Q. With reference to Panchayat Samiti in India, consider the following statements:
1. It is a local government body at the tehsil or Taluka level in India.
2. It is mandatory for every Indian state to constitute a Panchayati samiti at the intermediate level.
3. District magistrate acts as ex-officio chairman of the panchayat samiti.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Janpad Panchayat or the Panchayat Samiti is created at the Tehsil or taluka level. The Panchayat Samiti has many Gram Panchayats under it. Panchayat Samiti is the middle tier of the Panchayati Raj System. These are named differently in different States.
Statement 2 is incorrect: According to the Constitution, it is mandatory for every state to constitute panchayats at village, intermediate and district levels. However, there is an exception that, states with population less than 20Lakh may not be required to constitute panchayat at intermediate level.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Chairperson of the Panchayat at the intermediate level shall be elected by the elected members of Panchayat samiti from amongst the members. (Hence, District Magistrate is not the ex-officio chairman)
| Important Tips Organization and functions Panchayat Samiti vary from state to state as these are determined by the Act passed by the concerned State. It coordinates all the activities of the Panchayats in a Block. A Panchayat Samiti is generally constituted by the following members: • all the Sarpanches (Mukhias) or Chairpersons of the Gram Panchayats within the Block • MPs, MLAs, and MLCs of that Block • some directly elected Members • the elected Members of Zila Parishad from that Block • some Officers of that Block. |
