MCQs on Local Governance

 

1. What is meant by Local Governance?


A. Governance only at the national level

B. Governance at the grassroots level

C. Governance by the judiciary

D. Governance by private organisations


Answer: B. Governance at the grassroots level



2. Local governance primarily aims at:


A. Centralisation of power

B. People's participation in administration

C. Elimination of local institutions

D. Increasing bureaucratic control


Answer: B. People's participation in administration


3. Which principle is most closely associated with local governance?


A. Centralisation

B. Decentralisation

C. Militarisation

D. Privatisation


Answer: B. Decentralisation


4. Decentralisation means:


A. Transfer of authority to lower levels

B. Concentration of authority at the centre

C. Abolition of local institutions

D. Transfer of power only to courts


Answer: A. Transfer of authority to lower levels


5. The constitutional status of Panchayati Raj Institutions was strengthened by:


A. 42nd Constitutional Amendment

B. 44th Constitutional Amendment

C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment

D. 86th Constitutional Amendment


Answer: C. 73rd Constitutional Amendment


6. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment relates primarily to:


A. Municipalities

B. Panchayats

C. Fundamental Duties

D. Emergency provisions


Answer: B. Panchayats


7. The 74th Constitutional Amendment relates to:


A. Panchayati Raj Institutions

B. Urban local bodies

C. Fundamental Rights

D. Election Commission of India


Answer: B. Urban local bodies


8. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment came into force in:


A. 1991

B. 1992

C. 1993

D. 1995


Answer: C. 1993


9. The 74th Constitutional Amendment came into force in:


A. 1992

B. 1993

C. 1994

D. 1995


Answer: B. 1993


10. Which Part of the Constitution deals with Panchayats?


A. Part VIII

B. Part IX

C. Part IX-A

D. Part X


Answer: B. Part IX


11. Which Part of the Constitution deals with Municipalities?


A. Part IX

B. Part IX-A

C. Part X

D. Part XI


Answer: B. Part IX-A


12. Panchayats are dealt with under which Articles?


A. Articles 243–243O

B. Articles 244–250

C. Articles 280–290

D. Articles 300–310


Answer: A. Articles 243–243O


13. Municipalities are dealt with under:


A. Articles 243A–243O

B. Articles 243P–243ZG

C. Articles 250–270

D. Articles 280–300


Answer: B. Articles 243P–243ZG


14. The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution contains:


A. 18 subjects

B. 22 subjects

C. 29 subjects

D. 30 subjects


Answer: C. 29 subjects


15. The Twelfth Schedule contains:


A. 18 subjects

B. 20 subjects

C. 29 subjects

D. 30 subjects


Answer: A. 18 subjects


16. The Eleventh Schedule is associated with:


A. Municipalities

B. Panchayats

C. Parliament

D. State Legislatures


Answer: B. Panchayats


17. The Twelfth Schedule is associated with:


A. Panchayats

B. Municipalities

C. Parliament

D. Judiciary


Answer: B. Municipalities


18. The Gram Sabha consists of:


A. Only elected Panchayat members

B. All registered voters in a village/Panchayat area

C. Only government officials

D. Members of Parliament


Answer: B. All registered voters in a village/Panchayat area


19. Gram Sabha is regarded as:


A. The foundation of grassroots democracy

B. A state-level institution

C. A judicial institution

D. A central government body


Answer: A. The foundation of grassroots democracy


20. Which body conducts elections to Panchayats and Municipalities?


A. Election Commission of India

B. State Election Commission

C. Union Public Service Commission

D. State Public Service Commission


Answer: B. State Election Commission


21. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by:


