UPSC Prelims 2000 Q46: Indian Polity – Local Government & Panchayati Raj

UPSC Prelims 2000, General Studies Paper I · Indian Polity

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Local bodies) (States as in 1999) I. Zila Parishads at the sub - divisional level II. Mandal Praja Parishad III. Tribal Councils IV. Absence of Village Panchayats List II A) Andhra Pradesh B) Assam C) Mizoram D) Meghalaya Codes:

(a) I - B, II - A, III - D, IV - C
(b) I - A, II - B, III - D, IV - C
(c) I - C, II - B, III - A, IV - D
(d) I - B, II - A, III - C, IV - D

Answer: (d) I - B, II - A, III - C, IV - D

Explanation

Local bodies in four States (as in 1999)

Feature	State
Zila Parishads at the sub-divisional level	Assam — the Mohkuma (sub-divisional) Parishad
Mandal Praja Parishad	Andhra Pradesh — the middle tier
Tribal Councils	Mizoram — autonomous district councils under the Sixth Schedule (Lai, Mara, Chakma)
Absence of village panchayats	Meghalaya — whole State under the Sixth Schedule; traditional durbars instead

Assam's panchayat law of the 1970s-80s placed its top tier, the Mohkuma Parishad, at the sub-divisional level rather than the district.

Andhra Pradesh (1986) set up Mandal Praja Parishads as its middle tier.

Mizoram has tribal councils, the autonomous district councils of the Lai, Mara and Chakma, under the Sixth Schedule.

Meghalaya has no village panchayats; under Article 243M, Part IX does not apply to Sixth Schedule areas, and villages are run by traditional durbars and the district councils.

So the match is I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D.

Answer: (d) I - B, II - A, III - C, IV - D.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Incorrect. It swaps Mizoram and Meghalaya: the tribal councils are Mizoram's in this list and the absence of panchayats is Meghalaya's.
(b) Incorrect. Mandal Praja Parishads were Andhra Pradesh's, not Assam's.
(c) Incorrect. Zila Parishads at the sub-divisional level were Assam's, not Mizoram's.
(d) CORRECT. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya.

Key point

Article 243M: Part IX (panchayats) does not apply to Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sixth/Fifth Schedule areas.

Remember

Assam sub-divisional parishad, AP Mandal Praja Parishad, Mizoram tribal councils, Meghalaya no panchayats.

Common mistakes

Swapping Mizoram and Meghalaya, since both are Sixth Schedule States.
Giving Mandal bodies to Assam instead of Andhra Pradesh.
Forgetting that Meghalaya relies on traditional institutions.

Exam tip

Mandal = Andhra; Meghalaya = durbars, no panchayats.

Sources

M. Laxmikanth — Indian Polity
Constitution of India — Article 243M and the Sixth Schedule (legislative.gov.in)

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