
  Remember how the committee came to be formed (a sub-committee of which body, and in which year). Know its main recommendations, especially the tenure of panchayats, the limit on supersession, the State Finance Commission and the Collector's role in the Zilla Parishad.
• Recommendations of the Gadgil CommitteeImportance 4/5
  Which body set up this committee, in which year, and with what name? Remember its nine recommendations. Understand why it matters for the amendment that followed.
• 64th Amendment Bill Under the Rajiv Gandhi GovernmentImportance 3/5
  When was the bill introduced, and what happened to it in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha? Understand the objection raised against it in the federal system.
• Amendment Bill Under the V.P. Singh GovernmentImportance 2/5
  Remember the chief ministers' conference of 1990 and the bill that followed. Why did this bill lapse?
• Passage and Commencement of the 73rd AmendmentImportance 4/5
  Which government brought the bill that finally became the 73rd Amendment Act, and when? Remember the dates it passed the two Houses, the number of state assemblies that approved it, the date of the President's assent, and the date the Act came into force.
• Committees on Panchayati Raj After ConstitutionalisationImportance 2/5
  Be aware of the committees formed after 1992 and their chairmen. Pay special attention to Mani Shankar Aiyar, V. Ramachandran and Lalit Mathur.

3.73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992

• Part IX and the Eleventh ScheduleImportance 5/5UPSC 2000, 2005
  Which Part did the Act add to the Constitution, what is it titled, and which Articles does it cover? Remember the Schedule added, the number of functional items it holds, and the Article it relates to.
• Link with Article 40Importance 4/5
  What does Article 40 direct the State to do, and in which Part of the Constitution does it sit? Understand how the Act gave it practical effect.
• Constitutional Status and the Obligation on StatesImportance 4/5UPSC 2000
  What changed for state governments when panchayats came under the justiciable part of the Constitution? Be able to explain why forming panchayats and holding regular elections no longer depend on a state's wish.
• From Representative to Participatory DemocracyImportance 3/5
  Why is the Act called a landmark for democracy at the grassroots? Understand the idea of a shift from representative to participatory democracy.
• Gram SabhaImportance 5/5
  Who are the members of the Gram Sabha, and at what level does it work? Understand who decides the powers it exercises.
• Tiers of Panchayats and the Exception for Small StatesImportance 5/5UPSC 1996, 2025
  Remember the levels at which panchayats are set up in every state. Which states may skip the intermediate level, and on what population limit? How does the Act define "village" and "intermediate level", and who specifies them?
• Election of Members and ChairpersonsImportance 4/5
  How are members elected at each level? How are the chairpersons elected at the intermediate and district levels, and how is the village chairperson chosen? Do chairpersons and other members have a right to vote in meetings?
• Reservation of Seats and Chairperson Offices for SCs, STs and WomenImportance 5/5UPSC 4 Years
  On what basis are seats reserved for SCs and STs? Remember how the one-third reservation for women works, including its link to SC and ST seats. Is one-third a ceiling or a minimum? Be clear about how reservation applies to chairperson offices at each level.
• Reservation for Backward Classes and the Time Limit on SC/ST ReservationImportance 4/5
  Is reservation for backward classes compulsory or left to the state? Understand how it differs from SC/ST reservation. Remember what decides when SC/ST reservation in panchayats ends.
• Arunachal Pradesh ExceptionImportance 3/5UPSC 2001
  Which reservation does not apply in Arunachal Pradesh? Understand why. Which Amendment Act added this exception, and in which year?
• Duration of Panchayats and Fresh ElectionsImportance 5/5UPSC 4 Years
  From when does a panchayat's term run (the date appointed for its first meeting), and how long is it? Can an amendment of a law dissolve a functioning panchayat before its term ends? Remember the deadlines for fresh elections after the term ends and after dissolution. What is the exception when little time remains? For how long does a reconstituted panchayat serve?
• Disqualifications and Minimum AgeImportance 5/5UPSC 1997, 2016, 2025
  On what two grounds can a person be disqualified? What is the minimum age for contesting, and how does it relate to the age of 25? Who decides questions about disqualification?
• State Election CommissionImportance 5/5UPSC 1995, 2011
  What does the State Election Commission control? Who appoints the State Election Commissioner and sets the service terms? Can the Governor remove the Commissioner? Understand how the Commissioner's service conditions are protected, and what the state legislature may provide on elections.
• Powers and Functions of PanchayatsImportance 4/5UPSC 2013
  Is devolution of powers to panchayats compulsory or at the state legislature's choice? Remember the two areas it may cover (plans and schemes), and how the Eleventh Schedule fits in.
• Finances of Panchayats Under the ActImportance 3/5
  Remember the four things the state legislature may do about the finances of panchayats.
• State Finance Commission for PanchayatsImportance 5/5UPSC 5 Years
  Who constitutes the commission, when was the first one due, and how often after that? Remember the three areas in which it makes recommendations. Who decides its composition, and where do its recommendations go along with the action taken report? Understand the role of the Central Finance Commission.
• Audit of AccountsImportance 2/5
  Who may make provisions for the accounts of panchayats and the auditing of those accounts?
• Application to Union TerritoriesImportance 2/5
  Does Part IX apply to Union Territories? Remember the President's power to change how it applies.
• Exempted States and AreasImportance 5/5
  Which three states are exempted from Part IX? Remember the other exempted areas (Scheduled Areas, tribal areas and the hill areas of Manipur). What does the limited provision on Darjeeling cover: which areas, and which level of panchayats? Which ten states have scheduled areas, and how many tribal areas are there? Who can extend Part IX to the three exempted states, and how did Parliament's power to extend it to Scheduled Areas lead to PESA?
• Continuance of Existing Laws and PanchayatsImportance 3/5
  How long did states have to adopt the new system, counted from which date? What happened to panchayats already in existence?
• Bar to Interference by Courts in Electoral MattersImportance 4/5
  Which laws cannot be questioned in any court? How can an election to a panchayat be challenged, and before whom?
• Eleventh ScheduleImportance 4/5UPSC 1999, 2012
  Read and remember the 29 items, well enough to tell them apart from Twelfth Schedule items. Which of the two Schedules would a matter such as drinking water or urban poverty alleviation belong to?
• Articles 243 to 243-OImportance 4/5
  Remember which Article deals with which subject. Give special attention to 243A, 243D, 243E, 243G, 243-I, 243K and 243M.

