NCERT Textbook: Panchayati Raj - Indian Polity for UPSC CSE

 Page 1


UNIT - III
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Local Government
and
Administration
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   35 14-11-2022   04:53:35 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2


UNIT - III
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Local Government
and
Administration
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   35 14-11-2022   04:53:35 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
What happens after people elect their 
representatives? How are decisions made? Let’s 
look at how this takes place in rural areas. Here,  
we look at the Gram Sabha, which is a meeting 
where people directly participate and seek  
answers from their elected representatives.
Chapter 4
Panchayati Raj
I
t’s a special day today! Everyone’s 
rushing to get to the Gram Sabha! 
Do you know why? Because the Gram 
Sabha is holding its first meeting after 
the election of the new Gram Panchayat.
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all 
adults who live in the area covered by 
a Panchayat. This could be only one 
village or a few villages.  In some states, 
as in the example above, a village 
meeting is held for each village.  Anyone 
who is 18 years old or more and who 
has the right to vote is a member of the 
Gram Sabha.
The people of Hardas village are keen 
to find out what their new Panchayat 
leaders have planned for the village.
Gram Sabha
The Gram Sabha meeting begins with 
the Panchayat President (who is also 
called the Sarpanch) and the members 
of the Panchayat (the Panchs) 
presenting a plan on repairing the road 
that connects the village to the main 
highway. After this, the discussion 
moves to the subject of water and 
water shortages.
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   36 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3


UNIT - III
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Local Government
and
Administration
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   35 14-11-2022   04:53:35 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
What happens after people elect their 
representatives? How are decisions made? Let’s 
look at how this takes place in rural areas. Here,  
we look at the Gram Sabha, which is a meeting 
where people directly participate and seek  
answers from their elected representatives.
Chapter 4
Panchayati Raj
I
t’s a special day today! Everyone’s 
rushing to get to the Gram Sabha! 
Do you know why? Because the Gram 
Sabha is holding its first meeting after 
the election of the new Gram Panchayat.
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all 
adults who live in the area covered by 
a Panchayat. This could be only one 
village or a few villages.  In some states, 
as in the example above, a village 
meeting is held for each village.  Anyone 
who is 18 years old or more and who 
has the right to vote is a member of the 
Gram Sabha.
The people of Hardas village are keen 
to find out what their new Panchayat 
leaders have planned for the village.
Gram Sabha
The Gram Sabha meeting begins with 
the Panchayat President (who is also 
called the Sarpanch) and the members 
of the Panchayat (the Panchs) 
presenting a plan on repairing the road 
that connects the village to the main 
highway. After this, the discussion 
moves to the subject of water and 
water shortages.
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   36 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Panchayati Raj / 37 
We need to do something more 
permanent as groundwater levels seem 
to be going down every year. We’re 
using more water than is seeping into 
the ground.”
Another member, Anwar then tells 
everyone that he has seen ways of 
conserving water and recharging 
(refilling) it in a village in Maharashtra 
where he’d once gone to visit his brother. 
It was called watershed development 
and he had heard that the government 
gave money for this work.
In his brother’s village people had 
planted trees, constructed check-dams 
and tanks. Everyone thought this 
was an interesting idea and the Gram 
Panchayat was asked to find out about 
it in detail.
1.  What is a Gram Sabha?
2.  In the meeting of the 
Gram Sabha so far what are 
the problems that are being 
discussed? What sort of solutions 
are being suggested?
A villager called Tijia begins the 
meeting by saying, “The water problem 
in Hardas has become very acute. The 
hand pump water has gone well below 
the point up to which the ground has 
been drilled. We hardly get any water 
in the taps. Women have to go to the 
Suru river which is 3 k.m. away to get 
water.” One of the members suggests 
piping water from the Suru and making 
an overhead tank in the village to 
increase the supply. But the others  
think that this will be expensive. 
It’s better, they feel, to deepen the 
handpumps and clean the wells for this 
season. Tijia says, “This is not enough.
Every village Panchayat is 
divided into wards, i.e. smaller 
areas. Each ward elects a 
representative who is known 
as the Ward Member (Panch). 
All the members of the Gram 
Sabha also elect a Sarpanch 
who is the Panchayat 
President.  The Ward Panchs 
and the Sarpanch form the 
Gram Panchayat. The Gram 
Panchayat is elected for five 
years.
The Gram Panchayat has 
a Secretary who is also the 
Secretary of the Gram Sabha. 
This person is not an elected 
person but is appointed by the 
government. The Secretary 
is responsible for calling 
the meeting of the Gram 
Sabha and Gram Panchayat 
and keeping a record of the 
proceedings.
