Q20. Which amendment conferred constitutional status on Panchayati Raj institutions?
[SSC MTS (2020 examination cycle) | 2021]
A. 86th Amendment, 2002
B. 71st Amendment, 1992
C. 73rd Amendment, 1992
D. 92nd Amendment, 2003
Answer: (C) 73rd Amendment, 1992
Explanation: The Seventy-third Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule, providing constitutional backing to Panchayati Raj institutions. It made arrangements for elected representation, fixed tenure, reservation and local election supervision. The amendment took effect in April 1993.
Q19. Which ministry is the nodal authority for implementing the SVAMITVA scheme?
[SSC CGL (2020 examination cycle) | 2021]
A. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
B. Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
C. Ministry of Education
D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
Answer: (A) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Explanation: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj leads SVAMITVA, a programme for surveying village residential areas and providing records of property ownership. Such records can improve rural land administration, empower residents and strengthen the information base used by local government.
Q18. How many Panchayati Raj tiers operate in Madhya Pradesh?
[MPPSC Assistant Engineer | 2021]
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. None
Answer: (B) Three
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh uses the three-tier Panchayati Raj framework: Gram Panchayat, Janpad or Panchayat Samiti level, and Zila Panchayat or district tier. The system is grounded in Part IX and state legislation governing rural democratic institutions and local development.
Q17. Organisation of village Panchayats originally appears in which constitutional category?
[UPSSSC PET | 2021]
A. Fundamental Rights
B. Fundamental Duties
C. Directive Principles of State Policy
D. None of these
Answer: (C) Directive Principles of State Policy
Explanation: Article 40, in Part IV, instructs the state to organise village Panchayats and empower them as institutions of self-government. The later Seventy-third Amendment added detailed provisions in Part IX. Therefore the original constitutional direction is a Directive Principle.
Q16. Which Part contains India’s Panchayati Raj provisions?
[UPPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination | 2020]
A. Part IX
B. Part VI
C. Part III
D. Part IV-A
Answer: (A) Part IX
Explanation: Part IX of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the Seventy-third Amendment, addresses Panchayat institutions. It incorporates Articles 243 to 243O. Part VI concerns state government, Part III concerns Fundamental Rights and Part IV-A lists Fundamental Duties.
Q15. What was the award period of Rajasthan’s Fifth State Finance Commission?
[Rajasthan Police Constable | 2020]
A. 2016–2021
B. 2017–2022
C. 2015–2020
D. 2014–2019
Answer: (C) 2015–2020
Explanation: Rajasthan’s Fifth State Finance Commission covered 2015–2020. State Finance Commissions periodically review fiscal arrangements for Panchayats and municipalities and make recommendations on revenue sharing and grants. Their constitutional framework is found in Articles 243I and 243Y.
Q14. How many tiers does India’s Panchayati Raj system generally have?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination | 2019]
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: (C) Three
Explanation: The generally recognised Panchayati Raj framework consists of Gram Panchayat at village level, Panchayat Samiti at block level and Zila Parishad at district level. Article 243B allows states with populations not exceeding twenty lakh to omit the intermediate tier.
Q13. Panchayati Raj primarily belongs to which legislative List?
[MPPSC State Service Preliminary Examination | 2019]
A. Union List
B. State List
C. Concurrent List
D. None of these
Answer: (B) State List
Explanation: Local government is a state subject under Entry 5 of the State List, although Part IX creates constitutional requirements binding the state framework. State legislatures therefore enact Panchayat laws and determine many functions and fiscal powers within constitutional limits.
Q12. At which place was Panchayati Raj first introduced in India?
[NVS Trained Graduate Teacher | 2019]
A. Hyderabad
B. Jaipur
C. Shadnagar
D. Nagaur
Answer: (D) Nagaur
Explanation: Nagaur in Rajasthan hosted the inauguration of Panchayati Raj on 2 October 1959. The event followed the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee’s recommendations and symbolised a move toward district, block and village rural self-government rather than only administrative centralisation.
Q11. Which authority conducts municipal and Panchayat elections?
[HP TGT Arts Teacher Eligibility Test | 2018]
A. State Government directly
B. Union Government
C. State Election Commission
D. Election Commission of India
Answer: (C) State Election Commission
Explanation: The State Election Commission independently supervises electoral rolls and elections for local government institutions. Articles 243K and 243ZA provide the constitutional basis for Panchayats and municipalities respectively. Election Commission of India responsibilities concern different constitutional elections.