4.Compulsory and Voluntary Provisions

• Compulsory Provisions of the 73rd AmendmentImportance 5/5UPSC 1999, 2011
  Read and remember the eleven compulsory provisions well enough to sort any provision correctly. Understand what "compulsory" means for the state laws that set up the panchayati raj system.
• Voluntary Provisions of the 73rd AmendmentImportance 5/5
  Read and remember the twelve voluntary provisions. Why does the Act leave some provisions to the state's choice? Be clear on pairs that look alike: which part of the Gram Sabha provision is compulsory and which is voluntary, and how does SC/ST reservation compare with backward-class reservation?

5.PESA Act of 1996 (Extension Act)

• Why the PESA Act Was Enacted and Where It AppliesImportance 5/5
  Why did Part IX not apply to Fifth Schedule areas, and what power let Parliament extend it? Remember the full title of the Act, the states that have Fifth Schedule areas, and the date of the President's assent.
• Objectives of the PESA ActImportance 4/5UPSC 2013
  Remember the seven objectives, especially self-rule for tribal people and the place of the Gram Sabha in village governance.
• Customary Law, the Village and the Gram Sabha Under PESAImportance 5/5
  What must state laws on panchayats in Scheduled Areas respect? Understand how PESA describes a "village", and how that differs from a village under Part IX. Remember the Gram Sabha's duties: safeguarding traditions, approving plans, identifying beneficiaries, and certifying use of funds.
• Reservation and Nomination in Scheduled Area PanchayatsImportance 5/5
  Remember the minimum share of seats for Scheduled Tribes and how chairperson posts are reserved. When can the state government nominate members, and what is the limit on such nominations?
• Land, Minor Water Bodies and Minor Minerals Under PESAImportance 5/5UPSC 2012
  Understand the three different levels of say given to the Gram Sabha or panchayats: consultation, entrustment and mandatory recommendation. Which applies to land acquisition and resettlement, which to minor water bodies, and which to minor minerals? Be clear about what still stays coordinated at the state level.
• Powers Specifically Given to Panchayats and Gram SabhasImportance 5/5UPSC 2012
  Remember the seven specific powers that state legislatures must give to panchayats and Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas.
• Safeguards, the Sixth Schedule Pattern and TransitionImportance 3/5
  How are lower-tier panchayats and the Gram Sabha protected from higher tiers? Which Schedule's pattern should states follow for district-level bodies? What happened to inconsistent laws and existing panchayats?

