Deck 17: Panchayati Raj and Local Government in India

Question 1

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee suggested that the structure of Panchayati Raj should consist of:

A)the village, the block and the district levels
B)the mandal and the district levels
C)the village, the district and the State levels
D)the village, the mandal, the district and the State levels

Answer 1

the village, the block and the district levels

Question 2

The Panchayati Raj System was adopted to:

A)make people aware of politics
B)decentralise the power of democracy
C)educate the peasants
D)None of the above

Answer 2

decentralise the power of democracy

Question 3

Panchayati Raj was started in the country in:

A)1957
B)1959
C)1952
D)1951

Answer 3

1952

Question 4

Who is to conduct the elections to the Panchayats and Municipalities?

A)State Government
B)Central Government
C)State Election Commission
D)Central Election Commission

Question 5

A Municipal Corporation is set up in a city with a population of not less than:

A)1 lakh
B)12 lakh
C)10 lakh
D)5 lakh

Question 6

Which of the following States has no Panchayati Raj Institution at all ?

A)Asom
B)Kerala
C)Tripura
D)Nagaland

Question 7

Who is the executive head of a Municipal Corporation?

A)Mayor
B)Secretary
C)Commissioner
D)Deputy Mayor

Question 8

Which of the following is not true about the Village Panchayats ?

A)It consists of members elected by the Gram Sabha from amongst themselves
B)If a member of the Scheduled Caste and a woman member are not elected to it, the Government itself nominates them
C)For election to the Village Panchayat, a candidate need not be a resident of the same village but his name should be. In the voter's list
D)For election to the Village Panchayat, a candidate must be 25 years of age

Question 9

The Gram Panchayats are elected by Gram Sabhas consisting of:

A)every citizen living in a village
B)entire male and female population of the village
C)every adult male living in a village
D)every farmer of the village

Question 10

Special representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions is given to:

A)women
B)co-operative societies
C)backward classes
D)All of the above

Question 11

Gram Sabha consists of:

A)5 to 10 elected Ward Panchas of the Village Panchayats
B)All the voters of the Village Panchayat
C)All the Chairmen of Village Panchayats of the Block
D)All the Chairmen of Block level institutions of the district

Question 12

The local self-governing institution for a town with a population of twelve thousand and above is known as :

A)Municipal Corporation
B)National Area Committee
C)Municipal Committee
D)Zila Parishad

Question 13

A person to be qualified for standing in a panchayat election must have attained the age of:

A)21 years
B)18 years
C)25 years
D)30 years

Question 14

The elections to Panchayats are to be held:

A)every four years
B)every five years
C)when the State Government decides to do so
D)at the Centres directive

Question 15

Father of local self-government in India is :

A)Lord Mayo
B)Acharya Vinoba Bhave
C)Lord Ripon
D)Mahatma Gandhi

Question 16

Which of the following is not a source of revenue to the Village Panchayats ?

A)Property-Tax
B)House Tax
C)Land Tax
D)Vehicles Tax

Question 17

The function of the Panchayat Samiti is to:

A)deal with administration of justice at the Panchayat level
B)implement community development project schemes
C)deal with financial matters of the Panchayat
D)deal with rural industrialization

Question 18

Which of the following is not true regarding a Gram Panchayat ?

A)It is constituted in every village with a population over 500
B)It consists of all the adult citizens of the village
C)Its decisions are taken by a majority vote
D)Its decision in petty criminal cases cannot be appealed in any court of Law

Question 19

Every Village Panchayat is headed by a Sarpancha who is elected by:

A)Gram Sabha
B)members of Village Panchayat from among citizens of the village
C)members of Village Panchayat from among themselves
D)not elected but nominated by Collector

Question 20

Mayor of a Municipal Corporation holds the office for a period of:

A)1 year
B)3 years
C)5 years
D)4 years

Question 21

Which of the following functions are obligatory in all municipalities?
I. Registration of births and deaths.
II. Supply of potable water.
III. Planting and maintenance of road side trees.
IV. Provision of transport facilities within the municipality.

A)I and II
B)II and III
C)III and IV
D)I, II, III and IV

Question 22

It is obligatory for all States to have:

A)three-tier system
B)two-tier system
C)some States are exempted from establishing three-tier system
D)it is optional for the States

Question 23

What is the intermediate tier of the Panchayati Raj System called?

A)Zlla Parishad
B)Taluka Panchayat
C)Panchayat Samiti
D)Gram Sabha

Question 24

Where was the first Municipal Corporation in India set up ?

A)Mumbai
B)Kolkata
C)Delhi
D)Chennai

Question 25

Which of the following is not a recommendation of the Ashok Mehta Committee on Panchayati Raj?

