**What is Panchayati Raj?**
Panchayati Raj is a system of self-government in rural areas through village councils. 'Panchayat' means village council; 'Raj' means rule.
**Three Tiers of Panchayati Raj:**
1. Village Level: Gram Panchayat (led by Sarpanch)
2. Block Level: Block Panchayat / Panchayat Samiti
3. District Level: District Panchayat / Zila Parishad
**Key Terms:**
**Main Responsibilities:**
Agriculture, housing, road maintenance, water resources, education, health care, social welfare, cultural activities.
**Important Facts:**
**Don't Confuse:** Gram Sabha (all voters) ≠ Gram Panchayat (elected members). Sarpanch (elected head) ≠ Panchayat Secretary (administrative worker).
Q1. What does 'Panchayat' mean?
Answer: A — Panchayat is a village council that forms the base of rural self-government in India.
Q2. Who is the elected head of a Gram Panchayat?
Answer: B — The Sarpanch or Pradhan is elected directly by the Gram Sabha to lead the Gram Panchayat.
Q3. What is a Gram Sabha?
Answer: B — Gram Sabha is composed of all adult voters in a village who gather to discuss and decide on matters affecting their area.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of Panchayats?
Answer: C — Foreign policy is decided by the national government, not by village Panchayats; Panchayats focus on local issues.
Q5. The Panchayati Raj system works at __________ levels.
Answer: B — The three levels are village (Gram Panchayat), block (Block Panchayat), and district (District Panchayat).
Q6. What does a Patwari do in a village?
Answer: B — A Patwari maintains villagers' land records and sometimes keeps very old maps that help understand the past.
Q7. What is a Bal Panchayat?
Answer: B — Bal Panchayat is a children's council that creates opportunities for children to express their ideas and concerns in village governance.
Q8. Based on the diagram of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, which level is closest to the people?
Answer: C — Gram Panchayat at the village level is the base of the system and is closest to the common people.
Q9. Why is Panchayati Raj called 'grassroots democracy'?
Answer: B — Grassroots democracy means power is at the ground level with common people, which Panchayati Raj achieves by bringing governance to villages.
Q10. Which of the following examples shows how Panchayats help solve local problems?
Answer: A — Panchayats address local issues like road maintenance, water supply, and education through village-level decisions.
What is Panchayati Raj?
Panchayati Raj is a system of self-government in rural areas through village councils called Panchayats.
Who is the head of a Gram Panchayat called?
The head of a Gram Panchayat is called a Sarpanch or Pradhan, elected directly by the Gram Sabha.
What is a Gram Sabha?
Gram Sabha is a group of all adult voters in a village who discuss and decide on local matters together.
Name the three tiers of Panchayati Raj system.
The three tiers are Village Panchayat (Gram Panchayat), Block Panchayat (Panchayat Samiti), and District Panchayat (Zila Parishad).
What does a Patwari do in a village?
A Patwari maintains land records and maps of villagers, sometimes keeping maps that are generations old.
What is a Bal Panchayat?
Bal Panchayat is a children's council that gives children a voice in village decisions and addresses their concerns.
How are Gram Panchayat members chosen?
Gram Panchayat members are elected directly by the Gram Sabha, which consists of all adult voters in the village.
What are five responsibilities of Panchayats?
Panchayats handle agriculture, housing, road maintenance, water resources, education, healthcare, social welfare, and cultural activities.
Why is Panchayati Raj called grassroots democracy?
It is called grassroots democracy because power and decision-making are brought closest to common people at the village level.
What did Bal Panchayat in Maharashtra achieve?
Bal Panchayat in Maharashtra eliminated child labour and child marriage, and brought many children back to school.
What is Panchayati Raj? [1 mark]
Panchayati Raj is a system of self-government in rural areas; 'Panchayat' means village council that brings governance closer to people for their participation.
Name the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system and give one responsibility of each. [2 marks]
Three tiers are: Village (Gram Panchayat) — local issues; Block (Block Panchayat) — connects villages; District (District Panchayat) — oversees all. Give any one responsibility like education, roads, water, healthcare.
Explain with an example how a Gram Panchayat solves problems in a village. What role does the Gram Sabha play? [3 marks]
Example: If village road is damaged, Gram Sabha (all voters) discusses it, decides what to do. Gram Panchayat (elected members) led by Sarpanch implements the decision. Gram Sabha makes decisions; Gram Panchayat executes them.
What are Bal Panchayats? Describe any two achievements of Bal Panchayats mentioned in the chapter with examples from different states. [5 marks]
Bal Panchayats are children's councils. Achievements: Maharashtra — eliminated child labour and child marriage, brought children back to school; Sikkim — built school compound walls and kitchens for safe, hygienic meals; Rajasthan — Children's Parliament taught democracy and social responsibility through elections and night schools.
True or False: The Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat are the same thing. Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]
False — Gram Sabha is all adult voters who discuss and decide; Gram Panchayat is elected members who implement those decisions. They are different groups with different roles.
Practice with interactive flashcards, mind maps, upload your own chapters and get AI study kits instantly
Try StudyOS Free →