Ashok Mehta Committee was constituted to make recommendations on which one of the following issues?
- A.Division of tax revenues between Centre and States
- B.Panchayati Raj System
- C.Appointment of Governors
- D.Presidential and Vice Presidential elections
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Panchayati Raj System. The Janata government set up the Ashok Mehta Committee in December 1977 to suggest how to revive the weakening Panchayati Raj institutions.
The committee reported in August 1978. Its main proposal was a two-tier system: a Zila Parishad at the district level and a Mandal Panchayat for a group of villages, replacing the three tiers suggested by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee of 1957. It also recommended open participation of political parties in panchayat elections, compulsory powers of taxation for panchayats, a constitutional status for them and reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal acted on some of its ideas.
A is wrong because the division of taxes is the task of the Finance Commission. C is wrong because Governors' appointments were examined by the Sarkaria Commission among others. D is wrong because presidential elections are governed by Articles 54 to 59 and no such committee was set up for them.
Exam tip: Balwant Rai Mehta 1957 — three tiers; Ashok Mehta 1977–78 — two tiers; L. M. Singhvi 1986 — constitutional status.
Practice Questions
View allConsider the following statements :
1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
A Panchayat formed after an early dissolution serves only the rest of the original term, but the minimum age to be a member is 21 years, not 25.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements :
1. The Election Commission of India is five-member body.
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.3 only
Show answer
Only statement 3 is correct: the Election Commission decides disputes over splits and mergers of recognised parties. Under Article 324 the Commission superintends, directs and controls elections to Parliament, the State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Read the full explanation →In India, Judicial Review implies
- A.the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.
- B.the power of the Judiciary to question the wisdom of the laws enacted by the Legislatures.
- C.the power of the Judiciary to review all the legislative enactments before they are assented to by the President.
- D.the power of the Judiciary to review its own judgements given earlier in similar or different cases.
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Judicial review lets the Supreme Court and the High Courts strike down any law or executive action that violates the Constitution.
Read the full explanation →Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement ?
- A.Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution
- B.Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV
- C.Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III
- D.Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution
Show answer
The Supreme Court has held privacy to be part of the right to life and personal liberty in Article 21 and of the other freedoms in Part III.
Read the full explanation →A special address by the Governor refers to the address delivered by the Governor
- A.when President's Rule is called for
- B.when a national emergency necessitates dissolution of the Legislative Assembly
- C.at the commencement of the first session after general election and at the first session of each year
- D.whenever he/she has concluded that such is necessary
Show answer
Article 176 of the Constitution requires the Governor to give this special address on these two occasions. In the address the Governor tells the legislature why it has been summoned and sets out the policies and programme of the state government, whose council of ministers actually prepares the text.
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