MCQs on Local Government of India for Govt. Exams

• Gram Sabha is mentioned in Article 243 A of the Indian Constitution.
• Gram Sabha is a Village assembly consisting of registered voters in the area of Panchayat.
• Gram Sabha meets twice a year.
• It will exercise such powers and functions at the village level as the State Legislature may by law provide.

• Article 243 B
  • Deals with the Constitution of Panchayats.
  • Three-tier system
  • Comprises of Gram Panchyat (village level), Janpad Panchayat (block level), and Zila Panchayat (district level).
• Article 243 C
  • Deals with the Composition of Panchayats.
  • All the members of Panchyat are elected directly by the people.
  • Chairperson at the village level is elected in such a manner as a State legislature may determine by the law.
  • Chairperson at block and district level is elected indirectly by and from amongst the elected members thereof.
• Article 243 D
  • Deals with the Reservation of Seats.
  • It includes reserved seats for SC's and STs, Women, and Backward Classes.

• Gram Sabha in Madhya Pradesh has 4 compulsory sittings every year.
• These sittings take place on 15th August, 26th January, 2 October, and 30 January.
• After 2013, one additional sitting of Gram Sabha in the state is also organized on the birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar i.e. 14th April.

• Article 243 of the Indian Constitution is related to provisions of the Panchayati Raj.
• The 73^rd Amendment 1992 added a new Part IX to the constitution titled “The Panchayats” covering provisions from Article 243 to 243(O).

• Gram panchayat is the grassroots level of panchayat raj formalized local self-governance system in India.​
• Gram Panchayat consists of a village or a group of villages divided into smaller units called “Wards”.
• Each ward selects or elects a representative who is known as the Panch or ward member.
• The members of the Gram Sabha elect the ward members through a direct election.
• The Sarpanch or the president of the Gram Panchayat is elected by the ward members as per the State Act.
• The Sarpanch and the Panch are elected for a period of five years.
• Gram Panchayat is governed by the elected body and administration.
• The secretary is normally in charge of the administrative duties of the Gram Panchayat.

Thus, we can conclude that Gram Panchayat is composed of Ward Panch and Sarpanch.

• The increasing level of governance is as follows: Gram sabha < Panchayat Samiti < Zila Parishad.
• Panchayat Raj system means rural local self-government.
• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the Panchayat Raj system.
• This system in India was constitutionalized through the 73rd amendment act of 1992.
• This is a three-tier system-
  • Gram panchayat at the village level
  • Panchayat Samiti at the block level
  • Zila Parishad at the district level
• The Panchayat Samiti is the executive body.
• The Zila Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating, and supervisory body.

• In order to get elected as a member of a Panchayat, one needs to attain the minimum age of 21 years.
• Apart from that, any person should be qualified enough to be a member of the State Legislature or Panchayat.
• Panchayats are formed to continue for a period of 5 years from the date of their first meeting, but they can be dissolved as per the prevailing law of the state.

• As per the Indian Constitution, any individual, male or female of ages 21 and above are eligible for contesting elections in the Panchayat.
• The age criteria for MLA election:
  • not less than 25 years of age to be a member of the Legislative Assembly
  • not less than 30 years as per Article 173 of the Indian Constitution to be a member of the Legislative Council.

Panchayati Raj was introduced to the Indian Constitution by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

• There are three tiers in the Panchayati Raj structure.
• These 3 tiers are Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad, and Panchayat Samiti.
• The term of Panchayat is 5 years.
• Gram Panchayat is at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zila Parishad at the district level.

The Constitution of India is grouped into 25 parts which are as follows:-

• At present there are 6 fundamental rights which are as follows:-
  • Right to Equality (Article 14 to 18)
  • Right to Freedom (Article 19 to 22)
  • Right against exploitation (Article 23 to 24)
  • Right to freedom of religion (Article 25 to 28)
  • Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29 to 30)
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32 to 35)
• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar said Article 32 as Heart and Soul of the Constitution of India.
• When the Constitution was made, there were 7 Constitutional rights but the 44th Constitutional Amendment,1978 removed the Right to property.

• A Gram Panchayat is the local-self-governance system formalized by the grassroots level of Panchayati Raj in India at a small-town or village level.
• A Sarpanch is its elected head. The term of the elected representatives in a Gram Panchayat is 5 years.
• There are three tiers in the Panchayati Raj structure.
  • Gram Panchayat
  • Zila Parishad
  • Panchayat Samiti.
• Gram Panchayat is at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level.
• A Gram Panchayat covers one or more villages.
• Panchayat Samitis are indirectly elected bodies, in most cases.
• The jurisdiction of Zila Parishad extends over a district. The District collector heads the Zila Parishad at the district level.
• The Panchayati raj institutions were constitutionalized through the 73rd amendment Act 1992.
• Rajasthan was the first state to ratify and set up the Panchayati raj institution in the country.

