Local Government — UPSC Prelims Polity previous year questions

Statement 1 is wrong. The Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26. It did not begin on 1 April 2021.
Statement 2 is correct. Its main aim is to build the governance capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions so they can deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Statement 3 is wrong. The Centre does not pay 100% for all States and Union Territories. States share part of the cost.
So 2 only.
Remember: RGSA is a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Source: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Revamped RGSA guidelines

None of the three statements is correct, so all are 'not correct'.
Statement I is incorrect. Under Article 243B, States with a population below 20 lakh need not set up the intermediate level.
Statement II is incorrect. The minimum age to be a Panchayat member is 21 years (Article 243F).
Statement III is incorrect. The Governor, not the Chief Minister, constitutes the State Finance Commission (Article 243I).
So I, II and III are all not correct.
Remember: Panchayat elections are conducted by the State Election Commission (Article 243K).

Source: Constitution of India, Part IX, Arts. 243B, 243F and 243I

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency for the Forest Rights Act, 2006. It issues guidelines and monitors recognition of rights.
The Environment Ministry handles forest conservation, and the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Ministries handle other matters. At State level, a nodal agency such as the Tribal Welfare Department works with Gram Sabhas.
Remember: The Gram Sabha starts the process of recognising forest rights.

Source: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006; Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Local self-government gives power to elected local bodies. They take decisions on local matters in their own right.
This moves decision making closer to the people. It is called democratic decentralization.
Federalism divides power between the Union and states. Delegation only hands over tasks, and direct democracy means the people decide directly. None of these fits.
Remember: Panchayats and municipalities are institutions of democratic decentralization.

Source: Constitution of India, Parts IX and IXA

Statement 1 is incorrect. A person is qualified to be a Panchayat member at 21 years of age (Art. 243F).
Statement 2 is correct. A Panchayat formed after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder of the five-year term (Art. 243E(4)).
Remember: Elections must be held within six months of premature dissolution.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 243E and 243F

The Panchayati Raj system aims to involve people in local development. It also aims to decentralise power to the grass roots.
Political accountability is a by-product but not the fundamental object. Financial mobilisation is also not a basic object.
The official UPSC key for this question is option c.
Remember: Panchayati Raj means people's participation and democratic decentralization.

Source: Constitution of India, Part IX; Report of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

The PESA Act 1996 extends Panchayats to Fifth Schedule Scheduled Areas.
Its objectives include tribal self-governance and recognition of traditional rights and practices.
It also aims to safeguard tribal people from exploitation.
Creating autonomous regions is not an objective of PESA. Autonomous districts and regions are created under the Sixth Schedule.
Remember: The Gram Sabha has a central role in PESA.

Source: Previous year paper; answer key cross-checked against published sources

Under section 6 of the Act, the Gram Sabha is the authority that starts the process of determining forest rights.
It receives claims, verifies them and passes a resolution. The resolution goes to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee.
The Forest Department, the Collector and revenue officials have later roles in the process but do not start it.
Remember: Gram Sabha starts, then the Sub-Divisional and District Level Committees review.

Source: Forest Rights Act 2006, s. 6

Statement 1 is correct. The Gram Sabha can prevent alienation of tribal land and restore unlawfully alienated land (PESA, s. 4(m)).
Statement 2 is correct. The Gram Sabha has ownership of minor forest produce.
Statement 3 is incorrect. PESA requires the Gram Sabha's recommendation for licences and leases of minor minerals, not for any mineral.
Remember: PESA gives Gram Sabha power over minor minerals and minor forest produce.

Source: Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, s. 4

Art. 243-I requires the Governor to set up a State Finance Commission every five years.
It recommends the principles for the taxes and duties that Panchayats may keep. It also recommends grants-in-aid and the sharing of state taxes with Panchayats.
District Planning Committees prepare district plans. State ministries do not make these recommendations.
Remember: Art. 243-I is for Panchayats and Art. 243-Y is for municipalities.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 243-I

Assertion (A) is true. Before 1992, Panchayats existed but had no constitutional protection.
Reason (R) is true. The 73rd Amendment added Part IX and gave Panchayats constitutional status. It made elections, a five-year term and State Finance Commissions compulsory.
R explains A. The constitutional status is what makes the Amendment a turning point.
Remember: The 73rd Amendment came into force on 24 April 1993.

