The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following?

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Panchayati Raj moves power from the Centre and States to elected village bodies (democratic decentralisation). It also aims to involve villagers in planning and carrying out development. Political accountability and money-raising are by-products or tools, not the core purpose. So the answer is (c).

• ✓ 1. The Community Development Programme (1952) sought to promote people's participation in local development. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system was later recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee to carry this aim forward.
• ✗ 2. Accountability of elected representatives to villagers is a benefit of having elected local bodies. It is not the fundamental object of the system.
• ✓ 3. The system rests on the principle of decentralisation. Power passes from the Centre and States to elected representatives at the village level.
• ✗ 4. Raising finance is a means that Panchayats use, not the purpose for which the system was created. Including it makes options (b) and (d) wrong.
• ✓ (c) Only statements 1 and 3 state the fundamental object. Option (a) wrongly adds accountability. Option (b) leaves out both core objects. Option (d) adds accountability and finance.

Remember · Panchayati Raj = democratic decentralisation plus people's participation in development. Accountability and finance are supporting features, not its fundamental object.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 8 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error