A)Open participation of political parties in Panchayati Raj Affairs
B)Creation of a three-tier system
C)Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
D)Compulsory powers of taxation of Panchayati Raj Institution

Question 26

Which one of the following Amendments of the Constitution of India deals with the issue of strengthening of the Panchayati Raj?

A)42nd
B)44th
C)73rd
D)86th

Question 27

The tenure of every Panchayat shall be for five years from the date of

A)its first meeting
B)issue of notification for the conduct of elections to the Panchayat
C)declaration of the election results
D)taking oath of office by the elected Members

Question 28

Which is not the concern of the local government?

A)Public Health
B)Sanitation
C)Law and Order
D)Public Utility Services

Question 29

The Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992, which aims at promoting the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the country, provides for which of the following?
1) Constitution of District Planning Committees.
2) State Election Commissions to conduct all panchayat elections.
3) Establishment of State Finance Commissions.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A)1 only
B)1 and 2 only
C)2 and 3 only
D)1, 2 and 3

Question 30

The Mayor to the Municipal Corporation is elected by:

A)all the elected representatives of the Corporation
B)the elected representatives together with Elder-men who are elected by these representatives
C)the voters of all the constituencies in the city directly
D)elected representatives of the Corporation and the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies

Question 31

The levying of which one of the following taxes is outside the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation?

A)Property Tax
B)Income Tax
C)Profession Tax
D)Education Tax

Question 32

Who among the following is not a member of the Panchayat Samiti ?

A)Sarpanchas of all the Panchayats
B)Elected members of the State Legislature belonging to that area
C)Members of the Union Parliament belonging to that area
D)All of the above

Question 33

Which of the following is incorrect in respect of Local Government in India?

A)According to the Indian Constitution local government is not an independent tier in the federal system
B)30% of the seats in local bodies are reserved for women
C)Local government finances are to be provided by a Commission
D)Elections to local bodies are to be determined by a Commission

Question 34

The tenure of Gram Panchayat and Nagarpalika shall be for:

A)three years
B)four years
C)five years, unless dissolved earlier
D)co-extensive with the term of Legislative Assembly

Question 35

The Panchayats are authorised:

A)to levy taxes, duties, levy and appropriate the same
B)the Panchayats have no power to levy taxes
C)the Panchayats are entitled to only grants from the Government
D)to levy, collect and appropriate such taxes, duties tolls and fees as they are authorised by the Governments

Question 36

The three-tier system of Panchayats :

A)is uniformly applicable to all States
B)is applicable only to States with population above 50 lakh
C)need not be strictly followed in States with population below 20 lakh
D)has been replaced with a four-tier one

Question 37

The electorate for a Panchayat is :

A)the Taluka board
B)all adults of 21 years of above in a village
C)the village and selected Members of Parliament and State Legislature
D)the Gram Sabha

Question 38

Which of the following are a source of income to the urban local bodies?
I. Octroi duty on goods brought into and taken out of the city.
II. Taxes on vehicles.
III. Income from water and electricity supply.
III. Financial grants from the State Governments.

A)I, II and III
B)II, III and III
C)I, III and IV
D)I, II, III and IV

Question 39

Which of the following provisions of the Constitution can be amended only if (a) they are passed by a majority of total - membership of each House of Parliament and not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament, and (b) are ratified by the legislatures of one-half of the States?
I. Method of election of President.
II ) Provisions regarding the High Court.
III. Abolition of Legislative Council in any State.
IV. Qualifications for Indian citizenship
V. Representation of States in Parliament.

A)I, III, IV and V
B)II, III and V
C)I, II and V
D)I, II, III, IV and V

Question 40

Which of the following Amendments would need State ratification?
I. Provisions affecting President's election.
II ) Provisions affecting the Union Judiciary.
III. Amendment procedure.
IV. Reservation of seats for SC/ST in Parliament.

A)I, II and IV
B)III and IV
C)I and IV
D)I, II, III and IV

Question 41

Regarding Constitutional Amendments
I ) the Provision of joint sitting is not available.
II) they become operative from the date both Houses have passed the Bills.
III) the President's assent to a Constitutional Amendment is obligatory.
IV) Parliament may amend any part of the Constitution according to the procedure laid down in Article 368.

A)I and III
B)I, II and III
C)I, III and IV
D)I, II, III and IV

Question 42

The Constitution of India does not mention the post of:

A)the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
B)the Deputy Prime Minister
C)the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D)the Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assemblies

Question 43

Which Amendment of the Constitution gave priority to Directive Principles over Fundamental Rights?