• The Panchayati Raj System was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan.
• Panchayati Raj -
  • It is a system of local self-government in India.
  • It was put in force in 1992 through the 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution.
  • The system has three levels:
    • Gram Panchayat (village level),
    • Mandal Parishad or Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti (block level),
    • Zila Parishad (district level)
  • Currently, the system exists in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, and in all Union Territories except Delhi.
  • The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Nagaur district on 2 Oct 1959.
  • List of committees constituted for recommendations regarding Panchayati Raj in India: -
    • Balwant Rai Mehta, 1957
    • V.T. Krishnammachari, 1960
    • Takhatmal Jain Study Group, 1966
    • Ashok Mehta Committee, 1978
    • G.V.K. Rao Committee, 1985
    • Dr. L.M. Singhvi Committee, 1986
    • P.K. Thungon Committee,1989
    • S. Mohinder Singh, 2013

• The election to constitute a Panchayat should be completed before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.
• Article 243E:
  • Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
  • No amendment of any law for the time being in force shall have the effect of causing dissolution of a Panchayat at any level, which is functioning immediately before such amendment, till the expiration of its duration specified in clause (1).
  • An election to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed-
    • before the expiry of its duration specified in clause (1).
    • before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.

• Article-243 (E) of the constitution prescribes the tenure of panchayats.

• Each panchayat will stay for 5 years from the date of its first meeting, but it can be dissolved even before time.
• If the panchayat is dissolved, it is compulsory to hold elections within 6 months.
• Elections will be held only if the tenure ends beyond 6 months, but if the tenure is less than 6 months, elections will not be held.

• As per Article 243D of the Indian Constitution, during elections for the Gram Panchayat, seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Out of the reserved seats, 1/3^rd has to be reserved for women who belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

• Panchayati Raj System is divided into 3(Three) levels of governance.
• National Panchayati Raj Day - 24 April
• Lord Ripon is known as Father of Local Self Government in India.

• Panchayati Raj was introduced to the Indian Constitution by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.
• There are three tiers in the Panchayati Raj structure.
• These 3 tiers are Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad, and Panchayat Samiti.
• Gram Panchayat is at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zila Parishad at the district level.

In India, the term 'Panchayati Raj' means the system of rural local self-government.

• It has been established in all the states of India by the Acts of the State Legislatures to build democracy at the grass-root level.
• It was constitutionalised through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992.

The first state to establish Panchayati Raj was Rajasthan.

• The scheme was inaugurated by the Prime-minister on October 2, 1959, in Nagaur district.
• Rajasthan was followed by Andhra Pradesh, which also adopted the system in 1959.
• Thereafter, most of the states adopted the system.

From the above, it is clear that Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj.

• In the year 1957, the Government of India appointed the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (B R Mehta Committee).
• The B R Mehta Committee was appointed to look into the functioning of CDP and NES. The B R Mehta Committee submitted the report in November 1957.
• The Committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘Democratic Decentralization” and the Panchayati Raj.
• The recommendations were accepted by the National Development Council in January 1958.
• Rajasthan was the first state to establish the Panchayati Raj in India on October 2, 1959.

Recommendation of Balwant Rai Mehta Committee:

• B R Mehta Committee recommended the establishment of a 3-tier structure Panchayati Raj system:
  • Gram (village) Panchayat – Village Level
  • Panchayati Samiti – Block Level
  • Zilla Parishad – District Level
• The Village Panchayat should be constituted with directly elected representatives.
• The Panchayat Samiti should be constituted with indirectly elected members.
• The Zilla Parishad also to be constituted with indirectly elected members.
• All the planning and development activities should be entrusted to the Panchayati raj bodies.
• The Panchayati Samiti should be the executive body.
• The Zilla Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating, and supervisory body.
• The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zilla Parishad.
• There should be a genuine transfer of powers and responsibility to these democratic bodies.
• These bodies should be transferred with adequate resources.
• A system should be evolved for the further devolution of authority in the future.
• The National Development Council (NDC) accepted the recommendations in January 1958.
• The NDC said that the basic principles should be identical throughout the country.

• The State Election Commissions constituted under the Constitution for each State / Union Territory are vested with the powers of conduct of elections to the Corporations, Municipalities, Zilla Parishads, District Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Gram Panchayats and other local bodies.
• State Election Commissioner through its Nodal officers conducts the election of Gram Panchayat
• the tenure of Gram Panchyat is 5 years.
• The first meeting of elected members is considered as the date of commencement of the functioning of the Gram Panchayat.
• The Gram Panchayats has a direct democracy.
• The constitutional authority to the Panchayats is given by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992. which has added the 11^th Schedule in the Constitution.

• The fundamental object of the Panchayati Raj system is to ensure
  • People's participation in the development
  • Democratic decentralization.

• The 73^rd constitutional amendment has made the following provisions mandatory:
  • Every registered voter in the electoral rolls of the village is part of the village assembly.
  • Democratic Decentralisation was the main reason for the local self-government which came to be known as Panchayati Raj Institutions. Hence statement 2 is correct.

• Financial mobilization was never in provisions of the Panchayati raj system for the establishment of Panchayati Raj.
  • Local financial mobilization (by way of octroi taxes etc. ) is the outcome of the establishment of the PRIs, not its objective.
• Political accountability can be ensured in any system which is democratic or rule-based, it need not necessarily be via a local body.

• Simply the provisions of the 73^rd and 74^th constitution amendments have been centered around 3D's (Delegation, decentralization, and devolution).
  • Delegation:
    • Transfer of administration power.
  • Decentralisation:
    • It is the reality that has been achieved, includes the transfer of administration and financial power.
  • Devolution:
    • It is the dream to be achieved in the future, includes the transfer of power to local bodies.

