Gandhiji envisaged each village as a self sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw ____ to be an ideal model that will continue post independence.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Gram Swarajya
Option (3) Gram Swarajya — Correct. The concept of local government was dear to Gandhiji. He envisaged each village as a self-sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw gram-swarajya, village self-rule, as an ideal model to be continued after independence.
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 Panchayati Raj, with Gandhiji’s idea of gram-swarajya, is still there.
NCERT (2025-26): “Ideals of Panchayati Raj … When the constitution was being drafted, panchayats did not find a mention in it. At this juncture, a number of members expressed their sorrow, anger and disappointment over this issue. At the same time, drawing on his own rural experience, Dr. Ambedkar argued that local elites and upper castes were so well entrenched in society that local self-government only meant a continuing exploitation of the downtrodden masses of Indian society. The upper castes would no doubt silence this segment of the population further. The concept of local government was dear to Gandhiji too. He envisaged each village as a self-sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw gram-swarajya to be an ideal model to be continued after independence.” |