In the early 1980s, the panchayat of a village in a large state had not faced a vote for a long time, and officials appointed by the state government ran its affairs. Plans for the roads, wells and schools of the whole region were made far away in the state capital, with little local say. After a change in the Constitution in 1992, the villagers once again voted for their panchayat, and a new body was set up for the region to put together drafts for its growth as a whole.
Which provision of the 1992 amendment applies most directly to the problem this panchayat faced in the 1980s?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Elections to these bodies must be conducted every five years.
Option (1) Elections to these bodies must be conducted every five years. — Correct. In the 1980s the panchayat went years without a vote and officials ran it. The 73rd Amendment of 1992 made it compulsory for local bodies to be elected every five years, so such long gaps cannot happen again.
Option (2) Elections to these bodies must be conducted every three years. — Incorrect. The amendment fixed regular elections every five years. A three-year cycle is no part of the provision.
Option (3) Elections to these bodies are compulsory in states with over fifty lakh people. — Incorrect. The population limit in the amendment was over twenty lakhs, and it decided which states get the three-tier system. Regular elections apply to these local bodies in general.
Option (4) Members of these bodies are chosen by the Gram Sabha every year. — Incorrect. The Gram Sabha does elect the local government, but not every year. The members are elected for a term of five years.
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