RAS question
Who is the head (Chairperson) of a Panchayat Samiti in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (C) Pradhan.
In Rajasthan, the chairperson of a Panchayat Samiti is the Pradhan.
Explanation
The Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 makes the terminology explicit: for a Panchayat Samiti, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan respectively. This fits the block-level structure because the Act provides for a Panchayat Samiti for every declared block. Section 28 also explains the method of selection: the elected members of the Panchayat Samiti choose two members from among themselves to serve as Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. The Pradhan is therefore the elected head of the Panchayat Samiti, while the Up-Pradhan is the deputy office-holder who supports that role under the Act.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) A Sarpanch is the chairperson in the case of a Panchayat, not a Panchayat Samiti.
- (B) Zila Pramukh belongs to the Zila Parishad level, whereas the Panchayat Samiti chairperson is the Pradhan.
- (D) The Block Development Officer is an executive officer, not the elected chairperson chosen by Panchayat Samiti members.
Concept
This tests Panchayati Raj office-bearer terminology in Rajasthan Political and Administrative System. It matters because the Act assigns different chairperson titles to Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad, making level-wise confusion common in RAS MCQs.