Question 1

What is the maximum population limit for a village to be classified as a Gram Panchayat under the 73rd Amendment Act?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, does not prescribe a specific maximum population limit for a Gram Panchayat at the constitutional level. However, individual states have the authority to define the population criteria for Gram Panchayats within their jurisdiction. The Constitution leaves this to state legislation under Article 243(c).

Question 2

Which constitutional amendment introduced the Panchayati Raj system in India?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced the Panchayati Raj system in India. This amendment added Part IX (Articles 243 to 243O) to the Constitution, establishing a three-tier system of local governance at village, block, and district levels. It came into effect on April 24, 1993.

Question 3

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, what is the minimum age requirement for membership in a Gram Panchayat?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which introduced the Panchayati Raj system, stipulates that a person must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible for membership in a Gram Panchayat. This amendment added Part IX to the Constitution, establishing a three-tier system of local governance.

Question 4

Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the Right to Life and Personal Liberty?

Accepted Answer

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. It states: 'No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.' This is a fundamental right under Part III of the Constitution.

Question 5

What is the minimum age requirement for a person to be eligible as a member of a Gram Panchayat?

Accepted Answer

According to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, a person must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible for membership in a Gram Panchayat. This is specified in Article 243D of the Constitution.

Question 6

Which Constitutional Amendment Act introduced the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, passed in 1992, introduced the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India. This system consists of Village Panchayats (Gram Panchayats), Block Panchayats (Intermediate Panchayats), and District Panchayats. This amendment added Articles 243 to 243O to the Constitution.

Question 7

Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the Right to Constitutional Remedies, enabling citizens to approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights?

Accepted Answer

Article 32 of the Indian Constitution grants the right to constitutional remedies. It empowers citizens to move the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. This article is often called the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Question 8

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, what is the maximum tenure of a Gram Panchayat?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 introduced the three-tier Panchayati Raj system. It stipulates that a Gram Panchayat (village council) has a maximum tenure of 5 years, after which elections must be held. This amendment added Articles 243 to 243O to the Constitution.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a function of a Gram Panchayat as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (Article 243G) lists the functions of Gram Panchayats. These include agriculture, rural development, water management, sanitation, and education. However, functions like national defence, foreign affairs, and currency are reserved for the Central Government and are NOT functions of Gram Panchayats.

Question 10

Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of Panchayats at the village level and mandates regular elections?

Accepted Answer

Article 40 of the Indian Constitution is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and directs the State to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. However, the constitutional framework for Panchayati Raj was strengthened by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which added Part IX to the Constitution.

Question 11

Under Article 243G of the Indian Constitution, the Eleventh Schedule contains how many subjects that may be entrusted to Panchayats?

Accepted Answer

The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, lists 29 subjects (such as agriculture, rural housing, drinking water, education, etc.) which may be entrusted to Panchayats by the State Legislature under Article 243G. The Twelfth Schedule (for Urban Local Bodies) has 18 subjects.

Question 12

According to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, what is the mandatory tenure of a Panchayat before it is dissolved?

Accepted Answer

Article 243E of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment, specifies that a Panchayat shall be constituted for every village or group of villages and shall have a tenure of 5 years from the date of its constitution. If dissolved prematurely, elections must be held within 6 months to constitute a new Panchayat.

Question 13

Which constitutional amendment introduced the 74th Amendment Act, establishing constitutional status for Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities) in India?

Accepted Answer

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced constitutional status for Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities). It came into effect on 1 June 1993 and is parallel to the 73rd Amendment which dealt with rural Panchayati Raj. The 74th Amendment inserted Articles 243P to 243ZG in Part IXA of the Constitution.

Question 14

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced mandatory reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions. What is the minimum percentage of seats reserved for women in Panchayats?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, mandates a minimum of one-third (33.33%) of seats in all Panchayati Raj institutions to be reserved for women. This applies to both general seats and seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Question 15

Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the constitutional status of Panchayati Raj institutions and mandates their formation at village, intermediate, and district levels?

Accepted Answer

Article 243 (inserted by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992) provides the constitutional framework for Panchayati Raj. It establishes a three-tier system of local government at village, block (intermediate), and district levels, making Panchayati Raj a constitutional body rather than merely statutory.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a mandatory function of Gram Panchayats as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment and the Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G) list 29 functional areas for Panchayats, including agriculture, water management, health, education, social welfare, and infrastructure. However, functions like National Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Currency Management are explicitly excluded as they are Union subjects and not devolved to local bodies.

Question 17

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added which Part to the Indian Constitution to provide constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX to the Indian Constitution, which is titled 'The Panchayats'. This amendment provided constitutional recognition and status to village panchayats across India, making them constitutional bodies with defined powers, duties, and tenure.

Question 18

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX-A to the Constitution for which local body?

Accepted Answer

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX-A (Articles 243P to 243ZG) to the Indian Constitution, which provides the constitutional framework for Urban Local Bodies, including Municipalities and Municipal Corporations. This amendment parallels the 73rd Amendment but applies to urban areas.

Question 19

According to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, what is the minimum age requirement for a person to be eligible as a member of a Gram Panchayat?

Accepted Answer

Article 243D of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment, specifies that a person must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible for election as a member of a Panchayat. This is the same age requirement as for voting in elections.

Question 20

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, what is the maximum tenure of a Gram Panchayat before it must be dissolved and fresh elections held?

Accepted Answer

Article 243E of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment, stipulates that a Gram Panchayat (and all Panchayati Raj institutions) shall have a tenure of 5 years from the date of its constitution. After 5 years, it stands dissolved and fresh elections must be conducted.

SSC CHSL Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj

Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

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Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj