The idea is to ensure at the village or grass root level a functioning and vibrant democracy. … 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. It was, however, only in 1992 that grassroot democracy or decentralised governance was ushered in by the 73 Constitutional Amendment. … It is compulsory now for local self-government bodies in rural and municipal areas to be elected every five years.
A line left out at the end of the passage states what, more importantly, is now given to the elected bodies. What is it?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Control over resources within their area
Option (1) Control over resources within their area — Correct. After the 73rd Amendment, control of local resources is given to the elected local bodies. This is the point the passage marks as more important than regular elections.
Option (2) Authority to prepare plans for the district as a whole — Incorrect. Preparing plans for the district as a whole is the work of the District Planning Committee. That is a separate district-level body, so this power does not go to every elected local body.
Option (3) Command over police posts within their jurisdiction — Incorrect. Police posts are not placed under elected local bodies. Their new power is over local resources such as land, water and forests.
Option (4) Power to make laws on land ceilings and tenancy — Incorrect. Laws on land ceilings and tenancy are land reform laws made by state legislatures. Elected panchayats do not make such laws.
NCERT (2026-27): “Ideals of Panchayati Raj … |