Questions of Chapter 5 Panchayati Raj

(a) Wards.

Explanation: Wards are smaller areas. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member (Panch).

(a) 18.

Explanation: Apart from this, one should have the right to vote in the State Assembly elections or the Parliament elections in India.

(c) Gram Sabha.

Explanation: The Secretary’s main responsibility is to call the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings.

(b) Panchayat President.

Explanation: Sarpanch together with other elected Panchas or members, constitute the Gram Panchayat. He is a contact between government officers and the village community.

(b) five years.

Explanation: Gram Panchayats are local governments at the village or small town level in India. As per 2002 record, there were about 2,65,000 gram panchayats in India.

(c) involve people’s participation.

Explanation: Panchayati Raj System is a local government at the village and district level. Local government is about the government closest to the common people.

(d) district level.

Explanation: It is also known as the District Panchayat. There are nearly 500 Zilla Panchayats or Parishads in India.

(c) Block level.

Explanation: Janpad Panchayat works for the villages of the Tehsil or Taluka that together are called a Development Block. It is also a vital link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration.

(b) 3 tier.

Explanation: In the three level of tier, the Panchayati Raj System is the first tier or level of democratic government. The Second tier is the Block level and the third is the Zilla Parishad.

(c) People.

Explanation: The term of each Panchayat body is five years. If the State government dissolves the Panchayat before the end of its five year term, fresh elections will be held within six months of such dissolution.

(b) Panchayat Samitis.

Explanation: The meaning of the Hindi word ‘Parishad’ is ‘Council’ and Zilla Parishad translates to District Council. A Zilla Parishad can have minimum of 50 and maximum of 75 members.

(d) constitution.

Explanation: In 1989, the P.K.Thungon Committee recommended constitutional recognition for the local government bodies.

(b) poverty.

Explanation: Below Poverty Line is an economic indicator used by the government of India to identify people who are economically disadvantaged and get government’s assistance and aid.

(c) 1882.

Explanation: Lord Rippon, who was the Viceroy of India at that time, took the initiative in creating these bodies. He is popularly called the father of the local self government.

(c) Gandhi.

Explanation: He had appealed to the British for decentralisation of economic and political power. He believed that strengthening village panchayats was a means of effective decentralisation.

(c) 1992.

Explanation: On 24 April 1993, the Constitutional Act of 73rd Amendment, 1992 provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

(c) National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Explanation: In India, there are seven Union Territories. They are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Pondicherry.

(d) New Delhi.

Explanation: It was organised in New Delhi on 5th and 6th April 2002 to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions. Its main aim was to get a feedback from the Adhyakshas and revitalising and strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country.

(a) tribal areas.

Explanation: It enables people living in the tribal society to control over their forest areas and to preserve and conserve their traditional rights over natural resources through which they earn their livelihood.

(b) 1999-2000.

Explanation: Its aim was to strengthen Gram Sabha as an instrument to decentralised democracy and effective instrument for rural development.

(b) Hind Swaraj.

Explanation: Swaraj means self-governance. Gandhi’s vision of Swaraj is realised through the Panchayati Raj system in India. He believed that democratic freedoms should be founded in institutions of Self-government in all villages in India. He was inspired by the traditional Panchayats “Village republics”, which he called Panchayati Raj.

(b) regularly.

Explanation: During its regular meetings, it discusses about ways and means to implement development programmes for all villages that come under it.

(c) water problem.

Explanation: Solving water problem is one of main works of the Gram Panchayat. Its other works are: (1) the construction and maintenance of roads, drainage, school buildings and other common property resources. (2) Levying and collecting local taxes. (3) Executing government schemes related to generating employment in the village.

(d) Suru.

Explanation: The River is 3 k.m. away from the village. So, they gave up the idea of piping water from the river.

(b) Gram Sabah.

Explanation: The misusing includes favouring the people of the Panchayat president and allocation works to his/her relatives.