UPSC Themes

UPSC CSE Mains 2015 · GS2

In absence of well–educated and organised local level government system, ‘Panchayats’ and ‘Samitis’ have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically discuss.

Theme

T92 Local self-government: 73rd/74th Amendments, functions, funds & functionaries

What UPSC asks in this theme

Repeated: effectiveness of local bodies, functions-funds-functionaries, state reluctance to empower ULBs, panchayat finances, and rural-urban merger.

What to cover

Writing the answer

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 8 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.

On the map

Map module 9: Society & polity on the map

More PYQs from this theme

  1. GS2202410 marks

    Analyse the role of local bodies in providing good governance at local level and bring out the pros and cons merging the rural local bodies with the urban local bodies.

  2. GS2202310 marks

    “The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially.” Comment.

  3. GS2202210 marks

    To what extent in your opinion has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

  4. GS22020

    The strength and sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of ‘Functions, Functionaries and Funds’ to the contemporary stage of ‘Functionality’. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times.

  5. GS22018

    Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing development projects?

  6. GS22017

    “The local self government system in India has not proved to be effective instrument of governance”. Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation.

  7. GS22013

    Discuss the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission which have been a departure from the previous commissions for strengthening the local government finances.

All 20 GS2 2015 questions · Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations · Report a typo