Class 6 Civics Chapter 4 Practice Question Answers - Panchayati Raj

Q1: What is the 'Panchyati Raj system'?
Ans: A process through which people participate in their government.

Q2: What are the objectives of ‘watershed development programme’?
Ans: The objectives of "watershed development programme" are:

• To control desertification.
• To encourage restoration of ecological balance.
• To promote economic development of village community.

Q3: What is the main objective of the Village Panchayat?
Ans: The main objective of the village Panchayat is to improve the condition of the villagers and to make them self-sufficient.

Q4: What are the functions of the Gram Sabha?
Ans: The Gram Sabha is the key factor in making the Gram Panchayat a responsible local body. It prevents the village Panchayat from doing wrong things like misusing money. It plays an important role in keeping an eye on the elected members.

Q5: Who is a Sarpanch?
Ans: All the members of the Gram Sabha elect a Sarpanch who is the Panchayat President. Seats for Sarpanch are reserved for women who belong to scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. Sarpanch presides over the meetings of the Panchayat.

Q6: Explain the relation between the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha.
Ans: The work of the Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the Gram Sabha. In some states, Gram Sabha forms committees like construction and development committees. The members are from the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. They work together to carry out specific tasks.

Q7: Who forms the Gram Panchayat and for what term they are elected?
Ans: The Ward members (Panchs) and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat. Gram Panchayat is elected for a term of five years.

Q8: Describe the importance of the local government.
Ans: The local government develops the feeling of self-reliance among the local people. It develops initiative and spirit of cooperation. It trains local people in running the Central and the State administration. It finishes the local work with speed and with minimum expenditure.

Q9: Where does the Gram Panchayat get its funds from?
Ans: The source of funds of Gram Panchayat are:

• 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.

Q10: How is the Pradhan of the village Panchayat elected?
Ans: The elected members of the Gram Panchayat elect from among themselves a Sarpanch and a Deputy Sarpanch for a term of five years.

Q11: Which award is given by the Government for excellence by the Panchs?
Ans: The Panchs of different Gram Panchayats are awarded with the Nirmal Gram Puruskar by the central government for their excellent work every year.

Q12: What are the duties of a District Commissioner?
Ans: The District Commissioner is also called the collector or District Officer. He is the representative of the state Government. He looks after the district administration. It is his duty to coordinate the work of the government officers of the district.

Q13: What was the criterion for making the BPL list?
Ans: The first Below Poverty Line was made in the Rajya Sabha on December, 21, 1978 by the then Prime Minister. BPL was based on the rupee value of a specified nutritional requirement. The cost of the grain that fulfils this nutritional standard was calculated. This cost was the poverty line.

Q14: Explain the role of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti.
Ans: Every Panchayat Samiti elects two of its members as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Their tenure of office is for five years. They can be removed by the Panchayat Samiti members by passing a resolution supported by 2/3rd majority. Seats for the post of Chairman are reserved for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Q15: Explain all the function of the Zila Parishad.
Ans: The main function of the Zila Parishad is to coordinate all the activities of the Panchayati Raj. It gives advice to the State government on the work of the Panchayats and the Samitis. It prepares a plan for its district development.

Q16: Why do we need a local government?
Ans: A local government is very important for following purpose:

• The aim of the local bodies is to solve the local problems by cooperation and without depending upon others.
• The local people only know their problems and for meeting their needs, it is the local people who take interest.
• They also finish the work with speed and with least expenditure.
• The local government also lightens the work of the Central and State government.
• They also provide training of administration to the people at lower levels.

Q17: Why do you think Panchayats are so important in our country?
Ans: Panchayats have been in existence since ages. After 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution in 1993, they got the constitutional status. The panchayats have been conceived as development agencies.
The Panchayati Raj system is very important due to following reasons:

• They aim at rural development by involving the rural community. Panchayati Raj strengthens the foundation of the Indian democracy.
• It provides representation to the weaker sections of the society namely, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and women.
• The Gram Panchayat maintains water sources, village wells, tanks and pumps, street lighting and drainage system.
• It also reduces the burden of the state government. Though the Panchayati raj system functions independently, but it is the state government that formulates the rules and regulations regarding the functioning of the local self-government. 

Q18: State five rules that became effective from April 1993 regarding Panchayati Raj.
Ans: In 1992, the Parliament amended the constitution and formulated rules for the Panchayati Raj system. The state and the centre had to follow these rules from April 1993 onwards.
The rules are given below:

• It should be a three-tier system – the village level, the intermediate or block level and the district level. 
• Direct elections should be conducted for all the seats in the panchayats.
• The state should ensure representation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in the area.
• Minimum of one third of the total number of seats is to be reserved for women.
• A member of panchayat should not be less than 21 years of age.
• The State Election Commission should hold regular panchayat elections.

Q19: What are the responsibilities of the Sarpanch in Gram Panchayat?
Ans: Sarpanch has various responsibilities, some of them are:

• Looking after street lights, construction and repair work of the roads in the villages and also the village markets, fairs, festivals and celebrations.
• Keeping a record of births, deaths and marriages in the village.
• Looking after public health and hygiene by providing facilities for sanitation and drinking water.
• Providing for education. Implementing development schemes for agriculture and animal husbandry.

Q20: What is the function of the third level of Panchayati Raj?
Ans: Zilla Parishad or District Panchayat is the apex body of Panchayati Raj System.

• It examines and approves the budget of panchayat samitis in the district.
• Also issues directions to the panchayat samitis for efficient performance of their functions.
• Coordinates development plans prepared by the panchayat samitis.
• It distributed funds, allocated by the State government to the panchayat samitis in the district.
• It collects statistics relating to the activities of local authorities in the district.