Which one of the following committees is NOT associated with decentralization of Panchayati Raj institutions in India?
- (a)Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
- (b)Ashok Mehta Committee
- (c)L. M. Singhvi Committee
- (d)Abhijit Sen Committee
Correct — D, the Abhijit Sen Committee. Abhijit Sen chaired the Committee on Long Term Grain Policy (2002), which dealt with foodgrain procurement, the minimum support price and the public distribution system — agricultural policy, not local self-government. The other three are landmark Panchayati Raj committees: the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the three-tier panchayat structure that launched Panchayati Raj; the Ashok Mehta Committee (1977-78) recommended reviving and strengthening it (a two-tier model); and the L. M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended giving panchayats constitutional status — an idea that fed into the 73rd Amendment.
- (a)Balwant Rai Mehta Committee — A core Panchayati Raj committee — its 1957 report recommended the three-tier system (village, block, district) and led to Panchayati Raj being launched in 1959, so it is associated with decentralization.
- (b)Ashok Mehta Committee — The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977-78) reviewed the working of Panchayati Raj and recommended a two-tier structure and other reforms — squarely a decentralization committee.
- (c)L. M. Singhvi Committee — The L. M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended constitutional recognition and protection for panchayats and regular elections — directly about strengthening Panchayati Raj.
Decentralization in India runs through a chain of expert committees: Balwant Rai Mehta (1957) recommended three-tier panchayats; Ashok Mehta (1977-78) recommended revitalisation with a two-tier scheme; G. V. K. Rao (1985) sought to strengthen administrative links; and L. M. Singhvi (1986) recommended constitutional status, which culminated in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. The Abhijit Sen Committee belongs to a different domain — agricultural and foodgrain policy.
The odd-one-out format rewards knowing the theme of each committee. Three names cluster around local self-government; only Abhijit Sen (grain policy and MSP) is off-theme. Recognise the domain of the committee, not just the name.
- Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system; Panchayati Raj was inaugurated in Rajasthan in 1959.
- Ashok Mehta Committee (1977-78) recommended a two-tier structure (zila parishad and mandal panchayat).
- L. M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended constitutional status for panchayats, a key input to the 73rd Amendment (1992).
- The Abhijit Sen Committee on Long Term Grain Policy (2002) dealt with the minimum support price and the public distribution system, not local governance.
Three are Panchayati Raj committees; the Abhijit Sen committee dealt with foodgrain and MSP policy — the odd one out.
- Confusing the Abhijit Sen grain-policy committee with a local-government body.
- Mixing up which committee recommended a two-tier (Ashok Mehta) versus a three-tier (Balwant Rai Mehta) structure.
Asked as an odd-one-out — which committee or report does NOT belong to the Panchayati Raj / local self-government theme.
What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj setup?
- (a) Single tier structure of local self-government at the village level
- (b) Two-tier system of local self-government at the village and block levels
- (c) Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
- (d) Four tier system of local self-government at the village, block, district and state levels
Answer(c) Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
Same decentralization theme — the three-tier system tested here is exactly what the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended, one of the very committees this NDA item asks you to recognise.
Which one of the following was NOT proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the area of Panchayati Raj?
- (a) Thirty per cent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all levels
- (b) The States will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayati Raj Institutions
- (c) The Panchayati Raj elected functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
- (d) The elections will be held in six months' time if Panchayati Raj bodies are super-ceded or dissolved by the State government
Answer(c) The Panchayati Raj elected functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
Same odd-one-out logic on Panchayati Raj — there you spot the provision NOT in the 73rd Amendment; here you spot the committee NOT tied to decentralization. Both reward knowing what genuinely belongs to the Panchayati Raj framework.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The three-tier Panchayati Raj system was first recommended by which committee?
- (a)Ashok Mehta Committee
- (b)Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
- (c)L. M. Singhvi Committee
- (d)Sarkaria Commission
Answer(b) the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957).
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which committee recommended giving constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions?
- (a)Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
- (b)Ashok Mehta Committee
- (c)L. M. Singhvi Committee
- (d)Abhijit Sen Committee
Answer(c) the L. M. Singhvi Committee (1986), an input to the 73rd Amendment.