Local Self-Government MCQ & Notes — 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Panchayati Raj for UPSC, SSC

Local Self-Government MCQ & Notes — 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Panchayati Raj for UPSC, SSC

Local Self-Government — covering the 73rd Amendment (Panchayati Raj, rural areas) and 74th Amendment (Municipalities, urban areas) — is one of the most consistently asked Polity topics in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL and State PSC exams. This guide covers the evolution of local self-government, what each amendment added to the Constitution, the key committees behind them, and the PESA Act — followed by 10 practice MCQs with answers.

Why This Topic Matters for Competitive Exams

The 73rd and 74th Amendments gave constitutional status to local bodies through two entirely new Parts and two new Schedules, so exams frequently test article ranges, schedule numbers, the tier structure, and the committees (Balwant Rai Mehta, Ashok Mehta, L.M. Singhvi) that shaped this reform over four decades.

Evolution of Local Self-Government in India

• Lord Ripon's Resolution (1882) is regarded as the starting point of local self-government in India, which is why Lord Ripon is often called the "Father of Local Self-Government in India."
• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a democratic, three-tier Panchayati Raj system; it was first adopted by Rajasthan (Nagaur district, 2 October 1959), followed by Andhra Pradesh.
• Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) reviewed the working of Panchayati Raj and recommended a two-tier system instead.
• G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) and the L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended that local self-government be given constitutional status to make it more effective and less vulnerable to being dissolved arbitrarily by state governments.
• The 64th and 65th Constitutional Amendment Bills (1989) attempted to give this constitutional status but could not be passed.
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, 1992 were finally enacted and came into force on 24 April 1993 (Panchayats) and 1 June 1993 (Municipalities) respectively. 24 April is celebrated every year as National Panchayati Raj Day.

73rd Amendment — Panchayati Raj (Part IX)

• Inserted Part IX (Articles 243 to 243O) and the Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects) into the Constitution.
• Established a mandatory three-tier system: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (intermediate/block) and Zilla Parishad (district), with a Gram Sabha of all registered voters at the village level.
• Reservation: one-third of seats (and chairperson posts) for women, and proportional reservation for SCs and STs.
• Fixed 5-year tenure; fresh elections must be held before expiry, or within 6 months if a Panchayat is dissolved early.
• Provided for a State Election Commission (Article 243K) to conduct Panchayat elections and a State Finance Commission (Article 243I) to review the finances of Panchayats.
• The PESA Act, 1996 (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act) extends the Panchayati Raj system, with modifications, to Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule.

74th Amendment — Municipalities (Part IXA)

• Inserted Part IXA (Articles 243P to 243ZG) and the Twelfth Schedule (18 subjects) into the Constitution.
• Provides for three types of Urban Local Bodies depending on the size and nature of the area: a Nagar Panchayat (transitional area, rural-to-urban), a Municipal Council (smaller urban area), and a Municipal Corporation (larger urban area).
• Mandates Ward Committees in municipalities with a population of three lakh or more.
• Provides for a District Planning Committee (Article 243ZD) to consolidate rural and urban development plans, and a Metropolitan Planning Committee (Article 243ZE) for metropolitan areas.

Key Facts

• 24 April is celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day every year, marking the day the 73rd Amendment came into force in 1993.
• Both amendments apply reservation for women (at least one-third) — the 73rd applies this to all tiers of Panchayats and the 74th to Municipalities.

Local Self-Government MCQ — Practice Questions

Q1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act primarily deals with which institution?
A. Municipalities B. Panchayati Raj C. Cooperative Societies D. High Courts
Answer: B. Panchayati Raj

Q2. The 74th Amendment Act inserted which new Part into the Constitution?
A. Part IX B. Part IXA C. Part X D. Part XI
Answer: B. Part IXA

Q3. The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, lists how many subjects?
A. 18 B. 29 C. 22 D. 12
Answer: B. 29 subjects

Q4. Which committee first recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system?
A. Ashok Mehta Committee B. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee C. L.M. Singhvi Committee D. Sarkaria Committee
Answer: B. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957)

Q5. The 73rd Amendment Act came into force on which date?
A. 1 June 1993 B. 24 April 1993 C. 26 January 1993 D. 2 October 1993
Answer: B. 24 April 1993

Q6. The Twelfth Schedule, added by the 74th Amendment, lists how many subjects?
A. 29 B. 18 C. 15 D. 20
Answer: B. 18 subjects

Q7. Which committee recommended granting constitutional status to local self-government bodies?
A. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee B. Ashok Mehta Committee C. L.M. Singhvi Committee D. G.V.K. Rao Committee
Answer: C. L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986)

Q8. The PESA Act, which extends Panchayati Raj provisions to Scheduled Areas, was enacted in which year?
A. 1992 B. 1996 C. 2001 D. 1993
Answer: B. 1996

Q9. Which Article provides for a State Election Commission to conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections?
A. Article 243H B. Article 243I C. Article 243K D. Article 243ZA
Answer: C. Article 243K

Q10. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was first adopted by which state?
A. Andhra Pradesh B. Rajasthan C. Maharashtra D. West Bengal
Answer: B. Rajasthan (Nagaur district, 2 October 1959)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments?
The 73rd Amendment (1992) gives constitutional status to rural local bodies (Panchayats) through Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule. The 74th Amendment (1992) gives constitutional status to urban local bodies (Municipalities) through Part IXA and the Twelfth Schedule.

Q. Who is regarded as the father of the Panchayati Raj system in India?
Lord Ripon is called the "Father of Local Self-Government in India" for his 1882 resolution, while the modern three-tier Panchayati Raj structure traces back to the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957), first implemented in Rajasthan in 1959.

Practice More on Indian Polity

Test your understanding with the free Local Self-Government quiz on FreePrep, and read the Centre-State Relations MCQ and Directive Principles of State Policy MCQ for related Polity practice. You can also attempt today's free daily quiz.