Question

Read the following source and answer the questions that follow:

Local Self Government

The local government structure goes right up to the district level. A few gram panchayats are grouped together to form what is usually called a panchayat samiti or block or mandal. The members of this representative body are elected by all the panchayat members in that area. All the panchayat samitis or mandals in a district together constitute the zilla (district) parishad. Most members of the zilla parishad are elected. Members of the Lok Sabha and MLAs of that district and some other officials of other district level bodies are also its members. Zilla parishad chairperson is the political head of the zilla parishad. Similarly, local government bodies exist for urban areas as well. Municipalities are set up in towns. Big cities are constituted into municipal corporations. Both municipalities and municipal corporations are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives. Municipal chairperson is the political head of the municipality. In a municipal corporation, such an officer is called the mayor. This new system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy conducted anywhere in the world.

1. Explain the relationship between gram panchayats and panchayat samitis.   1
2. How is the structure of municipal corporation different from municipality?   1
3. How does the local government structure promote democracy? Examine.  2

Answer 1

1. A few Gram Panchayats are grouped together to form a Panchayat Samiti, also known as a block or mandal. The members of the Panchayat Samiti are elected by the Gram Panchayat members within the area.
2. A municipality governs a town, while a municipal corporation manages big cities (Large administration responsibility). The head of a municipality is a municipal chairperson, whereas in a municipal corporation, the political head is the mayor.
3. Local government promotes democracy by decentralising power, allowing people’s direct participation in governance. It ensures representation, addresses local issues effectively and empowers citizens, making governance more accountable and responsive.