The next item on the agenda for the 
Gram Sabha is the finalisation of the list 
of people below the poverty line (BPL) 
which had to be approved by the Gram 
Sabha. As soon as the list is read out 
people begin to whisper. “Natwar has 
just bought a colour T.V. and his son has 
sent him a new motorcycle. How can he 
be below the poverty line?” Soorajmal 
mutters to the person sitting next to 
him. Saroj says to Sukhi bai “How did 
Birju’s name get on to the list? He has 
so much land. This list should have 
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   37 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4


UNIT - III
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Local Government
and
Administration
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   35 14-11-2022   04:53:35 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
What happens after people elect their 
representatives? How are decisions made? Let’s 
look at how this takes place in rural areas. Here,  
we look at the Gram Sabha, which is a meeting 
where people directly participate and seek  
answers from their elected representatives.
Chapter 4
Panchayati Raj
I
t’s a special day today! Everyone’s 
rushing to get to the Gram Sabha! 
Do you know why? Because the Gram 
Sabha is holding its first meeting after 
the election of the new Gram Panchayat.
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all 
adults who live in the area covered by 
a Panchayat. This could be only one 
village or a few villages.  In some states, 
as in the example above, a village 
meeting is held for each village.  Anyone 
who is 18 years old or more and who 
has the right to vote is a member of the 
Gram Sabha.
The people of Hardas village are keen 
to find out what their new Panchayat 
leaders have planned for the village.
Gram Sabha
The Gram Sabha meeting begins with 
the Panchayat President (who is also 
called the Sarpanch) and the members 
of the Panchayat (the Panchs) 
presenting a plan on repairing the road 
that connects the village to the main 
highway. After this, the discussion 
moves to the subject of water and 
water shortages.
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   36 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Panchayati Raj / 37 
We need to do something more 
permanent as groundwater levels seem 
to be going down every year. We’re 
using more water than is seeping into 
the ground.”
Another member, Anwar then tells 
everyone that he has seen ways of 
conserving water and recharging 
(refilling) it in a village in Maharashtra 
where he’d once gone to visit his brother. 
It was called watershed development 
and he had heard that the government 
gave money for this work.
In his brother’s village people had 
planted trees, constructed check-dams 
and tanks. Everyone thought this 
was an interesting idea and the Gram 
Panchayat was asked to find out about 
it in detail.
1.  What is a Gram Sabha?
2.  In the meeting of the 
Gram Sabha so far what are 
the problems that are being 
discussed? What sort of solutions 
are being suggested?
A villager called Tijia begins the 
meeting by saying, “The water problem 
in Hardas has become very acute. The 
hand pump water has gone well below 
the point up to which the ground has 
been drilled. We hardly get any water 
in the taps. Women have to go to the 
Suru river which is 3 k.m. away to get 
water.” One of the members suggests 
piping water from the Suru and making 
an overhead tank in the village to 
increase the supply. But the others  
think that this will be expensive. 
It’s better, they feel, to deepen the 
handpumps and clean the wells for this 
season. Tijia says, “This is not enough.
Every village Panchayat is 
divided into wards, i.e. smaller 
areas. Each ward elects a 
representative who is known 
as the Ward Member (Panch). 
All the members of the Gram 
Sabha also elect a Sarpanch 
who is the Panchayat 
President.  The Ward Panchs 
and the Sarpanch form the 
Gram Panchayat. The Gram 
Panchayat is elected for five 
years.
The Gram Panchayat has 
a Secretary who is also the 
Secretary of the Gram Sabha. 
This person is not an elected 
person but is appointed by the 
government. The Secretary 
is responsible for calling 
the meeting of the Gram 
Sabha and Gram Panchayat 
and keeping a record of the 
proceedings.
The next item on the agenda for the 
Gram Sabha is the finalisation of the list 
of people below the poverty line (BPL) 
which had to be approved by the Gram 
Sabha. As soon as the list is read out 
people begin to whisper. “Natwar has 
just bought a colour T.V. and his son has 
sent him a new motorcycle. How can he 
be below the poverty line?” Soorajmal 
mutters to the person sitting next to 
him. Saroj says to Sukhi bai “How did 
Birju’s name get on to the list? He has 
so much land. This list should have 
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   37 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
38 / Social and Political Life
only poor people. And Om Prakash is  
a landless labourer who can barely 
make ends meet, yet his name is not on 
the list.”  “You know that both Natwar 
and Birju are friends of Amirchand.  
Who can counter Amirchand’s power?” 
Sukhi bai says, “Amirchand was the 
earlier Zamindar (landowner) of the 
village and still has control over a lot of 
land. But we should get Om Prakash’s 
name put in.”