6.Finances of Panchayati Raj

• Sources of Funds for PanchayatsImportance 4/5
  Remember the five channels through which panchayats get funds, and which Articles are the basis of the first two. Which commission summarised these sources?
• Fiscal Problems of PanchayatsImportance 4/5
  Understand the six conclusions about weak panchayat finances. Which three states are seen as progressive, and do even they depend on grants?
• Own Revenue and the Tax Domain of Each TierImportance 3/5
  Why does a panchayat's own revenue matter for accountability? How does the tax domain of village panchayats differ from that of the intermediate and district tiers? Remember the typical taxes of village panchayats.

7.Reasons for Ineffective Performance

• Lack of Adequate Devolution of the 3FsImportance 5/5
  What are the 3Fs? Understand how weak devolution holds Panchayati Raj institutions back, and why unimplemented State Finance Commission reports add to the problem.
• Funding Weaknesses of PRIsImportance 4/5
  Understand three funding weaknesses: tied funds, heavy dependence on government grants (and its effect on social audit), and reluctance to use the power to tax.
• Bureaucratic Control, Weak Gram Sabhas and Other Institutional ProblemsImportance 4/5
  Understand how control by the bureaucracy affects Sarpanches, why Gram Sabhas stay weak, and what problems parallel bodies and poor infrastructure create. Remember the gap in training of elected representatives.

8.Evolution of Urban Bodies

• First Municipal CorporationsImportance 4/5UPSC 2009
  Where and when was the first municipal corporation in India set up? Understand the difference between the date of its charter and the date it came into existence. Remember the next two corporations and their year.
• Lord Mayo's and Lord Ripon's ResolutionsImportance 5/5
  Remember the year and theme of each Resolution. Which one is called the "Magna Carta" of local self-government, and who is called the father of local self-government in India?
• Royal Commission on DecentralisationImportance 3/5
  In which years did the Commission work, and who chaired it?
• Local Self-Government Under the 1919 and 1935 Acts and the Cantonments Act of 1924Importance 4/5
  What was the status of local self-government under the 1919 Act (dyarchy) and the 1935 Act (provincial autonomy)? Remember what the Cantonments Act of 1924 was and which legislature passed it.
• Committees and Commissions on Urban Local GovernmentsImportance 2/5
  Be aware of the main committees and their chairmen. Pay special attention to Wattal, Zakaria, Correa and A.P. Jain.
• Nagarpalika Bills of 1989 and 1990Importance 3/5
  Which number of amendment bill was introduced in 1989, and what was it popularly called? Why did it lapse? Remember what happened to the revised bill of September 1990.
• Passage and Commencement of the 74th AmendmentImportance 4/5
  Which government introduced the bill that became the 74th Amendment Act, and when? Remember when it was passed, when the President gave assent, and the date the Act came into force.