The appropriate priority order is as follows: Gram Sabha< Panchayat Samiti< District Council.

Gram Sabha: A gram panchayat (village council) is the only grassroots-level of panchayati raj formalised local self-governance system in India at the village or small-town level, and has a sarpanch as its elected head.

Panchayat Samiti: Mandals, taluka panchayats, block panchayats, or panchayat samiti are rural local governments (panchayats) at the intermediate level in panchayat raj institutions (PRI).

• Decentralization of power refers to the transfer of responsibility and authority from the central government to the local government groups.
• The Panchayati Raj system generally consists of three-level Gram Panchayat at the village level,Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate level, and Zilla Panchayat at the district level
• The decentralization of Panchayati Raj is suggested by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, established in 1957.
• The state legislature may endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government. Such a scheme may contain provisions related to Gram Panchayat work with respect to:
  • the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
  • the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them, including those in relation to the 29 matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.
• The importance is the Panchayati Raj institutes in local government that plays a significant role in the development of villages.

• 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 added the Panchayati Raj system.
  • The amendment added the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
• 61st Amendment Act, 1989 lowered the voting age of elections to the Lok Sabha and to the Legislative Assemblies of States from 21 years to 18 years.
• The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 provided the right to education as a Fundamental Right under Article 21A.
• 71st Amendment Act, 1992 amended the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution to include Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali languages.

• Panchayati Raj is a form of local government for villages.
• The election commission is a constitutional body responsible for holding elections in India. It is a constitutional body in India.
• Central Information Commission is a non-constitutional body set up under the Right to Information act to act upon complaints from those individuals who have not been able to submit information requests to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer.

• All the members of the Panchayat at village, intermediate & district levels shall be elected directly by the people.
• All the members of a Municipality are to be directly elected by the people of the Municipal area and for the purpose of making the electorate; the municipal area is divided into territorial constituencies known as Wards.
• The Chairperson of Panchayat (at intermediate & district levels) shall be elected indirectly by & among the elected members thereof.
• The Chairperson of Panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such a manner as the state legislature determines.

• A Gram Panchayat is the grassroots-level of Panchayati Raj formalised local self-governance system in India at the village or small-town level divided into wards
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (April1993) provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India through insertion of Article 243 to Part IX of Indian Constitution.
• National Panchayati Raj Day - 24 April
• Minister of Panchayati Raj(June 2018) - Narendra Singh Tomar

National Panchayati Raj Day - 24 April

• The Panchayati Raj System is described in Part IX of the Indian Constitution.
• Rajasthan is the first state where this system was first implemented in 1959 in Nagaur District.
• Later, it also became the first state to have this system placed in all the districts of the state.
• The 73rd Amendment 1992 is associated with this system in India.

• The grassroots level of Panchayati Raj is Gram Panchayat.
• The gram panchayat is divided into wards and each ward is represented by ward Member known as Panchayat member.
• The panchayat president is known as Sarpanch.
• The representatives are elected for a term of five years.
• Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member (Panch). All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect a Sarpanch who is the Panchayat President.
• The Gram Panchayat is elected for five years. The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha.
• This person is not an elected person but is appointed by the government. The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings

• Schedule 11 was added in the constitution by 73rd amendment in 1992. Contains provisions of Panchayati Raj.
• The 11th Schedule of the Constitution of India distributes powers between the State Legislatures and the Panchayat.
• This schedule contains 29 subjects.
• The eleventh Schedule contains the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats.
• PRI was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grassroots level.

• After Independence, Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj.
• The scheme was inaugurated by then by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 October 1959 at Nagaur in Rajasthan.

• Rajasthan was the first state to introduce the panchayat system in India after independence.
• Constitutional 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 provides constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
• This amendment contains provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities to the panchayats by state governments.
• Panchayat has 29 subjects listed in the eleventh schedule of the constitution.
• The Act aims to provide a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj.

• All the members of the Gram Sabha elect a Sarpanch who is the panchayat head.
• The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat.
• The Gram Panchayat is elected for five years.
• The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha.

• Important committees related to the development of Panchayati Raj:
  • Balwant Rai Mehta.
  • Ashok Mehta Committee.
  • G.V.K. Rao Committee.

• The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by a Panchayat.
• This could be only one village or a few villages. In some states, as in the example above, a village meeting is held for each village.
• Anyone who is 18 years old or more and who has the right to vote is a member of the Gram Sabha.
• Every village Panchayat is divided into wards, i.e. smaller areas.
• Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member (Panch).
• All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect a Sarpanch who is the Panchayat President.
• The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat.
• The Gram Panchayat is elected for five years.
• The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha.
• This person is not an elected person but is appointed by the government.
• The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings

74th Constitutional Amendment:-

• The 74th Constitutional amendment act 1992 deals with the provisions related to the Municipalities.
• Part IXA (Schedule 12) of the Constitution of India deals with the Municipalities.
• The governance of urban areas by the people through the representatives elected by them signifies the term "Urban Local Government" in India.
• The jurisdiction of the Urban Local Government is limited to specific Urban areas demarcated for this purpose by the State Government.
• The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 Constitutionalized the system of Urban Local Government.
• The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 contains 18 subjects. It gives Municipalities Constitutional status and brings them under Judicial review.
• There are eight types of Urban Local Bodies in India:
  • Special Purpose agency
  • Township
  • Municipality
  • Notified area committee
  • Municipal Corporation
  • Town area committee
  • Cantonment Board

