Which of the following is not a responsibility of Panchayats?
(A) To promote Schemes of Social Justice
(B) To concentrate governmental financial responsibilities to itself
(C) Control the government through electoral process
(D) To prepare plans for economic development
(E) To levy and collect appropriate taxes
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (B) and (C) Only
(A) To promote Schemes of Social Justice A responsibility (Incorrect). Panchayats are to promote schemes that will enhance social justice.
(B) To concentrate governmental financial responsibilities to itself Not a responsibility (Correct). Panchayati Raj is about decentralised governance. Panchayats are to help in the devolution of governmental responsibilities, especially that of finances, to local authorities, which means spreading them out, not gathering them into one body.
(C) Control the government through electoral process Not a responsibility (Correct). Achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process is the aim of a political party, an organisation formed for that very purpose. A Panchayat is itself an elected institution of self-government; controlling the government is not one of the powers delegated to it.
(D) To prepare plans for economic development A responsibility (Incorrect). The first of the delegated powers is to prepare plans and schemes for economic development.
(E) To levy and collect appropriate taxes A responsibility (Incorrect). Panchayats are to levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.
Note: The chapter ‘The Story of Indian Democracy’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, has been renamed ‘The Constitution and Social Change’ in the NCERT book (2025-26). Its section on the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats is still there.
NCERT (2025-26): “Powers and Responsibilities of Panchayats … According to the Constitution, Panchayats should be given powers and authority to function as institutions of self-government. It, thus, requires all state governments to revitalise local representative institutions. The following powers and responsibility were delegated to the Panchayats:
Section 3.2, Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics (NCERT 2025-26) |
