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RAS question

Arrange the following milestones in the evolution of Panchayati Raj in India in chronological order: 1. Ashok Mehta Committee Report on Panchayati Raj 2. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act comes into force 3. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommends three-tier democratic decentralisation 4. GVK Rao Committee recommends revitalisation of PRIs 5. L.M. Singhvi Committee Report on Gram Sabha strengthening

Correct answer: (A) 3 then 1 then 4 then 5 then 2.

The correct chronological order of these Panchayati Raj milestones is Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee, G.V.K. Rao Committee, L.M. Singhvi Committee, and then the 73rd Constitutional Amendment coming into force on 24 April 1993.

  1. (A)

    3 then 1 then 4 then 5 then 2

  2. (B)

    3 then 4 then 1 then 5 then 2

  3. (C)

    1 then 3 then 4 then 5 then 2

  4. (D)

    3 then 1 then 5 then 4 then 2

Explanation

The sequence starts with the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in 1957, which recommended Panchayati Raj Institutions at the village, intermediate and district levels. It is followed by the Ashok Mehta Committee of 1977, which came before the G.V.K. Rao Committee of 1985. The Bihar State Election Commission places the L.M. Singhvi Committee in 1986 and notes that it recommended constitutional recognition and a legal framework for Panchayati Raj Institutions. The final milestone is the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which came into force on 24 April 1993. So the correct order is 3-1-4-5-2, matching option A.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Option B wrongly places the G.V.K. Rao Committee before the Ashok Mehta Committee, although Ashok Mehta is dated 1977 and G.V.K. Rao is dated 1985.
  • (C) Option C starts with the Ashok Mehta Committee, but the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee of 1957 predates it and must come first.
  • (D) Option D reverses the 1985 G.V.K. Rao Committee and the 1986 L.M. Singhvi Committee, so its middle sequence is not chronological.

Concept

This tests the evolution of Panchayati Raj and democratic decentralisation, especially the committee-to-constitutional-amendment timeline. It recurs in RAS because Panchayati Raj links Indian polity, rural governance and Rajasthan's local-government administration.

Source

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