GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

Panchayati Raj, Municipal Government, 73rd & 74th Amendments, Grassroots Movements

A. General / Conceptual

1. Comment: Political Modernization in India. (1993)

B. 73rd and 74th Amendments

1. Bring out the common and unique features of the 73rd and the 74th amendments to the Constitution of India. Do you think that these amendments would contribute to the achievement of ‘gender’ and ‘social’ justice at the grassroot level? (2002)
2. Comment: Role of Gram Sabha under the Constitution (Seventy-third-Amendment) Act, 1992. (2005)
3. Highlight the impact of 73rd Constitutional Amendment on the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions in India. (2006)
4. Comment: The Panchayati Raj institutions and district administration should develop a new relationship for achieving the goal of good governance. (2007)
5. Discuss how far the grass root democratic institutions have remained successful in accelerating the process of rural development after 73rd constitutional amendment. (2007)
6. Examine the changing structures of Panchayati Raj institutions with special reference to 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. (2013)
7. Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA), 1996. (2018)
8. To what extent has 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution enhanced women’s empowerment? (2020)
9. Examine the unique features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Do you think this Amendment would contribute in achieving the goal of empowerment of marginalised sections of the society? (2022)
10. Discuss the major provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Do you think that the Act remains an ‘unfulfilled dream’? Argue your case. (2023)

C. Women and Empowerment

1. Explain how the participation of women impacted the functioning of rural local bodies in India. (2014)
2. Has the 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowered women in panchayats in India? Discuss. (2017)
3. Comment in 150 words: New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment. (2018)

D. Role of PRIs, Urban Local Bodies & Good Governance

1. Examine the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies in deepening of democracy in India. (2015)
2. The goal of Good governance will be achieved only by strengthening the grass root level democracy. (2016)
3. Political decentralization has not been matched by administrative decentralization at the grass roots level. Explain. (2019)
4. Do you think that despite having significant limitations the Panchayati Raj Institutions have strengthened the process of democratic decentralization? Give your views. (2021)

E. Specific Institutions (Gram Sabha, District Planning Committee)

1. Comment on functions of District Planning Committee. (2023)
2. Gram Sabha in the Panchayati Raj system is a forum which gives expression to the collective wisdom, aspirations and the will of the people. Comment. (2024)