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Local Self-Government in the Indian Constitution

 

Local Self-Government in the Indian Constitution

🇮🇳 Local Self Government in the Indian Constitution

📚 Definition:
Local Self-Government refers to administration by local bodies (e.g., Panchayats and Municipalities) that are elected by local people to manage local affairs.

🏛️ Constitutional Status

Provision Details
Part IX Panchayati Raj (Rural Local Government)
Part IX-A Municipalities (Urban Local Government)
73rd Amendment Added Part IX in 1992 (came into effect on 24 April 1993)
74th Amendment Added Part IX-A in 1992 (effective from 1 June 1993)
Schedules 11th Schedule (Panchayats), 12th Schedule (Municipalities)

🟢 1. Panchayati Raj – Part IX (Articles 243–243O)

📌 Structure of Panchayati Raj (3 Tiers)

Level Example Name
Village Level Gram Panchayat
Block Level Panchayat Samiti
District Level Zila Parishad

🔹 Key Features (Article-wise)

Article Provision
243A–243O Framework of Panchayats
243D Reservation for SCs, STs, and Women (33%, now 50% in many states)
243E Term of Panchayats – 5 years
243G Powers and responsibilities of Panchayats
243H Power to impose taxes
243I State Finance Commission
243K State Election Commission

🟠 2. Municipalities – Part IX-A (Articles 243P–243ZG)

📌 Types of Urban Local Bodies

Type Area Covered
Municipal Corporation Big cities (population > 1 million)
Municipal Council Medium-sized towns
Nagar Panchayat Areas in transition from rural to urban

🔹 Key Features (Article-wise)

Article Provision
243P–243ZG Framework of Municipalities
243R Composition of municipalities
243S Wards Committees in cities
243T Reservation in municipalities
243U Tenure – 5 years
243W Powers and responsibilities
243X Authority to impose taxes
243Y State Finance Commission
243ZA State Election Commission

📝 Comparison: Panchayats vs Municipalities

Feature Panchayats (Part IX) Municipalities (Part IX-A)
Covered by 73rd Amendment (1992) 74th Amendment (1992)
Articles 243–243O 243P–243ZG
Schedule 11th Schedule (29 subjects) 12th Schedule (18 functions)
Applies to Rural Areas Urban Areas
Election Authority State Election Commission State Election Commission
Tenure 5 years 5 years

🔑 Important Bodies

Institution Function
State Finance Commission Recommends financial devolution to Panchayats & Municipalities
State Election Commission Conducts elections to local bodies

📜 11th & 12th Schedule Summary

Schedule Added By Contains
11th Schedule 73rd Amendment 29 Subjects (e.g. agriculture, roads, sanitation) for Panchayats
12th Schedule 74th Amendment 18 Functions (e.g. urban planning, street lighting) for Municipalities

📆 Timeline

Year Event
1959 First Panchayat system launched in Rajasthan
1992 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments passed
1993 Came into force – April 24 (Panchayati Raj Day) and June 1 (Municipalities)

Here are MCQs on Local Self-Government in India — covering Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment) and Municipalities (74th Amendment) — ideal for UPSC, UKPSC, SSC, State PSC, and other competitive exams:

✅ MCQs on Local Self-Government (with Answers)

🟢 General & Constitutional Background

  1. Which Amendment gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj in India?
    A) 42nd Amendment
    B) 52nd Amendment
    C) 73rd Amendment
    D) 86th Amendment
    ✔️ Answer: C) 73rd Amendment

  2. Which Schedule of the Constitution contains subjects under Panchayati Raj?
    A) 7th Schedule
    B) 9th Schedule
    C) 10th Schedule
    D) 11th Schedule
    ✔️ Answer: D) 11th Schedule

  3. In which year did the 73rd and 74th Amendments come into effect?
    A) 1992
    B) 1993
    C) 1995
    D) 1991
    ✔️ Answer: B) 1993

  4. The 74th Constitutional Amendment relates to:
    A) Panchayats
    B) Urban Local Bodies
    C) Cooperative Societies
    D) Electoral Reforms
    ✔️ Answer: B) Urban Local Bodies

🟢 Panchayati Raj (Rural Local Government)

  1. Which Article provides for the constitution of Gram Sabha?
    A) Article 243A
    B) Article 243C
    C) Article 243G
    D) Article 243K
    ✔️ Answer: A) Article 243A

  2. What is the tenure of Panchayats as per the Constitution?
    A) 3 years
    B) 4 years
    C) 5 years
    D) 6 years
    ✔️ Answer: C) 5 years

  3. Which Article provides for State Election Commission for Panchayat elections?
    A) Article 324
    B) Article 243K
    C) Article 243H
    D) Article 356
    ✔️ Answer: B) Article 243K

  4. How many subjects are included in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution?
    A) 12
    B) 18
    C) 29
    D) 36
    ✔️ Answer: C) 29

🟠 Municipalities (Urban Local Government)

  1. Which Article defines types of Municipalities?
    A) Article 243R
    B) Article 243Q
    C) Article 243S
    D) Article 243W
    ✔️ Answer: B) Article 243Q

  2. What is the term of Municipal Corporations as per the Constitution?
    A) 3 years
    B) 5 years
    C) 6 years
    D) 10 years
    ✔️ Answer: B) 5 years

  3. Which Schedule lists functions of Urban Local Bodies?
    A) 10th
    B) 12th
    C) 11th
    D) 9th
    ✔️ Answer: B) 12th Schedule

  4. How many functions are listed in the 12th Schedule?
    A) 11
    B) 17
    C) 18
    D) 29
    ✔️ Answer: C) 18

🟣 Miscellaneous & Important Institutions

  1. Who conducts elections to Panchayats and Municipalities?
    A) Election Commission of India
    B) State Election Commission
    C) High Court
    D) Parliament
    ✔️ Answer: B) State Election Commission

  2. Which body recommends financial distribution to Panchayats and Municipalities?
    A) RBI
    B) Planning Commission
    C) State Finance Commission
    D) Central Audit Board
    ✔️ Answer: C) State Finance Commission

  3. Which was the first state to implement Panchayati Raj in 1959?
    A) Uttar Pradesh
    B) Gujarat
    C) Rajasthan
    D) Maharashtra
    ✔️ Answer: C) Rajasthan


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