The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was the first committee appointed to examine the working of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working. This committee recommended the establishment of a three-tier panchayati raj system-gram panchayat at the village level, panchayat samiti at the block level and zila parishad at the district level. These tiers should be organically linked through a device of indirect elections.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 38

Statement 1 is correct. The term Panchayati Raj in India signifies the system of rural local self-government.

‘Local Government’ is a subject mentioned in the State List under the 7th Schedule of the Constitution. The jurisdiction of an urban local government is limited to a specific urban area which is demarcated for this purpose by the state government.

Statement 2 is correct. Municipal corporations are created for the administration of big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and others. The municipalities are established for the administration of towns and smaller cities.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Both Municipal Corporation and Municipalities are created in the states by the acts of the concerned state legislature and in the Union territory by the acts of the Parliament of India.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 38

Both the statements are correct.  Articles 371 to 371-J in Part XXI of the constitution contain special provisions for twelve states1 viz., Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka. The intention behind them is to meet the aspirations of the people of backward regions of the states or to protect the cultural and economic interests of the tribal people of the states or to deal with the disturbed law and order condition in some parts of the states or to protect the interests of the local people of the states.

Source) Chapter 37; Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Statement 1 is incorrect. All questions of disqualifications shall be referred to such authority as the state legislature determines. State Election Commission is vested with the power of superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the municipalities.

Statement 2 is incorrect.  As per the 74th Amendment act of 1992, no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of age if he has attained the age of 21 years. A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or for being a member of a municipality if he is so disqualified:

1. Under any law for the time being in force for the purposes of elections to the legislature of the State concerned; or

2. Under any law made by the state legislature.

The state legislature may make provision with respect to all matters relating to elections to the municipalities.

Both the statements are incorrect. All the members of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels shall be elected directly by the people. Further, the chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels shall be elected indirectly—by and from amongst the elected members thereof. However, the chairperson of a panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such manner as the state legislature determines.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 39

All are examples of local bodies. The following eight types of urban local bodies are created in India for the administration of urban areas:

● Municipal Corporation

● Municipality

● Notified Area Committee

● Town Area Committee

● Cantonment Board

● Township

● Port Trust

● Special Purpose Agency

Special Purpose Agencies are agencies to undertake designated activities or specific functions that ‘legitimately’ belong to the domain of municipal corporations or municipalities or other local urban governments. In other words, these are function-based and not area-based. They are known as ‘single purpose’, ‘uni-purpose’ or ‘special purpose’ agencies or ‘functional local bodies’. Some such bodies are:

1. Town improvement trusts.

2. Urban development authorities.

3. Water supply and sewerage boards.

4. Housing boards.

5. Pollution control boards.

6. Electricity supply boards.

7. City transport boards.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 39

Statements 1 and 2 are correct.  Article 371-A makes the following special provisions for Nagaland:

1. The Acts of Parliament relating to the following matters would not apply to Nagaland unless the State Legislative Assembly so decides:

(i) religious or social practices of the Nagas;

(ii) Naga customary law and procedure;

(iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law; and

(iv) ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

The Governor of Nagaland shall have special responsibility for law and order in the state so long as internal disturbances caused by the hostile Nagas continue. In the discharge of this responsibility, the Governor, after consulting the Council of Ministers, exercises his individual judgement and his decision is final. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 37

Statement 1 is correct. In 1687-88, the first municipal corporation in India was set up at Madras.

Statement 2 is Incorrect. Lord Ripon’s Resolution of 1882 has been hailed as the ‘Magna Carta’ of local self-government. He is called as the father of local-self government in India. Lord Mayo’s Resolution of 1870 on financial decentralization visualised the development of local self-government institutions.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The state legislature may provide the manner of election of the chairperson of a municipality.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 3

• Pair 2 and 3 is Incorrect: 

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: A regional council consisting of 35 members should be established for the Tuensang district of the state. The Governor should make rules for the composition of the council, manner of choosing its members, their qualifications, term, salaries and allowances; the procedure and conduct of business of the council; the appointment of officers and staff of the council and their service conditions; and any other matter relating to the constitution and proper functioning of the council.
• Statement 2 is Correct: For a period of ten years from the formation of Nagaland or for such further period as the Governor may specify on the recommendation of the regional council, the following provisions would be operative for the Tuensang district:

1. The administration of the Tuensang district shall be carried on by the  Governor.
2. The Governor shall in his discretion arrange for equitable distribution of money provided by the Centre between Tuensang district and the rest of Nagaland.
3. Any Act of Nagaland Legislature shall not apply to Tuensang district unless the Governor so directs on the recommendation of the regional council.
4. The Governor can make Regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Tuensang district. Any such Regulation may repeal or amend an Act of Parliament or any other law applicable to that district.
5. There shall be a Minister for Tuensang affairs in the State Council of Ministers. He is to be appointed from amongst the members representing Tuensang district in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
6. The final decision on all matters relating to Tuensang district shall be made by the Governor in his discretion.
7. Members in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from the Tuensang district are not elected directly by the people but by the regional council.

• Option C is the Correct Answer: The salient feature of the Panchayats(Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act,1996 (PESA) and the modalities worked out to grant a right to tribals in the country are:

1. Legislation on Panchayats shall be in conformity with the customary law, social and religious practices and traditional management practices of community resources;
2. Habitation or a group of habitations or a hamlet or a group of hamlets comprising a community and managing its affairs in accordance with traditions and customs; and shall have a separate Gram Sabha.
3. Every Gram Sabha to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of people, their cultural identity, community resources and the customary mode of dispute resolution.

• Option A is the Correct Answer: Compulsory provisions of Gram Sabha are as follows:

1. Organisation of Gram Sabha in a village or group of villages.
2. Establishment of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.
3. Direct elections to all seats in panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.
4. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels.
5. 21 years to be the minimum age for contesting elections to panchayats.
6. Reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for SCs and STs in panchayats at all the three levels.
7. Reservation of one-third seats (both members and chairpersons) for women in panchayats at all the three levels.
8. Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats at all levels and holding fresh elections within six months in the event of supersession of any panchayat.
9. Establishment of a State Election Commission for conducting elections to the panchayats. 
10. Constitution of a State Finance Commission after every five years to review the financial position of the panchayats.

• Statement 1 is Correct: A cantonment board is established for municipal administration for the civilian population in the cantonment area7. It is set up under the provisions of the Cantonments Act of 2006—legislation enacted by the Central government. It works under the administrative control of the defence ministry of the Central government.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: A cantonment board consists of partly elected and partly nominated members. The elected members hold office for a term of five years while the nominated members (i.e., ex-officio members) continue so long as they hold the office in that station.
• Statement 3 is Correct: The executive officer of the cantonment board is appointed by the president of India. He implements all the resolutions and decisions of the board and its committees.