A)24th Amendment
B)39th Amendment
C)42nd Amendment
D)40th Amendment

Question 44

A major portion of the Constitution:

A)can be amended by simple majority
B)can be amended by two-thirds majority
C)can be amended only with State ratification
D)cannot be amended

Question 45

If India decides to have a Presidential form of government, the first and foremost Amendment has to be made affecting the:

A)system of judiciary
B)composition of Parliament
C)Executive-Legislature relationship
D)provisions pertaining to Fundamental Rights

Question 46

Which Amendment restored the power of judicial review to the Supreme Court and High Courts after it was curtailed by the 42nd Amendment?

A)42nd
B)43rd
C)44th
D)56th

Question 47

Which one of the following statements is/are correct?
I. The committee on the status of women in India (NSW/) recommended the setting up of a National Commission for Women.
II. The first Chairperson of the National Commission for Women was Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik.
III. The main task of the Commission is to study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women.
Select the correct answer using the code given below

A)I, II and III
B)II only
C)I and II
D)I and III

Question 48

Which of the following cannot be altered by the Parliament by ordinary legislative procedure ?

A)Acquistion and termination of citizenship
B)Privileges of the Parliament
C)Composition of State Legislative Councils
D)Representation of States in the Parliament

Question 49

Which of the following would be construed as a reasonable restriction of the 'right to freedom'?

A)When the State disallows a candidate from securing votes in the name of religion
B)When the State disallows citizens from forming a club out of State funds that denies access to women
C)When the Government of Nagaland disallows temporary residents to buy immovable property in Nagaland.
D)AII of the above

Question 50

Which of the following Constitutional Amendments banned the floor crossing in Parliament?

A)42nd
B)44th
C)52nd
D)53rd

Question 51

The provision of amending the Constitutional Provision is given in :

A)Part XIX Article 356
B)Part XX Article 356
C)Part XX Article 368
D)Part XIX Article 368

Question 52

A Constitutional Amendment Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament

A)does not need the assent of the President
B)does need the assent of the President
C)does not need the assent of the President if passed by ratification of States
D)None of the above

Question 53

Who is entitled to initiate a Bill for Constitutional Amendments?

A)State Legislative Assemblies
B)Lok Sabha only
C)Either House of Parliament
D)Rajya Sabha only

Question 54

Which of the following are correct regarding the Parliament's power of amendment?
I. It can amend the Fundamental Rights.
II. It can amend the basic structure of the Constitution.

A)Only I
B)Only II
C)Both I and II
D)None of the above

Question 55

The Amendment regarding the formation of a new State by separating territory from any other State must be passed by:

A)only Lok Sabha
B)only Rajya Sabha
C)both the Houses of Parliament
D)both the Houses of Parliament and before that the opinion of that State is to be ascertained by the President

Question 56

Of all the Amendments in the Indian Constitution, the most Comprehensive and Controversial Amendment was:

A)42nd
B)43rd
C)44th
D)45th

Question 57

By which Amendment, the power to amend the Constitution was specifically conferred upon the Parliament?

A)56th
B)52nd
C)42nd
D)24th

Question 58

Which of these Amendments and their subject matter is/are incorrectly matched?
I ) 26th Amendment - Abolition of titles and privileges of former rules of princely states
II) 21st Amendment - Curtailed the right to property
III) 51st Amendment - Curbed political defections
IV) 61st Amendment - Reduced voting age.

A)I, II and IV
B)II, III and IV
C)I and IV
D)II and III

Question 59

What was the decision of the Supreme Court in Keshavanand Bharati case?

A)Parliament is supreme in the matters of legislation
B)In matters relating to compulsory acquisition of private property the court had the ultimate powers of determining what is public purpose under Article 31
C)The power under Article 368 to amend the Constitution cannot be so exercised as to alter the basic structure or the essential features of the Constitution
D)The Supreme Court has full authority to pronounce on the Constitutional Validity of any State law

Question 60

In the Minerva Mills batch of cases the Supreme Court has further reaffirmed its decision in :

A)Golakh Nath Case
B)Keshavanand Bharati case
C)Sajjan Singh Case
D)None of the above

Question 61

The decision of the Supreme Court in the Golakh Nath Case was that:

A)Judiciary is independent of Parliament
B)Fundamental Rights could not be amended or abridged
C)the Constitution is supreme
D)the basic structure of the Constitution should not be changed

Question 62

Put in chronological order the following Amendments to the Constitution.
I. Addition of Ninth Schedule to the Constitution.
II. Abolition of privy purses and privileges of former princes.
III. Insertion of XI Schedule
IV. Removal of Right to Property from Constitutional Rights.

