RAS question
Which officer serves as the chief executive officer at the Panchayat Samiti level in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (D) Block Development Officer (BDO).
At the Panchayat Samiti level in Rajasthan, the Block Development Officer, also known as the Vikas Adhikari, serves as the chief executive officer.
Explanation
The officer serving as the chief executive officer at the Panchayat Samiti level is the Block Development Officer (BDO), also called the Vikas Adhikari. The cited Rajasthan Third State Finance Commission report describes Panchayat Samitis as block-level agencies responsible for implementing development works in rural areas, and says that a Panchayat Samiti is headed by the elected Pradhan, who is assisted by a Chief Executive known as the Block Development Officer. This matches the administrative logic of the question: the Pradhan is the elected political head, while the BDO is the executive officer responsible for running block-level development administration and ensuring that programmes are implemented efficiently.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) A Tehsildar is a revenue officer, whereas the Panchayat Samiti's chief executive role is specifically attached to the Block Development Officer.
- (B) A Patwari is a village-level revenue official, not the executive head of the Panchayat Samiti at block level.
- (C) A Collector heads district administration, while the question asks for the Panchayat Samiti-level chief executive officer.
Concept
This tests the administrative structure of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Rajasthan, especially the distinction between elected heads and executive officers. It recurs in RAS because block-level governance is central to rural development administration.