With reference to the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats, which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Establishment of maternity centres - Social welfare responsibility
Option (1) Establishment of maternity centres - Social welfare responsibility — Correct. Maternity centres care for mothers and newborn children, so setting them up is a social welfare responsibility of the Panchayats. It sits with child welfare centres, burial grounds and birth and death records.
Option (2) Construction of wells and tanks - Social welfare responsibility — Incorrect. Wells and tanks are building works for the village. They belong to the development activities of the Panchayats, along with roads, schools and public buildings.
Option (3) Recording statistics of births and deaths - Development activity — Incorrect. Keeping records of births and deaths is a social welfare responsibility of the Panchayats. Development activities are building works and minor irrigation, and record keeping is not one of them.
Option (4) Control of cattle pounds - Development activity — Incorrect. Control of cattle pounds falls under the social welfare responsibilities of the Panchayats, so pairing it with development activity is wrong. Development activities are building works such as roads, schools, wells and tanks.
NCERT (2026-27): “Powers and Responsibilities of Panchayats … “to prepare plans and schemes for economic development to promote schemes that will enhance social justice to levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees help in the devolution of governmental responsibilities, especially that of finances to local authorities Social welfare responsibilities of the Panchayats include the maintenance of burning and burial grounds, recording statistics of births and deaths, establishment of child welfare and maternity centres, control of cattle pounds, propagation of family planning and promotion of agricultural activities. The development activities include the construction of roads, public buildings, wells, tanks and schools. They also promote small cottage industries and take care of minor irrigation works. …” |