73rd Constitutional Amendment:-

• Panchayati Raj system is the system that ensures the participation of individuals at the grass-root level.
• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 is related to the Panchayati Raj system.
• Rajasthan is the first state to implement the Panchayati Raj system on 2nd October 1959 in its Nagaur district.
• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended 3- tier structure consisting of
  • Zilla Parishad at the District Level
  • Panchayat Samiti at the Block Level
  • Gram Panchayat at the Village Level

• Ashok Mehta Committee appointed in December 1977 by Janata Party Government in 1978 submitted its report stating replacement of 3-tier system by a 2-tier system consisting of Mandal Panchayats at the base and Zila Parishad at the top.

• The chairman of the Gram Panchayat at the village level is called Pradhan. He is directly elected by the Gram Sabha.
• The chairman of the Panchayat Samiti is called Block Pramukh. He is indirectly elected.
• The election at the Panchayat Raj level is done by the State Election Commission.
• Part IX (Schedule 11) of the Constitution of India deals with the Panchayati Raj system.

A Patwari is a post in rural administration who is in charge of keeping records of land.

• He/she usually solve land disputes between farmers or villagers.

• This idea of people's participation in the Panchayati Raj system extends to two other levels.
• One is the Block level, which is called the JanpadPanchayat or the Panchayat Samiti.
• The Panchayat Samiti has many GramPanchayats under it.
• Above the Panchayat Samiti is the District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad.
• The Zila Parishad actually makes developmental plans at the district level.
• With the help of Panchayat Samitis, it also regulates the money distribution among all the Gram Panchayats.

• Panchayat and Municipality are the generic terms for the governing body at the local level. Both exist as three-tier systems – at the lower, intermediate, and upper levels.
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment act provides for a Gram Sabha as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system. It is essentially a village assembly consisting of all the registered voters in the area of the panchayat. The state has the power to determine what kind of powers it can exercise, and what functions it has to perform at the village level.

• The 74th Constitutional Amendment act provides for three types of Municipalities:
  • ​Nagar Panchayat for a transitional area between a rural and urban area.
  • Municipal Council for a small urban area.
  • Municipal Corporation for a large urban area.
• Municipalities represent urban local self-government.
• Most of the provisions of the two acts are parallel, differing only in the fact that they are being applied to either a Panchayat or a Municipality respectively.
• Each Gram sabha is the meeting of a particular constituency called a ward.
• Each ward has a representative chosen from among the people themselves by direct election.
• The chairperson of the Panchayat or Municipality at the intermediate and district level are elected from among these representatives at the immediately lower level by indirect election.

• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was a committee originally appointed by the Government of India to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service.
• The committee was formed on 16^th January 1957.
• Balwant Rai Mehta was the Chairman of this committee.
• The establishment of a 3-tier Panchayati Raj system is one of the main recommendations of this committee.
• The 3-tier system recommended by this committee is:
  1. Gram Panchayat at the village level.
  2. Panchayat Samiti at the block level.
  3. Zila Parishad at the district level.

Other important recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee are:

• The Panchayat Samiti should be the executive body while the Zila Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating, and supervisory body.
• The District Collector should be the Chairman of the Zila Parishad.

• Panchayati Raj was first envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi as part of democratic decentralization.
• It was introduced by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 2^nd October 1959 in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
• Balvant Rai Mehta is known as the "father of Panchayati Raj" in India.

• The Zila Parishad, with the help of the Panchayat Samitis, regulates the money distribution among all the Gram Panchayats.
• It is also responsible for making developmental plans at the district level.
• Gram Sabha is a primary and permanent body of the Panchayati Raj System.
• People of the village use this forum to discuss their issues and make need-based plans for the village.

• Gram Sabha
  • ​A group called the Gram Sabha is made up of everyone whose name appears on the village-level Panchayat electoral rolls. The Indian Constitution's Article 243(b) defines the phrase.
  • According to the Constitution, Gram Sabha carries out any duties and wields any authority granted by a State's legislature at the local level. To aid in the Panchayat's development plans and programmes' implementation.
• Secretary of Gram Panchayat
  • In India, there is a Panchayat Secretary for each village.
  • The Gram Sabha will be in charge of the Secretary, and he will carry out any tasks that are given to him by the Gram Sabha. All obligations imposed by the Panchayat Raj Act are the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat Secretary.
• Sarpanch
  • The Gram Panchayat is made up of the Ward Panch and the Sarpanch.
  • A Sarpanch, who serves as the Panchayat President, is further chosen by all of the Gram Sabha members.
  • Five years are up for election for the Gram Panchayat.
  • The Secretary of the Gram Sabha also serves as the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat.

• Panchayati Raj Subject falls under the state list.
• The 73^rd Amendment 1992 added Part IX to the constitution.
• It titled “The Panchayats” covering provisions from Article 243 to 243 (O).
• It also added a new Eleventh Schedule.

