Question 1

What is the tenure of a Panchayat as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992?

Accepted Answer

Article 243E of the Constitution specifies that a Panchayat shall be constituted for a term of 5 years from the date of its constitution.

Question 2

According to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, what percentage of seats in Panchayats must be reserved for women?

Accepted Answer

Article 243D(4) of the Constitution mandates that not less than one-third of the total number of seats in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women.

Question 3

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which of the following is NOT a mandatory function of Gram Panchayats as per the 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added the 11th Schedule to the Indian Constitution, which lists 29 functional areas for Panchayati Raj institutions. These include agriculture, water management, health, education, social welfare, etc. However, defence and national security matters are explicitly excluded from Panchayat functions as they fall under the exclusive domain of the Union Government.

Question 4

Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the constitutional status of Panchayati Raj institutions?

Accepted Answer

Article 243 was inserted by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which provides constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions at the village level.

Question 5

Which constitutional amendment act granted constitutional status to Municipal Corporations and local bodies?

Accepted Answer

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, provided constitutional status to Municipal Corporations and other local bodies at the urban level, parallel to the 73rd Amendment for rural panchayats.

Question 6

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which of the following is NOT a mandatory function of Gram Panchayats as per the Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 inserted the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution, listing 29 matters on which Panchayats must function. These include agriculture, water management, health, education, social welfare, and cultural activities. However, defence and national security, criminal justice administration, and foreign affairs are explicitly excluded from Panchayat jurisdiction as they remain Union/State subjects.

Question 7

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 three-tier panchayats at village, block (intermediate), and district levels.

Question 8

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, what is the mandatory minimum age for contesting elections to a Panchayat?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Amendment Act specifies that a person must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible to contest elections to a Panchayat, as per Article 243D.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a function typically assigned to Village Panchayats under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?

Accepted Answer

Village Panchayats are responsible for local matters like agriculture, water supply, sanitation, education, and health. However, matters like national defence, foreign policy, and inter-state commerce are reserved for the Union and State governments, not panchayats.

Question 10

What is the fixed tenure of elected representatives in a Panchayat as mandated by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?

Accepted Answer

Article 243E of the Constitution specifies that the term of office of a Panchayat is 5 years from the date of its constitution, after which it stands dissolved.

Question 11

Which constitutional amendment introduced the 11th Schedule, listing the subjects and matters for which Panchayats are responsible?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) introduced the 11th Schedule to the Constitution, which lists 29 subjects falling within the purview of Panchayati Raj institutions.

Question 12

Which article of the Indian Constitution specifically mandates that the State shall endeavor 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?

Accepted Answer

Article 40 of the Indian Constitution, which falls under the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV), explicitly directs the State to organize village panchayats and grant them powers for self-governance. This article forms the constitutional foundation for the Panchayati Raj system in India.

Question 13

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which introduced the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, mandated that elections to panchayats must be held within how many months from the date of dissolution of a panchayat?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, inserted Articles 243A–243O into the Constitution. Article 243E(1) specifically mandates that elections to fill a vacancy caused by dissolution of a panchayat must be completed within six months from the date of dissolution. However, if the remainder of the term is less than six months, elections need not be held.

Question 14

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, what is the minimum age requirement for a person to be eligible for election as a member of a village panchayat?

Accepted Answer

Article 243D of the Indian Constitution (inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992) specifies the qualifications for membership of panchayats. It mandates 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 standard minimum age for local body elections across India.

Question 15

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, mandates that at least what percentage of seats in panchayats must be reserved for women?

Accepted Answer

Article 243D(4) of the Indian Constitution (inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992) mandates that at least one-third (33.33%) of the total number of seats in every panchayat shall be reserved for women. This was a landmark provision to ensure women's participation in local governance. Subsequently, the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, increased this reservation to 50% of seats.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a function of a Gram Panchayat as outlined in the 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution (inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992)?

Accepted Answer

The 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution (inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992) lists 29 functional areas of panchayats, including agriculture, water management, health, education, social welfare, and rural infrastructure. However, functions like national defense, foreign relations, and currency management are explicitly excluded as they are reserved for the Union Government. The question tests understanding of the scope and limitations of panchayat functions.

Question 17

Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which of the following is NOT a mandatory function of a Gram Panchayat as per the Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution, which lists 29 functional domains for Panchayati Raj institutions. These include agriculture, water management, health, education, social welfare, and cultural activities. However, defence and national security, currency and coinage, and foreign affairs are explicitly excluded as these fall under the Union List (List I) and are not devolved to local bodies.

SSC CPO Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj

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Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Local Bodies & Panchayati Raj