RAS question
Gram Panchayat is headed by:
Correct answer: (B) Sarpanch (elected).
A Gram Panchayat is headed by the elected Sarpanch.
Explanation
The head of a Gram Panchayat is the Sarpanch, an elected representative. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj's e-GramSwaraj page supports this framing through its Panchayat Profile module, which records Gram Panchayat elected member details from the "Sarpanch - President" to ward members. The Sarpanch is the elected head, while the Gram Sachiv provides administrative support. The point of the question is therefore not just to recognise a panchayat functionary, but to distinguish political leadership from administrative assistance within the Gram Panchayat.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Gram Sachiv is wrong because the Secretary provides administrative support, not the elected head of the Gram Panchayat.
- (C) Pradhan is wrong here because the Panchayat Profile wording identifies the Sarpanch as the President in Gram Panchayat elected-member details.
- (D) Patwari is wrong because a Patwari is not identified as the Gram Panchayat's head.
Concept
This tests the basic institutional structure of Panchayati Raj at the village level. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan polity questions often check whether candidates can separate elected local representatives from administrative staff.