Indian Polity & Governance – Panchayati Raj System
Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) – Preliminary Examination
General Studies Paper I (Objective, 200 Marks)
Topic: Indian Polity & Governance
Sub-Topic: Panchayati Raj System
Panchayati Raj System – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Explanations
Q1. The Panchayati Raj System in India was constitutionalized by:
A. 42nd Constitutional Amendment
B. 44th Constitutional Amendment
C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
D. 74th Constitutional Amendment
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in rural areas.
Q2. Panchayati Raj Institutions are mentioned in which Part of the Constitution?
A. Part VIII
B. Part IX
C. Part X
D. Part XI
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Part IX (Articles 243–243O) deals with Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Q3. Which committee is known as the foundation of Panchayati Raj in India?
A. Ashok Mehta Committee
B. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
C. L. M. Singhvi Committee
D. Sarkaria Committee
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
Q4. The three-tier system of Panchayati Raj includes:
A. Village, District, State
B. Gram Sabha, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad
C. Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad
D. Municipality, Corporation, Council
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The rural local governance structure consists of Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block), and Zila Parishad (district).
Q5. The Gram Sabha consists of:
A. Elected members only
B. Panchayat officials
C. All adult members of the village
D. Government nominees
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Gram Sabha includes all adult residents of the village and is the foundation of grassroots democracy.
Q6. Which age is prescribed for contesting Panchayat elections?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
A minimum age of 21 years is required to contest Panchayat elections.
Q7. Reservation of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions is:
A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 33%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The Constitution mandates one-third (33%) reservation for women in PRIs.
Q8. Reservation for SCs and STs in PRIs is based on:
A. Economic status
B. Population proportion
C. Literacy rate
D. Area coverage
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Seats are reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population in the Panchayat area.
Q9. The duration of a Panchayat is:
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Every Panchayat has a fixed tenure of five years, unless dissolved earlier.
Q10. Which body conducts elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions?
A. Union Election Commission
B. State Election Commission
C. District Collector
D. Gram Sabha
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The State Election Commission is responsible for conducting Panchayat elections.
Q11. Panchayats are primarily responsible for:
A. Defense
B. Foreign policy
C. Local self-governance
D. National taxation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Panchayats are institutions of local self-government dealing with rural administration.
Q12. Which Schedule lists subjects related to Panchayati Raj?
A. 10th Schedule
B. 11th Schedule
C. 12th Schedule
D. 9th Schedule
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The 11th Schedule contains 29 subjects related to Panchayats.
Q13. Which of the following is NOT a Panchayati Raj tier?
A. Gram Panchayat
B. Panchayat Samiti
C. Zila Parishad
D. Municipal Corporation
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Municipal Corporations are part of urban local bodies, not Panchayati Raj.
Q14. Financial resources of Panchayats are recommended by:
A. Planning Commission
B. Finance Commission
C. State Finance Commission
D. NITI Aayog
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The State Finance Commission recommends financial devolution to Panchayats.
Q15. The State Finance Commission is constituted every:
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
It is constituted every five years to review the financial position of PRIs.
Q16. Panchayati Raj aims at:
A. Centralization of power
B. Decentralization of power
C. Bureaucratic control
D. Judicial supremacy
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The core objective is democratic decentralization.
Q17. Which principle best describes Panchayati Raj?
A. Federal supremacy
B. Grassroots democracy
C. Judicial activism
D. Administrative centralization
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Panchayati Raj brings democracy directly to the grassroots level.
Q18. Which state was the first to implement Panchayati Raj?
A. Gujarat
B. Rajasthan
C. Maharashtra
D. Karnataka
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Rajasthan was the first state to implement Panchayati Raj in 1959.
Q19. The Chairman of Zila Parishad is generally called:
A. Sarpanch
B. Pradhan
C. Adhyaksha
D. Mayor
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The head of Zila Parishad is commonly known as Adhyaksha.
Q20. Which article deals with the constitution of Gram Sabha?
A. Article 243A
B. Article 243B
C. Article 243C
D. Article 243D
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Article 243A provides for the constitution and powers of the Gram Sabha.
Q21. Which body prepares plans for economic development at the district level?
A. Gram Panchayat
B. Zila Parishad
C. District Planning Committee
D. State Legislature
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The District Planning Committee consolidates plans of Panchayats and municipalities.
Q22. Which of the following is a compulsory provision of the 73rd Amendment?
A. Optional reservation
B. Fixed tenure
C. Advisory role only
D. No elections
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
A fixed five-year tenure is a mandatory constitutional provision.
Q23. Which area is excluded from Panchayati Raj provisions?
A. Rural areas
B. Scheduled Areas
C. Municipal areas
D. Census towns
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Certain provisions do not apply automatically to Scheduled Areas without modification.
Q24. Who is the head of a Gram Panchayat?
A. Pradhan
B. Sarpanch
C. Secretary
D. Collector
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The elected head of a Gram Panchayat is the Sarpanch.
Q25. Panchayati Raj Institutions promote:
A. Bureaucracy
B. Central planning
C. Public participation
D. Military administration
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
PRIs encourage people’s participation in governance.
Q26. Which subject is included in the 11th Schedule?
A. Police
B. Agriculture
C. Defense
D. Currency
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Agriculture is one of the subjects entrusted to Panchayats.
Q27. The concept of Panchayati Raj is based on:
A. Representative democracy only
B. Direct democracy only
C. Participatory democracy
D. Presidential system
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Panchayati Raj combines representation with active public participation.
Q28. Panchayati Raj strengthens:
A. Judiciary
B. Legislature
C. Local governance
D. Military
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
It strengthens local self-government and administrative efficiency.
Q29. Which amendment gave constitutional status to urban local bodies?
A. 73rd
B. 74th
C. 42nd
D. 44th
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 deals with municipalities.
Q30. Panchayati Raj Institutions mainly function at:
A. National level
B. State level
C. District and below
D. International level
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
PRIs operate at district, block, and village levels, ensuring grassroots administration.
✅ APSC Prelims Smart Tip
For Panchayati Raj System, focus on:
- Articles 243–243O
- 11th Schedule subjects
- Committees and amendments
- Reservation & tenure provisions
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Panchayati Raj System MCQs APSC
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73rd Constitutional Amendment MCQs
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Panchayati Raj articles 243 MCQs
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APSC polity MCQs Panchayat
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Local self government MCQs APSC
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Gram Sabha Panchayat questions
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Indian Polity Panchayati Raj prelims