1997 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies

Question 20: Polity and Governance

Which one of the following was NOT proposed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the area of Panchayati Raj?

aThirty per cent seats in all elected rural local bodies will be reserved for women candidates at all levels
bThe States will constitute their Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayati Raj Institutions
cThe Panchayati Raj elected functionaries will be disqualified to hold their offices if they have more than two children
dThe elections will be held in six months’ time if Panchayati Raj bodies are super-ceded or dissolved by the State government

AnswerThe answer is (c).

The 73rd Amendment (Part IX of the Constitution) did not disqualify panchayat members for having more than two children. Some States later added two-child conditions through their own laws. The Amendment itself reserves not less than one-third of seats for women, provides for State Finance Commissions (Article 243-I), and requires fresh elections within six months of dissolution or supersession.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Close to the Amendment: it reserves not less than one-third of seats for women, and thirty per cent is loose rounding.
  • (b) It is in the Amendment: States must set up Finance Commissions to review panchayats' finances.
  • (c) Right: the Amendment contains no two-child disqualification.
  • (d) It is in the Amendment: fresh elections must be held within six months of dissolution.

Worth knowing: Option (a) says thirty per cent where the Amendment says one-third, but (c) is the clear outlier.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.