The primary sector involves activities that:

produce goods directly from nature

Which of these belongs to the secondary sector?

Manufacturing cloth from cotton in a factory

Why is local government important in rural India?

Because India has about 600,000 villages and nearly two-thirds of people live in rural areas, so they need to manage local issues themselves.

What is Panchayati Raj?

It is the system of rural local self-government, in which the village council (Panchayat) lets people take part in decision-making.

Name the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system.

The Gram Panchayat (village level), the Panchayat Samiti (block level) and the Zila Parishad (district level).

Who elects the members of the Gram Panchayat?

They are elected directly by the Gram Sabha, the body of all enrolled adult voters of the village.

The Sarpanch (or Pradhan) is the elected head or president of a Gram Panchayat.

What does the Patwari do?

The Patwari assists the Gram Panchayat by maintaining the villagers' land records, sometimes using maps that are generations old.

What is the Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative?

It creates opportunities, through Bal Sabhas and Bal Panchayats, for children to express ideas on matters affecting their wellbeing.

How do the Panchayati Raj institutions support women and disadvantaged groups?

They reserve one-third of seats for women and have special rules so disadvantaged sections can make their needs heard.

What does the Panchayat Samiti do?

At the block level it links Gram Panchayats and the Zila Parishad, coordinating development plans and helping allot funds for schemes.

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Q: What does the ancient Arthaśhāstra show about local administration?

Written by Kauṭilya about 2,300 years ago, it described a structured administration from village to capital, showing such ideas are very old in India.

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Chapter 11: Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas — Class 6 Social Science

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Chapter 11: Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas

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The system of rural local self-government in India is called:

Summary

India has about 600,000 villages, and nearly two-thirds of its people live in rural areas, so local self-government is essential. In villages this works through the Panchayat or village council, a system known as Panchayati Raj. It brings governance close to the people and lets them take part in decisions about water, roads, schools and disputes. Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system: the Gram Panchayat at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti (also Mandal Parishad) at the block level, and the Zila Parishad (District Panchayat) at the district level. The Gram Panchayat's members are elected directly by the Gram Sabha — all enrolled adult voters of the village — and it is headed by a Sarpanch or Pradhan, increasingly women. It is assisted by a Panchayat Secretary and often a Patwari who keeps land records. The Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative and Bal Panchayats let children voice their concerns and have helped end child labour and child marriage. One-third of seats are reserved for women, and special rules help disadvantaged sections. The ancient Arthaśhāstra of Kauṭilya already described a structured administration from village to capital, showing how old such ideas are in India.

Why rural local government is neededThe Panchayati Raj three-tier systemGram Panchayat, Gram Sabha and SarpanchChild-friendly Panchayats and reservationPanchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad and the Arthaśhāstra

Key terms

Panchayati Raj

The system of rural local self-government in India, working at three levels (village, block, district).

Gram Panchayat

The village-level council, whose members are elected directly by the Gram Sabha.

Gram Sabha

The body of all enrolled adult voters of a village, which elects and oversees the Gram Panchayat.

Sarpanch

The elected head or president of a Gram Panchayat, also called Pradhan.

Zila Parishad

The Panchayati Raj institution at the district level, the top tier of the three-tier system.

Bal Panchayat

A children's council that lets children voice concerns and has helped fight child labour and child marriage.

Important questions

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The system of rural local self-government in India, working at three levels (village, block, district).

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Practice quiz · Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas

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Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas

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