RAS question
Who is the head of the Panchayat Samiti in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (A) Pradhan.
In Rajasthan, the elected head of a Panchayat Samiti is the Pradhan.
Explanation
The Panchayat Samiti is headed by the Pradhan, not by its administrative officer. The Pradhan is the elected head, and Section 33 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 supports that role by listing the Pradhan’s powers, functions and duties. It says the Pradhan convenes, presides over and conducts Panchayat Samiti meetings, exercises supervision and control over the Vikas Adhikari for implementing Panchayat Samiti decisions, and has overall supervision over its financial and executive administration. These functions are those of the political head of the Panchayat Samiti. The Block Development Officer or Vikas Adhikari works in the executive-administrative channel; the Pradhan is the elected head.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) The Block Development Officer is the chief executive officer of the Panchayat Samiti, so the role is administrative rather than that of the elected head.
- (C) The Up-Pradhan is the deputy to the Pradhan, so it cannot be the head post of the Panchayat Samiti.
- (D) The Sarpanch heads the Gram Panchayat, not the Panchayat Samiti at the block level.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan Panchayati Raj institutions and the distinction between elected posts and executive officials. It recurs in RAS because block-level local governance roles are a core part of Rajasthan polity and administration.