• Eleventh Schedule:
  • This schedule contains 29 subjects.
  • Animal husbandry, dairying, and poultry, fisheries industry are the example of some subjects under the Eleventh Schedule.
• Twelfth Schedule:
  • The Twelfth Schedule was added by the 74^th Amendment Act of 1992.
  • The Twelfth Schedule contains the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities.
  • The Twelfth schedule has 18 items.

• The first elections under the Rajasthan Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads Act, 1959, were held in September-October 1959.
• On 2 October 1959, under the Rajasthan Panchayat Act, 1953, the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj began functioning with the already existing Panchayats at the village level.
• The Panchayat Raj system was first introduced by the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act of 1947 in the state of Bihar.
• It was an enduring trend of local self-government, introduced in the British period by Lord Ripon. It was later introduced by Rajasthan in Nagaur district on 2 Oct 1959.
• After independence, Rajasthan was the first state to adopt the panchayat system in India.
• The ninth state was Maharashtra.
• It also formed the support for the definition in the Indian Constitution with the 73rd amendment in 1992.
• The Constitutional Act 1992 (73rd amendment) came into force in the history of Panchayati Raj, India, on 24 April 1993, to provide the institutions of Panchayati Raj with constitutional status.
• This clause was added to the Panchayats as of 24 December 1996 in the eight tribal districts of eight states, namely: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

• A committee formed by the Government of India in January 1957 to evaluate the function of the Cooperative Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and recommend steps to strengthen their function was the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, led by MP Balwantrai Mehta.
• The report of the committee was adopted in January 1958 by the NDC, and this set the stage for the nationwide introduction of Panchayati Raj institutions.
• The committee proposed that the structure of 'democratic decentralization' be developed, which gradually came to be known as Panchayati Raj.

• The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution contains 29 functional items placed within the purview of the Panchayats.
• The list of the items is given below :
  • Agriculture
  • Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, soil conservation
  • Minor irrigation, water management
  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and poultry
  • Fisheries
  • Social Forestry and farm forestry
  • Minor Forest Produce
  • Small Scale industries
  • Khadi, village, and cottage industries
  • Rural Housing
  • Drinking-Water
  • Fuel and Fodder
  • Road, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways, etc.
  • Rural Electrification
  • Non-conventional energy sources
  • Poverty alleviation program
  • Education
  • Technical training
  • Adult and non-formal education
  • Libraries
  • Cultural activities
  • Markets and fairs
  • Health and sanitation
  • Family Welfare
  • Women and Child Development
  • Social Welfare
  • The welfare of weaker sections
  • PDS
  • Maintenance of community assets

Municipal Corporation is a local government body that governs larger urban areas with a population of more than one million.

Municipal Council is a local government body for Towns and cities. Nagar Panchayat is a council that helps in the transformation from rural to urban.

• Before abrogating article 370, the three-tier structure was not available in Jammu and Kashmir.

• But like other parts of the country, now the Panchayati raj three-tier structure will be set up in the territory.
• District Development Council (DDC) will be set up, as per the orders of the Home Minister of India.
• District development Council (DDC), Halqa dalat, and Block Development Council will now constitute the three-tier structure in the union territory.
• The three-tier Panchayati raj system will be operative there now.
• It was not operative earlier.

• Part IX (“The Panchayats”) of the Constitution covers provisions from Article 243 to 243(O).
• The eleventh Schedule covers 29 subjects within the functions of the Panchayats.
• Provisions for disqualifications from the membership of Panchayat are mentioned in Article 243F. Some of the Articles and their matter of subject are mentioned below:

• Article 243A – Gram Sabha; Article 243B - Constitution of Panchayats; Article 243C - Composition of Panchayats; etc.

• Bihar is one of the states that have implemented 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. States like Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, etc. have also implemented the same.

• The three-tier scheme of Panchayati Raj began functioning on October 2, 1959.
• The Panchayati Raj system was constitutionalized in India through the 73^rd constitutional amendment in 1992.
• Panchayati Raj was first introduced in India on 2nd October 1959 in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.

• First of all the Panchayati Raj system was established in Nagaur, Rajasthan (on 2 October 1959) after which Andhra Pradesh adopted this system.
• Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were the first two states to adopt Panchayati raj in 1959, other states followed them later.

• Its main objective is to ensure public participation and democratic decentralization in development.
• The local self-government of villages in rural India which was introduced by the 73rdconstitutional amendment in 1992 is generally referred to as the Panchayati Raj.
• In the present era, the Panchayati Raj functions as a system of governance in which the gram panchayats are the basic units that deal with the village-level administration.
• Basically, there are three levels of Panchayati Raj
  • Gram Panchayat (village level)
  • Panchayat Samiti (block level)
  • Zila Parishad (district level)
• The Panchayati Raj system prevails in all states of India except the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, and in all Union Territories except Delhi.

• Basically, the Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system that includes the Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
• The local self-government of villages in rural India which was introduced by the 73^rd Constitutional amendment in 1992 is generally referred to as the Panchayati Raj.
• In the present era, the Panchayati Raj functions as a system of governance in which the gram panchayats are the basic units that deal with the village level administration.
• The Panchayati Raj system prevails in all states of India except the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, and in all Union Territories except Delhi.