9.74th Amendment Act of 1992

• Part IX-A and the Twelfth ScheduleImportance 5/5UPSC 2024
  Which Part did the Act add, what is it titled, and which Articles does it cover? Remember the Schedule added, its number of items, and the Article it relates to. How does this Part differ from Part IX?
• Constitutional Status and Aim of the 74th AmendmentImportance 3/5
  What duty does the Act place on state governments? Understand what the Act aims to do for urban governments.
• Types of MunicipalitiesImportance 5/5UPSC 2005
  Which types of municipalities must every state set up, and for which kind of area is each meant? What is a transitional area? Understand the industrial township exception and the factors the Governor considers when specifying these areas.
• Composition of MunicipalitiesImportance 4/5
  How are members elected, and what are wards? Who decides how the chairperson is elected? Remember the four categories of persons the state legislature may provide for, especially those without a vote.
• Wards Committees and Other CommitteesImportance 4/5
  For which municipalities is a wards committee compulsory, and what does the state legislature decide about it? How do other committees differ from wards committees?
• Reservation of Seats in MunicipalitiesImportance 4/5
  Remember how seats are reserved for SCs, STs and women. Is reservation of chairperson offices compulsory, and who decides the manner? What conditions does Part IX attach to panchayat chairperson reservation that Part IX-A does not? Understand how backward-class reservation and the time limit work.
• Duration and Dissolution of MunicipalitiesImportance 4/5
  The term and the rules for fresh elections follow the same pattern as for panchayats. Which two safeguards protect a municipality from dissolution, and which of them does Part IX also give panchayats?
• Disqualifications for Municipal MembershipImportance 3/5UPSC 2000
  On what grounds is a person disqualified from municipal membership? What is the age rule, and who decides disqualification questions?
• State Election Commission for MunicipalitiesImportance 3/5
  Which body conducts municipal elections and prepares the electoral rolls? What may the state legislature provide about municipal elections?
• Powers, Functions and Finances of MunicipalitiesImportance 3/5
  Is devolution of powers to municipalities compulsory or left to the state legislature? Remember the two areas it may cover and the four financial options open to the state legislature.
• Finance Commission for MunicipalitiesImportance 4/5
  Is a separate commission set up to review municipal finances, or does an existing one do it? Remember what it recommends, where its report goes with the action taken report, and the role of the Central Finance Commission.
• Audit of Accounts and Application to Union TerritoriesImportance 3/5
  Who may make provisions for municipal accounts and audit? Does Part IX-A apply to Union Territories? Remember the 2001 direction of the President about Delhi, and the two Articles it concerned.
• Exempted Areas Under Part IX-AImportance 4/5
  Which areas does Part IX-A not apply to? What is the provision on Darjeeling, and what power does Parliament have? How does this exemption differ from that under Part IX?
• District Planning CommitteeImportance 5/5UPSC 2011, 2012
  What is the committee's purpose? Remember what the state legislature decides, the minimum share of members who must be elected, who elects them, and how rural and urban members are balanced. What must it consider when preparing the plan, and where does the plan go?
• Metropolitan Planning CommitteeImportance 5/5UPSC 2011
  What is a metropolitan area? Remember the minimum share of members who must be elected, who elects them, and how this differs from the District Planning Committee. What must it consider when preparing its plan, and where does the plan go?
• Continuance of Existing Laws and Bar to Court InterferenceImportance 3/5
  How long did states have to adopt the new system, counted from which date? What happened to existing municipalities? Which election matters are barred from court challenge, and how can an election be questioned?
• Twelfth ScheduleImportance 4/5
  Read and remember the 18 items, well enough to tell them apart from Eleventh Schedule items.
• Articles 243-P to 243-ZGImportance 4/5
  Remember which Article deals with which subject. Give special attention to 243S, 243T, 243W, 243Y, 243ZD and 243ZE.

