Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution At Work Chapter 8 Local Government 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

1. Which one of the following schedules of the Indian Constitution is related to the transfer of subjects to the Panchayati Raj Institutions?

• (a) Tenth Schedule
• (b) Seventh Schedule
• (c) Eleventh Schedule
• (d) Twelfth Schedule

Answer: (c) Eleventh Schedule.

2. Who among the following can be members of the Gram Sabha?

• (a) All adults registered as voters in the Panchayat area
• (b) Only panchayat officials
• (c) Only elected representatives
• (d) Members of Parliament

Answer: (a) All adults registered as voters in the Panchayat area.

3. Which constitutional amendment gave constitutional status to urban local bodies?

• (a) 44^th Amendment
• (b) 73^rd Amendment
• (c) 74^th Amendment
• (d) 42^nd Amendment

Answer: (c) 74^th Amendment.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. What is the significance of the Gram Sabha in rural local government?

Answer: Gram Sabha consists of all adult voters of a village and acts as the foundation of rural local government. It monitors and participates in Panchayat decisions, ensuring democracy at the grassroots.

2. What does the term ‘decentralisation’ mean in the context of Indian polity?

Answer: Decentralisation means distributing power and decision-making from central or state governments to local bodies, allowing local people to address their own issues more effectively.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. Give two reasons why local governments are considered essential for democracy in India.

Answer: Local governments directly involve people in their governance, making administration more responsive to local needs. They provide decentralized decision-making, ensuring accountability and quick solutions for community-specific issues.

2. List any three features of the 73^rd Amendment Act.

Answer: The 73^rd Amendment introduced (i) a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure, (ii) regular direct elections to all tiers every five years, and (iii) reservation of one-third seats for women, including chairpersons.

4. Long Answer Questions.

1. Explain the provisions related to reservations under the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment and discuss its impact on rural leadership in India.

Answer: The 73^rd Amendment mandated that one-third of all seats and chairperson positions in Panchayats are reserved for women, and seats are also reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as per their population. Many states reserve seats for OBCs too. This provision has increased women and marginalized groups’ participation in village leadership, fostering diversity and representation in grassroots democracy.

1. Constitutional mandate for 1/3 reservation for women
2. Reservation for SCs and STs as per population
3. Increased diversity in local leadership
4. Greater participation of marginalized groups in decision-making

2. Analyze two major challenges that still restrict the full autonomy of local governments in India despite constitutional provisions.

Answer: Despite constitutional backing, local governments often lack financial independence, as most revenue comes from state grants rather than self-generated sources. Additionally, many states have not fully transferred administrative powers or all listed subjects to local bodies, resulting in limited actual authority and dependence on higher levels for crucial decisions.

1. Financial dependence on state/central transfers
2. Partial transfer of administrative powers/subjects

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): Local governments have ensured greater participation of women and marginalized communities in representative institutions.
Reason (R): The 73^rd and 74^th Amendments mandated reservation of seats for women, SCs, and STs in local bodies.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Mandated reservation has directly led to increased participation among these groups.

Assertion (A): The process of decentralisation in India remains incomplete.
Reason (R): All states have transferred complete financial and administrative powers to local governments.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false. Not all states have fully transferred powers to local governments, hence decentralisation is still incomplete.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

1. The 74^th Amendment Act of 1992 relates to __________ local bodies in India.

Answer: urban

2. The institution comprising all adult voters in a Panchayat area is called the __________.

Answer: Gram Sabha

3. Panchayats are required to conduct direct elections at every tier every __________ years.

Answer: five

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