A. The President

B. The Prime Minister

C. The Governor of the State

D. The Chief Minister


Answer: C. The Governor of the State


22. Which body reviews the financial position of Panchayats?


A. Finance Commission of India

B. State Finance Commission

C. Planning Commission

D. Election Commission


Answer: B. State Finance Commission


23. The State Finance Commission is constituted every:


A. 2 years

B. 3 years

C. 5 years

D. 10 years


Answer: C. 5 years


24. The normal term of a Panchayat is:


A. 3 years

B. 4 years

C. 5 years

D. 6 years


Answer: C. 5 years


25. If a Panchayat is dissolved before the completion of its term, elections should normally be held within:


A. 3 months

B. 6 months

C. 1 year

D. 2 years


Answer: B. 6 months


26. Which institution generally functions at the village level?


A. Zila Parishad

B. Gram Panchayat

C. Municipal Corporation

D. State Legislature


Answer: B. Gram Panchayat


27. Which institution generally functions at the district level in the Panchayati Raj system?


A. Gram Sabha

B. Gram Panchayat

C. Zila Parishad

D. Nagar Panchayat


Answer: C. Zila Parishad


28. The intermediate level of Panchayati Raj is generally known as:


A. Gram Sabha

B. Panchayat Samiti

C. Zila Parishad

D. Municipal Council


Answer: B. Panchayat Samiti


29. Which Constitutional Amendment provided reservation for women in Panchayats?


A. 42nd Amendment

B. 61st Amendment

C. 73rd Amendment

D. 74th Amendment


Answer: C. 73rd Amendment


30. The constitutional minimum reservation for women in Panchayats is:


A. 10%

B. 25%

C. One-third

D. One-half


Answer: C. One-third


31. Reservation in Panchayats is provided for:


A. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

B. Only Scheduled Tribes

C. Only women

D. Only Other Backward Classes


Answer: A. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes


32. Which committee is associated with the recommendation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj system?


A. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

B. Sarkaria Committee

C. Mandal Commission

D. Punchhi Commission


Answer: A. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee


33. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was appointed in:


A. 1952

B. 1957

C. 1962

D. 1967


Answer: B. 1957


34. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee emphasised:


A. Democratic decentralisation

B. Centralisation

C. Judicial review

D. Parliamentary privileges


Answer: A. Democratic decentralisation


35. The Ashok Mehta Committee was appointed in:


A. 1965

B. 1977

C. 1985

D. 1990


Answer: B. 1977


36. The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended:


A. A two-tier Panchayati Raj structure

B. A four-tier structure

C. Abolition of Panchayats

D. Complete centralisation


Answer: A. A two-tier Panchayati Raj structure


37. The district was regarded by the Ashok Mehta Committee as:


A. An unimportant administrative unit

B. The first point of decentralisation

C. A judicial unit

D. A central government unit


Answer: B. The first point of decentralisation


38. The L. M. Singhvi Committee is particularly associated with:


A. Constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj institutions

B. Abolition of local government

C. Centralisation of administration

D. Judicial appointments


Answer: A. Constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj institutions


39. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment introduced:


A. Eleventh Schedule

B. Twelfth Schedule

C. Tenth Schedule

D. Ninth Schedule


Answer: A. Eleventh Schedule


40. The 74th Constitutional Amendment introduced:


A. Eleventh Schedule

B. Twelfth Schedule

C. Fifth Schedule

D. Sixth Schedule


Answer: B. Twelfth Schedule


41. Which is an urban local body?


A. Gram Panchayat

B. Panchayat Samiti

C. Municipal Corporation

D. Zila Parishad


Answer: C. Municipal Corporation


42. A Nagar Panchayat is generally established for:


A. A rural area

B. A transitional area moving from rural to urban

C. A district headquarters only

D. A metropolitan city only


Answer: B. A transitional area moving from rural to urban


43. A Municipal Council generally represents:


A. A smaller urban area

B. A village area

C. A district rural area

D. A tribal area only


Answer: A. A smaller urban area


44. A Municipal Corporation is generally established for:


A. A larger urban area

B. A village

C. A rural block

D. A Gram Sabha


Answer: A. A larger urban area


45. Local governance promotes:


A. People's participation

B. Administrative secrecy

C. Excessive centralisation

D. Political exclusion


Answer: A. People's participation


46. Which of the following is an important objective of decentralisation?


A. Increasing distance between administration and people

B. Improving people's participation in decision-making

C. Eliminating local accountability

D. Concentrating all powers at the national level


Answer: B. Improving people's participation in decision-making


47. The principle of subsidiarity suggests that:


A. All decisions should be taken by the central government

B. Decisions should be taken at the lowest appropriate level

C. Local bodies should have no authority

D. Bureaucrats should replace elected representatives


Answer: B. Decisions should be taken at the lowest appropriate level


48. Which of the following is essential for effective local governance?


A. Adequate functions, funds and functionaries

B. Complete dependence on central government

C. Absence of public participation

D. Elimination of accountability


Answer: A. Adequate functions, funds and functionaries


49. The concept of “3Fs” in decentralisation refers to:


A. Finance, Federalism and Freedom

B. Functions, Funds and Functionaries

C. Functions, Federalism and Finance

D. Funds, Freedom and Federalism


Answer: B. Functions, Funds and Functionaries


50. The fundamental objective of local governance is to:


A. Strengthen grassroots democracy and improve local service delivery

B. Increase central control

C. Reduce citizen participation

D. Abolish representative institutions


Answer: A. Strengthen grassroots democracy and improve local service delivery




Sources / References


IGNOU, Public Administration Study Materials


Constitution of India — Parts IX and IX-A


Second Administrative Reforms Commission reports


Balwant Rai Mehta Committee Report


Ashok Mehta Committee Report


L. M. Singhvi Committee Report


M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity


Standard textbooks on Indian Administration and Local Governance

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