The Sarpanch (Panchayat President) 
notices people whispering and asks 
if anyone has anything to say. Saroj 
tries to provoke Soorajmal to ask 
about Natwar and Birju. But he keeps 
quiet. Amirchand is sitting in the Gram 
Sabha keeping an eye on everyone. 
Then Saroj gets up and says that Om 
Prakash’s name should be in the BPL 
list. Others agree that he and his family 
are very poor. The Sarpanch asks how 
his name had been missed out. The 
person  who  did  the  survey of BPL 
families says, “Om Prakash’s house 
was locked when I went there. He may 
have gone somewhere to look for work.” 
The Sarpanch gives instructions that 
Om Prakash’s family income be looked 
at and if it is less than what has been 
decided by the government, his name 
should be included in the list.
The Gram Sabha is a 
key factor in making  
the Gram Panchayat 
play its role and be 
responsible. It is the 
place where all plans for 
the work of the Gram 
Panchayat are placed 
before the people. 
The Gram Sabha 
prevents the Panchayat 
from doing wrong things 
like misusing money  
or favouring certain 
people. It plays an 
important role in keeping 
an eye on the elected 
representatives and in 
making them responsible 
to the persons who 
elected them.
1. Was there a problem with the 
BPL list that the Gram Sabha was 
finalising?  What was this problem?
2. Why do you think Soorajmal kept 
quiet even though Saroj asked him to 
speak?
3. Have you seen any similar  
incidents when people are unable 
to speak for themselves? Why do 
you think that happened and what 
prevented the person from speaking?
4. How can the Gram Sabha prevent 
the Panchayat from doing what it 
likes?
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   38 14-11-2022   04:53:38 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5


UNIT - III
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Administration
Local Government
and
Administration
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   35 14-11-2022   04:53:35 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
What happens after people elect their 
representatives? How are decisions made? Let’s 
look at how this takes place in rural areas. Here,  
we look at the Gram Sabha, which is a meeting 
where people directly participate and seek  
answers from their elected representatives.
Chapter 4
Panchayati Raj
I
t’s a special day today! Everyone’s 
rushing to get to the Gram Sabha! 
Do you know why? Because the Gram 
Sabha is holding its first meeting after 
the election of the new Gram Panchayat.
The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all 
adults who live in the area covered by 
a Panchayat. This could be only one 
village or a few villages.  In some states, 
as in the example above, a village 
meeting is held for each village.  Anyone 
who is 18 years old or more and who 
has the right to vote is a member of the 
Gram Sabha.
The people of Hardas village are keen 
to find out what their new Panchayat 
leaders have planned for the village.
Gram Sabha
The Gram Sabha meeting begins with 
the Panchayat President (who is also 
called the Sarpanch) and the members 
of the Panchayat (the Panchs) 
presenting a plan on repairing the road 
that connects the village to the main 
highway. After this, the discussion 
moves to the subject of water and 
water shortages.
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   36 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Panchayati Raj / 37 
We need to do something more 
permanent as groundwater levels seem 
to be going down every year. We’re 
using more water than is seeping into 
the ground.”
Another member, Anwar then tells 
everyone that he has seen ways of 
conserving water and recharging 
(refilling) it in a village in Maharashtra 
where he’d once gone to visit his brother. 
It was called watershed development 
and he had heard that the government 
gave money for this work.
In his brother’s village people had 
planted trees, constructed check-dams 
and tanks. Everyone thought this 
was an interesting idea and the Gram 
Panchayat was asked to find out about 
it in detail.
1.  What is a Gram Sabha?
2.  In the meeting of the 
Gram Sabha so far what are 
the problems that are being 
discussed? What sort of solutions 
are being suggested?
A villager called Tijia begins the 
meeting by saying, “The water problem 
in Hardas has become very acute. The 
hand pump water has gone well below 
the point up to which the ground has 
been drilled. We hardly get any water 
in the taps. Women have to go to the 
Suru river which is 3 k.m. away to get 
water.” One of the members suggests 
piping water from the Suru and making 
an overhead tank in the village to 
increase the supply. But the others  
think that this will be expensive. 
It’s better, they feel, to deepen the 
handpumps and clean the wells for this 
season. Tijia says, “This is not enough.
Every village Panchayat is 
divided into wards, i.e. smaller 
areas. Each ward elects a 
representative who is known 
as the Ward Member (Panch). 
All the members of the Gram 
Sabha also elect a Sarpanch 
who is the Panchayat 
President.  The Ward Panchs 
and the Sarpanch form the 
Gram Panchayat. The Gram 
Panchayat is elected for five 
years.
The Gram Panchayat has 
a Secretary who is also the 
Secretary of the Gram Sabha. 