Part IX of the constitution deals with Panchyati raj institutions. Panchayat in India receives funds in the following ways:

• Grants from the union government after the recommendation of the Central Finance Commission under Article 280 of the constitution.
• Loans and grants from the state government.
• Devolution of funds by the state government based on the recommendation of State Finance Commission under Article 243-I.
• Specific allocation by the central government for some particular centrally sponsored scheme.
• Internal tax and non-tax collection.

• Gram panchayat secretary will maintain the records at the Gram Panchayat level.
• The panchayat is chaired by the president of the village, known as a Sarpanch.
• The Secretary of the panchayat is a non-elected representative.
• The Secretary of the panchayat is appointed by the state government.

The important functions of a Gram Panchayat:

• Providing an adequate number of street lights.
• Ensuring prompt registration and reporting of birth and deaths.
• Ensuring universal enrollment of children in primary school
• Achieving universal immunization of children.
• Providing sanitation and proper drainage.
• Construction, repair, and maintenance of public streets.
• Maintenance of records relating to the population census, crop census, cattle census.
• Drinking water.

• Article 243D contains provisions for giving due representation to SC/ST and Women in the Village Panchayat.
• Panchayati Raj Diwas is celebrated every year on 24^th April.
• A separate Ministry of Panchayati Raj was created in the year 2004.
• The “Local Government” is mentioned in the State list under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

• The minimum age requirement (Prescribed by the Constitution) for being a member of a panchayat is 21 years.
• Panchayat is the local government body in India.
• Three levels of Panchayat are Gram Panchayat (village level), Mandal Parishad or Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
• Members of the panchayat must be registered voters in the electoral roll of that Gram Panchayat.
• The Panchayat elections at the local level are held every five years.
• The power to conduct local elections has been vested with the state election commissions.
• It is called Taluka Panchayat in Gujarat and Mandal Panchayat in Karnataka.

• Article 243 - of PART -IX of the Indian constitution introduces Panchayati Raj, which was given constitutional status through the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 and added it to the 11th Schedule.

• The 3 tier Panchayati Raj system of administration was introduced by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 1958, dividing into Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at Tehsil/Taluka level and Zila Parishad at District level.
• Mehta report was based on democratic decentralization of administration in India.
• Rajasthan was the first state to implement in India and then Hyderabad.
• Santhanam Committee, 1963 followed Balwant rai committee.
• In 1977, Ashok Mehta committee a 13 member committee reduced to 2 tier system from 3 tier system of Balwant Rai Mehta report.
• In 1986, LM Singhvi Committee formed under PM Rajiv Gandhi JD(U) recommended constitutional status to Panchayats.
• On April 24, 1993, Panchayati Raj was given a constitutional status through the 73rd Amendment Act, 1993 and added to 11the Schedule of Indian constitution.
• Therefore, April 24 is celebrated as Panchayat Day every year.

• Every Panchayat can continue for 5 years from the date of its first meeting. It can be dissolved earlier in accordance with State law.
• A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution, continues only for the remainder of the period. But if the remainder of the period is less than 6 months it is not necessary to hold elections.
• The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
• The Panchayati Raj system is for only those states having a population of more than 20 lakhs.
• The first gram panchayat of India was at Nagaur district of Rajasthan.

• Nagar Nigam is an Urban Local Body.
• The 74th amendment made the provisions relating to urban local governments (Nagar palikas). The members of the Nagar Palika are elected representatives for a term of five years.

As per the Constitution of India, a Nagar Nigam or Municipal Corporation has the powers to impose the following taxes:

1. House Tax (Property Tax): Article 243W read with 12th Schedule of the Constitution provides taxation on lands and buildings within the jurisdiction of the municipality as a function to be devolved to the municipalities. This allows municipal corporations to impose house tax or property tax.
2. Toll Tax:
   Article 243W read with Article 243X empowers municipalities to levy taxes on vehicles (other than motor vehicles) and boats. This provision allows municipal corporations to impose toll taxes within their jurisdictions.
3. Entertainment Tax: Article 243W read with Article 243X empowers municipalities to levy taxes on entertainments and amusements. This provision grants the power to municipal corporations to impose entertainment tax on things like movie tickets.

So in summary, as per the Constitution of India, a Nagar Nigam or Municipal Corporation can impose house tax, toll tax as well as entertainment tax. All the above mentioned taxes can be levied by a municipal body. This distribution of fiscal powers allows local governments to raise revenues to discharge functions entrusted to them under the Constitution.

• Nagar Panchayat controls the transitional areas (from rural to urban).
• Each Nagar Panchayat comprises of a committee that has a Mayor as its head and other ward members. The functions of Nagar Panchayat is to provide essential facilities and services to the urban area, supply water to every ward, maintain records of births and deaths, and many more.

Municipal council:

• A Municipal Council is constituted of a smaller urban area.
• It is the highest governing body of a municipality.
• Members of the council make all the major decisions affecting the municipality. This includes decisions on education, the construction of new buildings or tax levels.

Municipal corporation:

• A Municipal Corporation is constituted for a larger urban area.
• The urban local government which works for the development of any Metropolitan City with a population of more than one million is known as the Municipal Corporation in India.
• The members of the Municipal Corporation are directly elected by the people and are called Councillors.
• Municipal Corporations are local-level governments in India.
• It’s also called Mahanagar Palika, Nagar Palika, Nagar Nigam, City Corporation, etc.

