MCQs

1. What does decentralisation mean?

a) Giving power from the Union Government to the State Government

b) Transferring power from central and state governments to local governments

c) Concentrating power in the central government

d) Eliminating state governments

2. What constitutional amendment strengthened local government in India?

a) 42nd Amendment

b) 52nd Amendment

c) 73rd Amendment

d) 80th Amendment

3. What is the primary decision-making body at the village level in the Panchayati Raj system?

a) Gram Panchayat

b) Zilla Parishad

c) Gram Sabha

d) Panchayat Samiti

4. How are local government elections conducted?

a) By the Election Commission of India

b) By the State Election Commission

c) By the Prime Minister’s Office

d) By the District Collector

5. What percentage of seats in local government bodies are reserved for women?

a) 25%

b) 33%

c) 40%

d) 50%

Answers and Explanations

1. (b) Transferring power from central and state governments to local governments.

• Decentralisation allows local governments to handle community-level issues efficiently .

2. (c) 73rd Amendment.

• The 73rd Amendment (1992) provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions .

3. (c) Gram Sabha.

• The Gram Sabha consists of all adult members of a village and supervises the Gram Panchayat’s activities .

4. (b) By the State Election Commission.

• State Election Commissions oversee local government elections, ensuring free and fair polls .

5. (b) 33%. • One-third of the seats in local government institutions are reserved for women .