Q. With reference to panchayats in India, consider the following statements:
1. A state having a population below 20 lakhs may not constitute panchayats at the intermediate level.
2. The provision relating to the reservation of seats in panchayats for the Scheduled Castes is not applicable to Arunachal Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Panchayati Raj act provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati raj in every state, that is, panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels. However, a state having a population not exceeding 20 lakhs may not constitute panchayats at the intermediate level.
Statement 2 is correct. The provision relating to the reservation of seats in panchayats (both members and chairpersons) for the scheduled castes is not applicable to the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This is because the state is inhabited fully by indigenous tribal people and there are no scheduled castes. This provision was added later by the 83rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2000.