• Panchayat Samiti at the block level is an Administrative Authority which is responsible for enforcing a law and carrying it into effect.
• The Panchayati institution of our country is a three-tier system consisting of a Gram Panchayat at the lowest level, Zila Parishad at the district level and Panchayat Samiti at the Block level.

• Rajasthan was the first state to establish a Panchayati Raj system in 1959.
• The date was 2nd October, as it is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Panchayati raj system was the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and it is included in the directive principle of the state policy of the Indian constitution.
• Panchayat Raj system means rural local self-government.
• This system in India was constitutionalized through the 73rd amendment act of 1992.

• This is a three tire system-
  • Gram panchayat at the village level
  • Panchayat Samiti at the block level
  • Zila Parishad at the district level
• The Panchayat Samiti is the executive body.
• The Zila Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating, and supervisory body.

• 73rd Constitution Amendment Act 1992 inserted Part IX (The Panchayats) in the Indian Constitution.
• Article 243, 243A to 243O under Part IX has been included in the Indian Constitution.
• Article 243D deals with the reservation of seats in the Panchayats. It says that not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• 74rd Constitution Amendment Act 1992 inserted Part IXA (The Municipality) in the Indian Constitution.
• Article 243p to 243Z and 243ZA to 243ZG under Part IXA have been included in the Indian Constitution.
• Article 243T deals with the reservation of seats in The Municipality. It says that not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Article243E:- Duration of Panchayats.
  • Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
• Article 243U:- Duration of Municipalities.
  • Every Municipality, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer Provided that a Municipality shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before its dissolution. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Few states like Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and some other tribes area don’t have a three-tier system of government. The act does not apply to these areas. Hence statement 1 is Not correct.

• Zila Parishad or District Level Panchayat makes the top tier of the Panchayati Raj System.
  • It is headed by an IAS officer, who is CEO of Zila Parishad.
  • Its function is to look at the working of all Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats under the district.
  • It executes welfare programs at the district level.
  • Zila Parishad or Mandal Parishad is an elected body, It's members are elected for a term of five years.

• Panchayat Samiti or Block Panchayat or Janpad Panchayat:
  • It is the local rural government body at Taluka or Tehsil level.
  • Panchayat Samiti is elected for a term of five years.
  • It acts as a link between Zila Parishad and gram Panchayat.
  • It is the second tier of local rural government.
• Gram Panchayat:
  • It is the first tier of rural local government.
  • A gram panchayat may include one or more villages.
• Gram Sabha:
  • It is a body constituting of all persons registered in the electoral roll of a village comprised within the area of panchayat at the village level.
• The Secretary of Gram Sabha:
  • It is not an elected member, he is appointed by the government.
  • Secretary calls meetings of gram sabha and keeps records of proceedings.

• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX to the constitution and gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj.
• Important articles, related to Panchayats are -

• The devolution grant shall be distributed to Village Panchayats, Panchayat Unions, and District Panchayats in the ratio of 60:32:8 respectively as recommended by the Third State Finance Commission.
• A minimum grant of Rs.3 lakhs to each Village Panchayat shall be provided as a measure of equalization, the balance amount shall be distributed based on population.
• The devolution grant shall be distributed within each tier of rural and urban local bodies based on the 2011 population.

• Every Panchayat has the right to receive grant-in-aid from the State Fund based on the recommendation made by the State Finance Commission.
• On the recommendation of the State Finance Commission, the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad can collect tax/fees as per the direction of the government.
• Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad respectively constitute Gram Panchayat Fund in the name of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti Fund in the name of Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad Fund in the name of Council, and deposit their funds in the deposit accounts.
• The Assigned/Shared revenues are one which is collected by State Government but transferred/shared to/with local bodies.
• The major sources of assigned/shared revenues to the rural local bodies are Local Cess, Local Cess Surcharge, Surcharge on Stamp duty, Entertainment tax, seigniorage fees, and lease amount of mines and minerals, and sale proceeds of Social Forestry plantations.

• Finance Commission:
  • Finance Commission is a constitutional body under Article 280 created every five years to recommend the transfer of financial resources from the Centre to the States.
  • The Commission also decides the principles on which grants-in-aid will be given to the States.
  • The 15th FC was constituted on November 27, 2017, and is headed by Mr. N.K. Singh.
• State Finance Commissions:
  • It is an institution created by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments to rationalize and systematize State/sub-State-level fiscal relations in India.
  • Article 243I of the Constitution mandated the State Governor to constitute a Finance Commission every five years.
  • Article 243Y of the Constitution states that the Finance Commission constituted under article 243I shall also review the financial position of the Municipalities and make recommendations to the Governor.

• Providing reservation of seats for backward classes
• Giving representation to MP’s, MLA’s and MLC’s in panchayat’s at different levels within their constituencies
• Granting powers and responsibilities to panchayat’s to function as self-government and to prepare plans for economic development and social justice
• Granting financial powers to panchayat’s to levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees

• PK Thungan Committee is related to Panchayati raj.
• In 1989 the P.K. Thungon Committee recommended constitutional recognition for the local government bodies.
• A constitutional amendment to provide for periodic elections to local government institutions, and enlistment of appropriate functions to them, along with funds, was recommended.

• Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is a system of rural local self-government in India.
• Local Self Government is the management of local affairs by such local bodies who have been elected by the local people.
• PRI was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grassroots level and was entrusted with the task of rural development in the country.
• In its present form and structure, PRI has completed 26 years of existence. However, a lot remains to be done in order to further decentralization and strengthen democracy at the grass-root level.

• Panchayat Raj system means rural local self-government.
• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the Panchayat Raj system.
• This system in India was constitutionalized through the 73rd amendment act of 1992.
• This is a three-tier system-
  • Gram panchayat at the village level
  • Panchayat Samiti at the block level
  • Zila Parishad at the district level
• The Panchayat Samiti is the executive body.
• The Zila Parishad should be the advisory, coordinating, and supervisory body.

• In local bodies, seats are reserved for SC and ST’s in consonance with their population
• Not less than 1/3^rd of the seats are reserved for women
• The state legislature may reserve seats for the members or chairpersons of other backward classes

• The Municipal Corporation Act in Madhya Pradesh was passed in 1956.
• The Municipal Corporation Act in Madhya Pradesh was passed through which all the urban areas of the state are ruled.
• The system was proved successful when it was given constitutional status by the 74^th constitutional amendment 1992.
• To enforce the 74^th constitutional amendment Madhya Pradesh Act 1994 was passed.

This act provides a three-level urban body system:

• Nagar Nigam
• Nagar Panchayat
• Nagar Palika

• The first urban administration in India was established in Madras.
• The first municipality of the state was established in Mount Abu in 1864.

• Municipality of the state:
  • Ajmer in 1866,
  • Beawar in 1867 and
  • Jaipur in 1869.

• In order to establish uniformity in municipal governance in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Municipality Act 1960 was implemented in Rajasthan by an ordinance.
• After independence, for the first time in 1951, the Rajasthan Municipal Act 1951 was enacted and uniformity in local urban administration was established throughout the state.
  • It was abolished in 1959 and the new Rajasthan Municipal Act 1950 was implemented.
• On 1 June 1993, the 74th Constitution Amendment came into force by which the institutions of local governance were given constitutional status.
  • Under this, Part IX-A (Articles 243 P To 243 Z) and 12th schedule is addedin the Constitution.

The Constitution of India is grouped into 25 parts which are as follows:-

• Panchayat Raj System in India aims to build democracy at the grass-root level.
• The term Panchayat Raj signifies the system of rural local self-government.
• Decentralized Democracy the main objective or motto of the Panchayat Raj System.
• The term Panchayat Raj was coined by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Panchayat Raj was constitutionalized through the 73^rd amendment act of 1992.
• The Panchayat Raj act came into force on 24^th April 1993.
• April 24 is observed as the national Panchayat Raj day since 2010.
• Article 40 under Part IV of the Indian Constitution mandates for the establishment of the Panchayat Raj institutions in India.
• Balwant Rai Mehta is known as the father of Panchayat Raj in India.

A tax on local fairs is the right answer .

• Each Gram Panchayat can levy taxes within its jurisdiction. These taxes are-
  • Service tax at the rate fixed by Gram Panchayat.
  • Toll tax
  • Fees for fairs held in or around the village
  • Tax on agricultural land

• The institution of Panchayati Raj was established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
• It is a rural self-governing body .
• Committees related to Panchayats-
  • Balwant Roy Mehta (1957)
  • Ashok Mehta Committee (1977)
  • Hanumantha Rao Committee (1983)
  • GVK Rao Committee (1985)
  • LM Singhvi Committee (1986)
  • PK Tungan Committee (1989)
  • Harlal Singh Kharra Committee (1990)
• Sales tax is levied by the state government

• The Gram Sabha prevents the Panchayat from doing wrong things which may include misusing money or favouring certain people.
• It keeps an eye on the elected representatives and in making them responsible to the persons who elected them.
• According to the Constitution, Gram Sabha carries out any duties and wields any authority granted by a State's legislature at the local level. To aid in the Panchayat's development plans and programmes' implementation.

• Secretary of Gram Panchayat
  • In India, there is a Panchayat Secretary for each village.
  • The Gram Sabha will be in charge of the Secretary, and he will carry out any tasks that are given to him by the Gram Sabha. All obligations imposed by the Panchayat Raj Act are the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat Secretary.
• Sarpanch
  • The Gram Panchayat is made up of the Ward Panch and the Sarpanch.
  • A Sarpanch, who serves as the Panchayat President, is further chosen by all of the Gram Sabha members.
  • Five years are up for election for the Gram Panchayat.
  • The Secretary of the Gram Sabha also serves as the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat.
• District Collector
  • ​The District Collector is the district's highest-ranking revenue official.
  • The district collector is a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
  • District collector bears the responsibility of administering a district.
  • The district collector is responsible for maintaining peace and order in the district, as well as issuing orders to prevent disorder and unrest.
  • The main functions of the District Collector are:
    • Supervise general administration.
    • Collect land revenue.
    • Maintain law and order in the district.
    • Maintenance of land records.
    • Providing relief work in case of emergencies like floods and famine.
    • Supervision of the working of the Panchayati Raj System.