Which of the following statements is not true regarding 'Gram Sabha'?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, 'Its powers are determined by the Central Government' — this is the statement that is NOT true. Under Article 243A, a Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the LEGISLATURE OF A STATE may, by law, provide. Panchayats and Gram Sabhas are a State subject; their powers are fixed by State legislation, not the Central Government. So Statement B is false, making it the answer to this 'not true' question.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) This is a true (hence NOT the answer) description — the Gram Sabha is the deliberative body at the village level, drawn from the whole village electorate, analogous to how a legislature represents its constituents.  (c) This is true, and so NOT the answer — Article 243(b) defines the Gram Sabha as a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within the area of a Panchayat.  (d) Both (a) and (c) are true statements, so this option identifies true statements — not the false one the question asks for.

Concept: The Gram Sabha is the foundational, direct-democracy body of the Panchayati Raj system: Article 243(b) defines it as all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat's area. Article 243A leaves it to each State Legislature to decide, by law, what powers and functions the Gram Sabha shall exercise — placing it squarely under State, not Central, control.

State PCS 2023 Q18 — Polity & Governance PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q18 — Polity & Governance PYQ with Answer