RAS question
The Eleventh Schedule (added by the 73rd Amendment) contains how many subjects for Panchayats?
Correct answer: (B) 29.
The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment Act, contains 29 functional subjects for Panchayats.
Explanation
The Eleventh Schedule is the constitutional list used for Panchayat functions after the 73rd Amendment Act. It contains 29 functional subjects, including agriculture, land improvement, minor irrigation, animal husbandry, fisheries, social forestry, small scale industries, education and health. The Constitution text supports the link between Panchayats and this Schedule: Article 243G says state law may devolve powers and responsibilities on Panchayats for preparing and implementing plans for economic development and social justice, including matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. So the point tested is not a general local-government number, but the specific Eleventh Schedule count for rural local bodies.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 33 is wrong because the Eleventh Schedule has 29 Panchayat subjects, not 33.
- (C) 25 understates the constitutional list; the Eleventh Schedule contains 29 functional subjects for Panchayats.
- (D) 18 belongs to the Twelfth Schedule for municipalities, while the question asks about Panchayats under the Eleventh Schedule.
Concept
This tests Panchayati Raj institutions under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, especially the linkage between Article 243G and the Eleventh Schedule. It recurs in RAS because local self-government, devolution and rural administration are core governance themes.