Which of the following statements is not true regarding 'Gram Sabha'?
- (a)It has the powers and functions at the village level, like state Legislature has at the state level.
- (b)Its powers are determined by the Central Government.
- (c)It is a Village Assembly consisting of all registered voters in the area of Panchayat.
- (d)(a) and (c) both
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.
- (a)It has the powers and functions at the village level, like state Legislature has at the state level. — 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)It is a Village Assembly consisting of all registered voters in the area of Panchayat. — 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)(a) and (c) both — Both (a) and (c) are true statements, so this option identifies true statements — not the false one the question asks for.
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.
The 'not true' framing means you hunt for the single false statement. The false note is federal: local government is a State subject (73rd Amendment inserted Part IX), so it is the State Legislature — not the Central Government — that determines a Gram Sabha's powers. Options (a) and (c) are textbook-correct descriptions and act as decoys.
- Article 243(b): the Gram Sabha comprises all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat's area.
- Article 243A: the STATE Legislature determines the powers and functions of the Gram Sabha (not the Central Government).
- The Gram Sabha and Panchayats were given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 (Part IX).
- In PESA (Scheduled) areas, the Gram Sabha has enhanced powers over natural resources and minor forest produce.
- Assuming the Central Government controls local bodies — Panchayats are a State subject (Article 243A)
- Confusing the Gram Sabha (village electorate) with the Gram Panchayat (elected executive body)
UPPSC/UPSC test the constitutional definition and control of the Gram Sabha, often via a 'which statement is NOT correct' format that plants a Centre-vs-State error.
In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha? 1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas. 2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce. 3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(b) 1 and 2 only
Both test the constitutional/statutory powers of the Gram Sabha — the same institution at the heart of this question.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Under the Constitution, the powers and functions of the Gram Sabha are determined by:
- (a)The Central Government
- (b)The Legislature of the State
- (c)The Election Commission of India
- (d)The District Collector
Answer(b) The Legislature of the State — under Article 243A.
- practice — not a real PYQ
As defined in Article 243, the Gram Sabha consists of:
- (a)The elected members of the Gram Panchayat
- (b)All persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat area
- (c)The Sarpanch and ward members only
- (d)All adult residents above 25 years of age
Answer(b) All persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within a Panchayat area.