10.Types of Urban Governments

• Types of Urban Local BodiesImportance 4/5
  What are the eight types of urban local bodies? Understand which are area-based and which are function-based.
• Municipal CorporationImportance 5/5
  For which cities are corporations created, and generally by which law in states and in Union Territories? Remember its three authorities and what each does. What is the Mayor's role? What is the Commissioner's position?
• Municipality and the Role of Its ChairpersonImportance 4/5
  Where are municipalities set up, and what other names do they go by? Remember its three authorities. How does the chairperson's role differ from that of a Mayor?
• Notified Area CommitteeImportance 5/5
  For which two kinds of areas is it created, and why is it called "notified"? How do its members come to office? Understand why it is described as neither an elected nor a statutory body.
• Town Area CommitteeImportance 3/5
  For what kind of town is it set up, and which limited functions does it perform? How is it created and made up? What did the A.P. Jain Committee propose for small town area committees?
• Cantonment Board: Legal Basis and ControlImportance 5/5
  What is a cantonment area? Remember the Act under which a board is set up and the earlier Act it replaced. Which government creates and runs it, and how does that differ from the other urban bodies?
• Cantonment Board: Categories, Composition and OfficersImportance 3/5
  On what basis are boards divided into categories? Remember who sits on a board and who heads it, and how the vice-president is chosen. Who appoints the Chief Executive Officer under the Cantonments Act, 2006? Know its functions and sources of income in broad terms.
• TownshipImportance 3/5
  Who sets up a township, and for whom? Who runs it? Understand why it has no elected members.
• Port TrustImportance 3/5
  For what two purposes is a port trust set up? Remember how it is created, who its members are, who heads it, and its civic role. Note that the trusts of the major ports have been replaced by Boards of Major Port Authority under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021. Who appoints the members of these Boards?
• Special Purpose AgenciesImportance 4/5
  Understand why these agencies are called function-based. Remember the examples (such as town improvement trusts and housing boards). How are they created, and are they under the municipal bodies?

11.Municipal Personnel

• Municipal Personnel SystemsImportance 4/5UPSC 2001
  Understand how the separate, unified and integrated systems differ, and to what extent staff can be transferred under each. Which system is most widely used? Remember the example states for the unified and integrated systems.
• National Training Institutions for Municipal PersonnelImportance 2/5
  Remember the national institutions that train municipal staff, with their places and years. Which of them were set up on the recommendation of the Nur-ud-din Ahmed Committee?

12.Municipal Revenue

• Tax and Non-Tax Revenue of Urban Local BodiesImportance 4/5
  Remember the main local taxes and cesses, and which is the most important tax. What counts as non-tax revenue, including user charges?
• Grants, Devolution and LoansImportance 3/5
  Who gives grants to urban local bodies? On what basis does the state devolve funds? From where can they raise loans, and when do they need state approval?

13.Central Council of Local Government

• Origin and Basis of the Central Council of Local GovernmentImportance 4/5
  When was the Council set up, and under which Article and by what kind of order? What was its original name, and why was it changed? How did its scope change after 1958?
• Composition and Functions of the Central CouncilImportance 3/5
  Is the Council advisory or binding? Remember who its members are and who chairs it. What are its six functions?

1. 1.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Committee)	List II (Associated recommendation)
   A. Balwantrai Mehta Committee	1. Creation of a post of District Development Commissioner
   B. Ashok Mehta Committee	2. 'Democratic decentralisation' with three tiers linked by indirect elections
   C. G.V.K. Rao Committee	3. Its recommendations became the basis for drafting the constitutional amendment bill
   D. Gadgil Committee	4. A two-tier system with mandal panchayats

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
   2. BA-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
   3. CA-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
   4. DA-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
2. 2.

   With reference to the recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee, consider the following statements:
   1. The village panchayat should have directly elected representatives, while the panchayat samiti and zila parishad should have indirectly elected members.
   2. The district collector should be the chairman of the zila parishad.
   3. The zila parishad should be the executive body.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B1 and 2 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
3. 3.

   With reference to the Ashok Mehta Committee, consider the following statements:
   1. It was appointed by the Congress government in 1977.
   2. It recommended official participation of political parties at all levels of panchayat elections.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
4. 4.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: No action could be taken at the central level on the recommendations of the Ashok Mehta Committee.
   Statement-II: The Janata Government collapsed before completing its term.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
5. 5.

   With reference to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, consider the following statements:
   1. A state with a population not exceeding 50 lakh may choose not to constitute panchayats at the intermediate level.
   2. The chairpersons of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels are elected directly by the people.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
6. 6.

