72. Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.
While federalism is a grand, macro-constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalization and imbibing of the culture of local self-government, including municipal self-administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although
Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.
Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State
Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Consider the following statements regarding the above passage.
1. During British Rule PRIs were in anemic condition.
2. According to our Constitution the destination of the wheels of federalism is the local rural body.
3. In the three tier structure village Panchayat is the base of local democracy.
4. A sizeable number of seats in PRIs are now being held by women.
72. Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.
While federalism is a grand, macro-constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalization and imbibing of the culture of local self-government, including municipal self-administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although
Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.
Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State
Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Consider the following statements regarding the above passage.
1. During British Rule PRIs were in anemic condition.
2. According to our Constitution the destination of the wheels of federalism is the local rural body.
3. In the three tier structure village Panchayat is the base of local democracy.
4. A sizeable number of seats in PRIs are now being held by women.
The correct option is C Only 2 and 4
Passage mentions that PRIs virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anemic condition after the independence till the enactment of 73rd Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992. Hence statement 1 is incorrect. Passage mentions that If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state it’s harmonious wheels, then local self-government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. Hence statement 2 is correct. Passage mentions that the structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram Sabha) being the foundation of local democracy. Hence statement 3 is incorrect. Passage mentions that 33 per cent of all seats in Panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. Hence statement 4 is correct.
Passage mentions that PRIs virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anemic condition after the independence till the enactment of 73rd Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992. Hence statement 1 is incorrect. Passage mentions that If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state it’s harmonious wheels, then local self-government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. Hence statement 2 is correct. Passage mentions that the structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram Sabha) being the foundation of local democracy. Hence statement 3 is incorrect. Passage mentions that 33 per cent of all seats in Panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. Hence statement 4 is correct.