A)I, II, III, IV
B)II, I, IV, III
C)I, II, IV, III
D)IV, I, II, III

Question 63

Which of the following provisions can be amended by simple majority?

A)Creation of new States
B)Creation or abolition of upper houses in State Legislatures
C)Reconstitution of existing States
D)All of the above

Question 64

If the procedure for the election of the President of India is sought to be modified, which of the following conditions are required?
1) An Amendment of the Constitution passed by simple majority in Lok Sabha
2) A referendum
3) An Amendment of the Constitution passed by two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament.
4) Ratification of the legislatures of at least half the number of States.

A)1 and 4
B)2 and 3
C)3 and 4
D)None of the above, as the election procedure cannot be changed

Question 65

As per the Anti-Defection Law, the final authority to decide on a member's disqualification from the House is :

A)President
B)Governor
C)Speaker of the House
D)Council of Ministers

Question 66

When the name of the State is changed or a new State is created, the Constitution of India is required to be amended by Parliament by a :

A)simple majority as under Articles 107 and 108
B)majority of total numbers of both the Houses under Article 368
C)special majority under Article 368
D)special majority after obtaining opinion of the concerned State under Article 3 of the Constitution

Question 67

An Amendment of the Bill relating to the manner and mode of election of the President:

A)does not need the assent of the President
B)does need the assent of the President
C)does not need the assent of the President if passed by ratification of the States
D)on approval of the Bill by the cabinet, assent of the President may be dispensed with

Question 68

Which of the following statements regarding 74th Amendment of the Constitution are correct?
(A)) It provides for the insertion of a new schedule to the Constitution.
(B)) It restructures the working of the municipalities.
(C)) It provides for the reservation of seats for women and scheduled castes in the municipalities.

A)A only
B)A and C
C)A and B
D)A, B and C

Question 69

The Amendment procedure laid down in Indian Constitution is on the pattern of:

A)Constitution of Canada
B)Government of India Act, 1935
C)Constitution of South Africa
D)Constitution of USA

Question 70

National Capital Territory of Delhi has been constituted by:

A)71st Amendment
B)69th Amendment
C)ordinance promulgated by the President
D)ordinance promulgated by the Lieutenant Governor

Question 71

A merger will not invite action under the Anti-Defection Act if ____ members of a political party decide to join another political party.

A)one-third
B)two-thirds
C)half
D)one-fourth

Question 72

Which Amendment provided for an authoritative version of the Constitution in Hindi?

A)56th
B)58th
C)60th
D)61st

Question 73

Which of the following is true about C. Rajgopalachari?

A)He was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha after independence
B)He was the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Body of India
C)He was the first and last Indian Governor General of India after independence
D)He was the Governor of Tamil Nadu

Question 74

What is the document published by the government to apprise the public on any issue?

A)Gazette
B)Report of Public Accounts Committee
C)White Paper
D)None of the above

Question 75

The expression 'Creamy layer' used in the judgement of the Supreme Court relating to the case regarding reservations refers to:

A)those sections of the society which pay income tax
B)those sections of socially and educationally backward classes of the society that are developed
C)those sections of the society that are considered advanced according to the Karpuri Thakur formula
D)all sections of the upper castes of the society

Question 76

Extradiction means:

A)forcing a foreign national to leave the country
B)forcing a citizen of the country to leave the country
C)delivering a foreign national for the trial of offences
D)blocking the trade of other countries with a particular country

Question 77

Civil servants are not permitted to become:

A)Chief Election Commissioner
B)Vice-Chancellors of Universities
C)Heads of Commissions of Enquiry
D)Members of Parliament

Question 78

Next to Hindi, language spoken by the largest number of people in the Indian subcontinent is:

A)Bengali
B)Tamil
C)Telugu
D)Marathi

Question 79

Which of the following statements regarding literacy in India are correct ?
I. A person who can only read but cannot write is not defined literate.
II ) Children below 5 years of age are not taken into consideration even if they are able to read and write.
III. For the purpose of census, a person is deemed literate if he or she can read and write with understanding in any of the 22 languages mentioned in the Constitution
IV. The fact that a district has attained hundred percent literacy does not mean that the entire population in the district is literate.

A)I, III and IV
B)II, III and IV
C)I, II and III
D)I, II and IV

Question 80

Which one of the following is the correct sequence in the descending order of precedence in the warrant of precedence?

A)Attorney General of India - Judges of the Supreme Court - Members of Parliament - Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
B)Judges of the Supreme Court - Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha - Attorney General of India - Members of Parliament
C)Attorney General of' India - Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha - Judges of the Supreme Court - Members of Parliament
D)Judges of the Supreme Court - Attorney General of India - Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha - Members of Parliament