SSC
A two-tier system of Panchayati Raj was recommended by the:
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Answer: Option A — Ashok Mehta Committee
Detailed Solution
The Ashok Mehta Committee, appointed in December 1977 by the Janata Party government, recommended a two-tier system of Panchayati Raj in place of the existing structure.
Background:
- Panchayati Raj had been introduced in several states from the late 1950s.
- By the 1970s, these institutions had become weak because of irregular elections, lack of funds and political interference.
- The committee was asked to suggest how to revive and strengthen them.
- It submitted its report in August 1978 with 132 recommendations.
Main recommendations:
- A two-tier system: a district-level body as the first point of decentralisation below the state, and Mandal Panchayats covering a group of villages with a total population of 15,000 to 20,000.
- The district should be the main unit for planning and development.
- Political parties should take part officially in Panchayati Raj elections.
- Panchayati Raj institutions should have compulsory powers of taxation to raise their own resources.
- Seats should be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on the basis of their population.
- A minister for Panchayati Raj should be appointed in the state council of ministers.
- There should be regular social audit of the work of these bodies.
- Nyaya Panchayats should be kept separate from development panchayats.
What happened:
- The Janata government fell before it could act at the national level.
- However, states such as Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh introduced reforms based partly on the committee's ideas.
- West Bengal held panchayat elections on a party basis in 1978.
Later committees:
The G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) linked Panchayati Raj with rural development administration.
Another committee in the 1980s recommended constitutional status for local self-government.
Why not the other options?
The G.V.K. Rao Committee dealt with administrative arrangements for rural development.
The Dantwala Committee dealt with block-level planning.
The P.K. Thungon Committee recommended constitutional recognition.
Quick tip
Remember: Ashok Mehta Committee (1977 to 1978) = two-tier Panchayati Raj with Mandal Panchayats.
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Panchayati Raj & Municipalities — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Panchayati Raj & Municipalities, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers local self-government in India: the Balwant Rai Mehta and Ashok Mehta committees, the 73rd Amendment on panchayats (Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule), the 74th Amendment on municipalities (Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule), and state election commissions and finance commissions. Questions commonly ask which state first adopted Panchayati Raj (Rajasthan, at Nagaur in 1959), which committee recommended the three-tier system, and what the 73rd and 74th Amendments provide, such as reservation for women of not less than one-third of seats. The Eleventh Schedule lists 29 subjects and the Twelfth lists 18. Practise the Panchayati Raj and municipalities questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.