Source: Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act 1992

PESA was enacted in December 1996. It extends Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas with changes suited to tribal communities.
The 73rd Amendment came in 1993. So 1993 is not the year for PESA.
Remember: PESA 1996 gives the Gram Sabha strong powers over land, minor forest produce and minor minerals.

Source: Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act 1996

Statement 1 is correct. Under the Sixth Schedule an Autonomous District Council has up to 30 members.
Statement 2 is incorrect. At most four members are nominated by the Governor. The rest, up to 26, are elected.
Statement 3 is correct. The Governor may direct that an Act of Parliament or of the State Legislature does not apply, or applies with changes, to an autonomous district.
So only 1 and 3 are correct.
Remember: The Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Source: Constitution of India, Sixth Schedule, paras 2 and 12

Pair A is correct. The V.R. Rao committee on Panchayat statistics was set up in 1960.
Pair C is correct. The S.D. Mishra working group on Panchayats and Cooperatives was set up in 1961.
Pair D is correct. The G.V.K. Rao committee (1985) reviewed administrative arrangements for rural development.
Pair B is not accepted in the book key; S.P. Jain is linked with training of Panchayati Raj workers.
Only option (a) contains A, C and D without B.

Source: Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (list of committees on Panchayati Raj)

Item (i) is not provided. Article 243-Q names Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council and Municipal Corporation.
Item (ii) is provided. Article 243-S provides for Ward Committees.
Item (iii) is provided. Article 243-ZE provides for a Metropolitan Planning Committee.
Item (iv) is provided. Article 243-ZD provides for a District Planning Committee.

Source: Constitution of India, Part IX-A (Arts. 243-Q, 243-S, 243-ZD, 243-ZE)

Assertion (A) is true. Municipal corporations are set up for larger urban areas under State laws.
Reason (R) is true. Big cities need many services such as water, transport and planning.
This complexity is the reason a stronger body, the corporation, is created.
So (R) explains (A).

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 243-Q; Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (Urban Local Government)

Assertion (A) is true. The State Finance Commission is provided for in Art. 243-I, added by the 73rd Amendment.
Reason (R) is false. Art. 280(3)(bb) directs the Union Finance Commission to recommend measures to increase a State's Consolidated Fund. This helps supplement resources of Panchayats on the State Finance Commission's advice.
So (A) is true but (R) is false.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 243-I, 243-Y and 280(3)(bb)

Assertion (A) is false. Article 280(3)(bb) and (c) direct the Union Finance Commission to recommend measures to supplement State funds for Panchayats and Municipalities.
The Commission acts on the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions.
Reason (R) is true. Local government is Entry 5 of the State List.
So (A) is false and (R) is true.
Remember: The 15th Finance Commission also gave grants to local bodies.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 280(3) and Seventh Schedule, List II, Entry 5

Part IX deals with Panchayats, so A matches 3.
Part VIII deals with Union Territories, so B matches 1.
Part IV-A contains the Fundamental Duties, so C matches 4.
Part IX-A deals with Municipalities, so D matches 2.
The code is therefore 3 1 4 2.
Remember: Part IV-A (Article 51A) was added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976.

Source: Constitution of India, Parts IV-A, VIII, IX and IX-A

The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 deals with rural local bodies, that is, Panchayats. It reserves not less than one-third of seats for women in Panchayats. The reservation for urban local bodies comes from the 74th Amendment Act.
The Hindu Marriage Act was passed in 1955. The Hindu Succession Act was passed in 1956. The Sati (Prevention) Act was passed in 1987, after the Roop Kanwar case. These pairs are correct.
Remember: 73rd - Panchayats (Part IX). 74th - Municipalities (Part IX-A).

Source: Constitution of India, Part IX and Art. 243D; Hindu Marriage Act 1955; Hindu Succession Act 1956