   Consider the following provisions of the 73rd Amendment Act:
   1. Organisation of a Gram Sabha in a village or group of villages
   2. 21 years as the minimum age for contesting panchayat elections
   3. Reservation of seats for backward classes in panchayats
   4. Constitution of a State Finance Commission every five years
   How many of the above are compulsory provisions?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
7. 7.

   With reference to reservation for women under the 73rd Amendment Act, consider the following statements:
   1. There is no provision for reserving offices of chairpersons for women.
   2. Not less than one-third of the total seats are reserved for women, including those for women of SCs and STs.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
8. 8.

   With reference to the duration of panchayats, consider the following statements:
   1. On dissolution, fresh elections must be completed within one year.
   2. A panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution gets a full term of five years.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
9. 9.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Article	Subject
   1. Article 243A	Gram Sabha
   2. Article 243-I	Constitution of finance commission to review financial position
   3. Article 243K	Audit of accounts of panchayats

   How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
10. 10.

    Consider the following states:
    1. Nagaland
    2. Meghalaya
    3. Mizoram
    4. Manipur
    To how many of the above states as a whole does the 73rd Amendment Act not apply?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
11. 11.

    With reference to reservation in panchayats under the PESA Act, consider the following statements:
    1. Reservation for Scheduled Tribes shall not be less than one-half of the total seats.
    2. All seats of chairpersons of panchayats at all levels shall be reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
12. 12.

    With reference to the PESA Act, consider the following statements:
    1. The Gram Sabha or panchayats at the appropriate level must be consulted before land is acquired in Scheduled Areas for development projects.
    2. The recommendation of the Gram Sabha is mandatory for granting a mining lease for major minerals in Scheduled Areas.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
13. 13.

    Consider the following:
    1. Fisheries
    2. Libraries
    3. Public distribution system
    4. Fire services
    How many of the above are among the 29 functional items in the Eleventh Schedule?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
14. 14.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The provision for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes in panchayats does not apply to Arunachal Pradesh.
    Statement-II: Arunachal Pradesh is inhabited fully by indigenous tribal people and has no Scheduled Castes.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
15. 15.

    With reference to the finances of Panchayati Raj institutions, as summarised by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, consider the following statements:
    1. Intermediate and district panchayats have a larger tax domain than village panchayats.
    2. Panchayats depend mainly on their own resources rather than on government grants.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2

1. 1.

   With reference to the types of municipalities under the 74th Amendment Act, consider the following statements:
   1. A nagar panchayat is constituted for a transitional area.
   2. A municipal council is constituted for a larger urban area.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
2. 2.

   The state legislature may provide for representation in a municipality of the following:
   1. Persons with special knowledge of municipal administration, with the right to vote in its meetings
   2. Members of the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assembly whose constituencies cover the municipal area
   3. Members of the Rajya Sabha and the state legislative council registered as electors in the municipal area
   4. Chairpersons of committees other than wards committees
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. Four-fifths of the members of a district planning committee are elected by the elected members of the district panchayat and municipalities from amongst themselves.
   2. Two-thirds of the members of a metropolitan planning committee are elected by the elected members of the municipalities and chairpersons of the panchayats in the area.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
4. 4.

   With reference to municipal corporations, consider the following statements:
   1. In a majority of states, the mayor is elected for a one-year renewable term and is basically an ornamental figure.
   2. The municipal commissioner is elected by the council from among the councillors.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
5. 5.

   With reference to a notified area committee, consider the following statements:
   1. It is a statutory body.
   2. All its members, including the chairman, are nominated by the state government.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
6. 6.

   With reference to cantonment boards, consider the following statements:
   1. They are governed by the Cantonments Act of 1924.
   2. The vice-president of the board is nominated by the defence ministry.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
7. 7.

   Consider the following pairs of municipal personnel systems:

   System	Feature
   1. Separate personnel system	The most widely prevalent system
   2. Unified personnel system	Prevalent in Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana
   3. Integrated personnel system	No distinction between local civil service and state civil service

   How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
8. 8.