This person is not an elected 
person but is appointed by the 
government. The Secretary 
is responsible for calling 
the meeting of the Gram 
Sabha and Gram Panchayat 
and keeping a record of the 
proceedings.
The next item on the agenda for the 
Gram Sabha is the finalisation of the list 
of people below the poverty line (BPL) 
which had to be approved by the Gram 
Sabha. As soon as the list is read out 
people begin to whisper. “Natwar has 
just bought a colour T.V. and his son has 
sent him a new motorcycle. How can he 
be below the poverty line?” Soorajmal 
mutters to the person sitting next to 
him. Saroj says to Sukhi bai “How did 
Birju’s name get on to the list? He has 
so much land. This list should have 
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   37 14-11-2022   04:53:37 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
38 / Social and Political Life
only poor people. And Om Prakash is  
a landless labourer who can barely 
make ends meet, yet his name is not on 
the list.”  “You know that both Natwar 
and Birju are friends of Amirchand.  
Who can counter Amirchand’s power?” 
Sukhi bai says, “Amirchand was the 
earlier Zamindar (landowner) of the 
village and still has control over a lot of 
land. But we should get Om Prakash’s 
name put in.”
The Sarpanch (Panchayat President) 
notices people whispering and asks 
if anyone has anything to say. Saroj 
tries to provoke Soorajmal to ask 
about Natwar and Birju. But he keeps 
quiet. Amirchand is sitting in the Gram 
Sabha keeping an eye on everyone. 
Then Saroj gets up and says that Om 
Prakash’s name should be in the BPL 
list. Others agree that he and his family 
are very poor. The Sarpanch asks how 
his name had been missed out. The 
person  who  did  the  survey of BPL 
families says, “Om Prakash’s house 
was locked when I went there. He may 
have gone somewhere to look for work.” 
The Sarpanch gives instructions that 
Om Prakash’s family income be looked 
at and if it is less than what has been 
decided by the government, his name 
should be included in the list.
The Gram Sabha is a 
key factor in making  
the Gram Panchayat 
play its role and be 
responsible. It is the 
place where all plans for 
the work of the Gram 
Panchayat are placed 
before the people. 
The Gram Sabha 
prevents the Panchayat 
from doing wrong things 
like misusing money  
or favouring certain 
people. It plays an 
important role in keeping 
an eye on the elected 
representatives and in 
making them responsible 
to the persons who 
elected them.
1. Was there a problem with the 
BPL list that the Gram Sabha was 
finalising?  What was this problem?
2. Why do you think Soorajmal kept 
quiet even though Saroj asked him to 
speak?
3. Have you seen any similar  
incidents when people are unable 
to speak for themselves? Why do 
you think that happened and what 
prevented the person from speaking?
4. How can the Gram Sabha prevent 
the Panchayat from doing what it 
likes?
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   38 14-11-2022   04:53:38 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Panchayati Raj / 39 
The Gram Panchayat
The Gram Panchayat meets regularly 
and one of its main tasks is to 
implement development programmes 
for all villages that come under it.  As 
you have seen, the work of the Gram 
Panchayat has to be approved by the 
Gram Sabha.
In some states, Gram Sabhas 
form committees like construction 
and development committees. These 
committees include some members of 
the Gram Sabha and some from the 
Gram Panchayat who work together to 
carry out specific tasks.
Let’s see what the Hardas Gram 
Panchayat was able to do.
Do you remember the options 
that were suggested to solve the 
water problem in the Gram Sabha 
of Hardas village? When the Hardas 
Gram Panchayat held a meeting, this 
point was brought up again by some 
of the members (Panchs). This meeting 
was attended by the Sarpanch, Ward 
Members (Panchs) and the Secretary.
Gram Panchayat members first 
discussed the suggestion to deepen two 
handpumps and clean one well, so that 
the village would not go without water. 
The Sarpanch (Panchayat President) 
suggested that since the Panchayat had 
received some money for maintenance 
of handpumps, this could be used  
Two village Panchs from Maharashtra who were 
awarded the Nirmal Gram Puruskar in 2005 for 
the excellent work done by them in the Panchayat.
The work of a Gram Panchayat 
includes
1. The construction and maintenance 
of water sources, roads, drainage, 
school buildings and other common 
property resources.
2. Levying and collecting local taxes.
3. Executing government schemes 
related to generating employment 
in the village.
Sources of funds for the Panchayat
 ? Collection of taxes on houses, 
market places etc.
 ? Government scheme funds received 
through various departments of the 
government – through the Janpad and 
Zila Panchayats.
 ? Donations for community works etc.
Unit_III Ch 4.indd   39 14-11-2022   04:53:39 PM
Rationalised 2023-24