   Consider the following:
   1. Fire services
   2. Slum improvement and upgradation
   3. Vital statistics, including registration of births and deaths
   4. Public distribution system
   How many of the above are among the functional items in the Twelfth Schedule?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
9. 9.

   At the Central level, the subject of urban local government in respect of cantonment boards is dealt with by the

   1. AMinistry of Home Affairs
   2. BMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs
   3. CMinistry of Panchayati Raj
   4. DMinistry of Defence
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. In 2001, the President directed that Articles 243ZD and 243ZE (district and metropolitan planning committees) shall not apply to the NCT of Delhi.
    2. Amending a law relating to municipalities can, by itself, bring the term of an existing municipality to an end before its five years are over.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2

1. 1.

   UPSC 2001

   Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
   List I (Amendments to the Constitution)
   I. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991
   II. The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994
   III. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000
   IV. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000
   List II (Contents)
   A) Establishment of State-level Rent Tribunals Act, 1991
   B) No reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh
   C) Constitution of Panchayats in Villages or at other local levels
   D) Accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission
   E) According the status of National Capital Territory to Delhi
   Codes:

   1. AI-E, II-A, III-D, IV-B
   2. BI-A, II-E, III-C, IV-D
   3. CI-E, II-A, III-C, IV-D
   4. DI-A, II-E, III-D, IV-B
2. 2.

   UPSC 2012

   Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?
   1. Directive Principles of State Policy
   2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
   3. Fifth Schedule
   4. Sixth Schedule
   5. Seventh Schedule
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B3, 4 and 5 only
   3. C1, 2 and 5 only
   4. D1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
3. 3.

   UPSC 2025

   Consider the following statements :
   I. Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.
   II. To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.
   III. The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of net proceeds of taxes and duties, leviable by the State, between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level.
   Which of the statements given above are not correct?

   1. AI and II only
   2. BII and III only
   3. CI and III only
   4. DI, II and III
4. 4.

   UPSC 2017

   Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in

   1. AFederalism
   2. BDemocratic decentralisation
   3. CAdministrative delegation
   4. DDirect democracy
5. 5.

   UPSC 2016

   Consider the following statements :
   1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
   2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
6. 6.

   UPSC 2015

   The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following?
   1. People's participation in development
   2. Political accountability
   3. Democratic decentralization
   4. Financial mobilization
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

   1. A1, 2 and 3 only
   2. B2 and 4 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
7. 7.

   UPSC 2013

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

   1. ATo provide self-governance
   2. BTo recognize traditional rights
   3. CTo create autonomous regions in tribal areas
   4. DTo free tribal people from exploitation
8. 8.

   UPSC 2013

   Consider the following statements:
   1. National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission.
   2. The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
   3. The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
9. 9.

   UPSC 2012

   In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of 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.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B1 and 2 only
   3. C2 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
10. 10.

    UPSC 2012

    Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of Inclusive Governance?
    1. Permitting the Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking
    2. Establishing effective District Planning Committees in all the districts
    3. Increasing the government spending on public health
    4. Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B3 and 4 only
    3. C2, 3 and 4 only
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
11. 11.

    UPSC 2011

    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 Commissions.
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
12. 12.

    UPSC 2011

    Consider the following statements: In India, a Metropolitan Planning Committee
    1. Is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India.
    2. Prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area.
    3. Has the sole responsibility for implementing Government-sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
13. 13.

    UPSC 2010

    Which one of the following authorities makes recommendation to the Governor of a State as to the principles for determining the taxes and duties which may be appropriated by the Panchayats in that particular State ?

    1. ADistrict Planning Committees
    2. BState Finance Commission
    3. CFinance Ministry of that State
    4. DPanchayati Raj Ministry of that State
14. 14.

    UPSC 2009

    If a Panchayat is dissolved, elections are to be held within

    1. A1 month
    2. B3 months
    3. C6 months
    4. D1 year
15. 15.

    UPSC 2009

    In India, the first Municipal Corporation was set up in which one among the following ?

    1. ACalcutta
    2. BMadras
    3. CBombay
    4. DDelhi
16. 16.

    UPSC 2005

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Part IX of the Constitution of India contains provisions for Panchayats and was inserted by the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992.
    2. Part IX A of the Constitution of India contains provisions for municipalities and Article 243Q envisages two types of municipalities – a Municipal Council and a Municipal Corporation – for every state.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
17. 17.

    UPSC 2001

    In which one of the following areas does the State Government NOT have control over its local bodies?

    1. ACitizen’s grievances
    2. BFinancial matters
    3. CLegislation
    4. DPersonnel matters
18. 18.

    UPSC 2000

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

    1. Ahe obtains permission from the principal of his college
    2. Bhe is a member of a political party
    3. Chis name figures in the Voters’ List
    4. Dhe files a declaration owing allegiance to the Constitution of India
19. 19.

    UPSC 2000

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
    List I (Local bodies) (States as in 1999)
    I. Zila Parishads at the sub-divisional level
    II. Mandal Praja Parishad
    III. Tribal Councils
    IV. Absence of Village Panchayats
    List II
    A) Andhra Pradesh
    B) Assam
    C) Mizoram
    D) Meghalaya
    Codes:

    1. AI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
    2. BI-A, II-B, III-D, IV-C
    3. CI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
    4. DI-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
20. 20.

    UPSC 2000

    The 73rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1992 refers to the

    1. Ageneration of gainful employment for the unemployed and the underemployed men and women in rural area
    2. Bgeneration of employment for the able-bodied adults who are in need and desirous of work during the lean agricultural season
    3. Claying the foundation for strong and vibrant Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country
    4. Dguarantee of right to life, liberty and security of person, equality before law and equal protection without discrimination
21. 21.

    UPSC 1999

    In the new Panchayati Raj Bill enacted in 1993, there are several fresh provisions deviating from the past.
    Which one of the following is not one such provision?

    1. AA number of added responsibilities in the area of agriculture, rural development, primary education and social forestry among others.
    2. BElections being made mandatory for all posts at the time they are due.
    3. CA statutory representation for women in the panchayats, up to a third of the strength.
    4. DRegular remuneration to the panchayat members, so as to ensure their punctuality and accountability.
22. 22.

    UPSC 1998

    Panchayati Raj was first introduced in India in October 1959 in

    1. ARajasthan
    2. BTamil Nadu
    3. CKerala
    4. DKarnataka
23. 23.

    UPSC 1997

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

    1. AThirty per cent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all levels
    2. BThe States will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayati Raj Institutions
    3. CThe Panchayati Raj elected functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
    4. DThe elections will be held in six months’ time if Panchayati Raj bodies are super-ceded or dissolved by the State government
24. 24.

    UPSC 1996

    What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj setup?

    1. ASingle tier structure of local self-government at the village level
    2. BTwo-tier system of local self-government at the village and block levels
    3. CThree tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
    4. DFour tier system of local self-government at the village, block, district and state levels
25. 25.

    UPSC 1995

    89.
    Which one of the following is incorrect in respect of Local Government in India?

    1. AAccording to the Indian Constitution, local government is not an independent tier in the federal system
    2. B30% of the seats in local bodies are reserved for women
    3. CLocal government finances are to be provided by a Commission
    4. DElections to local bodies are to be determined by a Commission
26. 26.

    UPSC 2026

    Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India :
    1. Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
    2. Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes.
    3. The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
    Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

    1. AThere are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
    2. BThere are two correct statements, that are statements 1 and 3.
    3. CThere is only one correct statement.
    4. DAll three statements are correct.
27. 27.

    UPSC 2026

    Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct ?
    1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026.
    2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
    3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories.
    Select the answer using the code given below :

    1. A1 and 2
    2. B2 only
    3. C1 and 3
    4. D2 and 3
28. 28.

    UPSC 2024

    Which of the following statements are correct about the Constitution of India?
    1. Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.
    2. Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
    3. Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3