Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 6 History Civics Chapter 12 Rural Local Self Government

Keywords

1. Panchayati raj system: It is the system under which the local self-government at the village level functions.
This system allows people in rural areas to manage their own local affairs and development projects. It acts as the primary foundation of democracy in India's vast countryside.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Panch" meaning five, representing the traditional group of five elders.
Exam Tip: Always mention that this system operates specifically at the "village level" to get full marks.

2. Gram sabha: It consist of all the adult members of the village.
Every person living in the village who is 18 years or older is automatically a member of this body. It is the most important assembly where villagers meet to discuss their collective problems.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Sabha = Assembly of everyone (adults).
Exam Tip: Define "adult members" as anyone 18 years and above in your answer.

3. Gram panchayat: It consist of a number of senior members of the village elected by the gram sabha.
This is the executive body that actually carries out the work like building roads or providing water. The members are chosen by the villagers themselves to represent their interests.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Gram Panchayat as the "Working Committee" of the village.
Exam Tip: Make sure to distinguish it from Gram Sabha by mentioning it is an "elected" body.

4. Nyaya panchayat: It consist of elected members who settle disputes among village people.
This body works like a local court to provide quick and inexpensive justice for small legal matters. It helps villagers avoid the long and costly process of going to big city courts.
Teacher's Tip: "Nyaya" is the Sanskrit word for "Justice."
Exam Tip: Clarify that it handles "petty" or small cases, not major crimes.

5. Pradhan: He is the heat of the gram panchayat. Up-Pradhan He is the vice sarpanch of the panchayat who takes over the responsibilities of the sarpanch in his/her absence.
The Pradhan, or Sarpanch, leads the meetings and makes sure that all village tasks are completed on time. The Up-Pradhan acts as a backup leader to ensure work never stops when the main leader is away.
Teacher's Tip: Pradhan is the "Captain" and Up-Pradhan is the "Vice-Captain" of the village team.
Exam Tip: Use the term "Sarpanch" interchangeably with Pradhan if the textbook allows it.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: The Indian government function at the central, state government and local self-government levels.
Answer: central, state government and local self-government.
These three levels ensure that the country is managed effectively from the national capital down to the smallest village. Each level has specific duties to help the citizens.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as a three-story building where each floor has its own purpose.
Exam Tip: List all three levels in order to show you understand the hierarchy of power.

Question 2: The union government deals with matters of national importance.
Answer: national.
National importance refers to things that affect the whole country, like the army, railways, and our relationship with other nations. These tasks are too big for a single state to handle alone.
Teacher's Tip: "Union" refers to the whole "United" country.
Exam Tip: Provide examples like "defense" or "finance" if asked to explain national importance.

Question 3: All Adult members of the village are members of the gram sabha.
Answer: Adult.
This means every man and woman who has the right to vote in the village participates in the Gram Sabha. It is the most direct form of democracy where everyone has a voice.
Teacher's Tip: Adult in India means someone who is 18 years or older.
Exam Tip: Be sure to write "Adult" with a capital 'A' if you are following the textbook's style exactly.

Question 4: The nyaya panchayat cannot sent people to Jail.
Answer: Jail.
The Nyaya Panchayat only has the power to impose small fines to resolve local arguments. If a crime is very serious, it must be sent to the regular police and higher courts.
Teacher's Tip: It is a "Community Court," not a criminal court.
Exam Tip: Remember this specific limitation: they can fine, but never imprison.

Question 5: The gram panchayat makes the villagers more responsible and self-sufficient.
Answer: responsible and self-sufficient.
When villagers take part in making their own rules and fixing their own roads, they feel a sense of pride and ownership. This reduces their dependence on the central government for every small need.
Teacher's Tip: Self-sufficient means being able to take care of yourself.
Exam Tip: Use both adjectives "responsible" and "self-sufficient" to provide a complete answer.

B. Match the following:

Question : Match the items in Column A with Column B.
Column A
1. Union government
2. Panchayati raj
3. Village panchayat
4. Nyaya panchayat
5. Zila parishad
Column B
(a) headed by the sarpanch
(b) functions at the district level
(c) settles disputes among villagers
(d) rural local self-government
(e) New Delhi
Answer:
1. Union government - (e) New Delhi
2. Panchayati raj - (d) rural local self-government
3. Village panchayat - (a) headed by the sarpanch
4. Nyaya panchayat - (c) settles disputes among villagers
5. Zila parishad - (b) functions at the district level
Matching these terms helps us understand which office is located where and who is in charge of which level. It simplifies the complex structure of our government into easy-to-understand pairs.
Teacher's Tip: Match the "Place" (New Delhi) or the "Leader" (Sarpanch) first as they are easy clues.
Exam Tip: Write out the full matched sentences in your exam to ensure there is no confusion.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: The union government of India is based in New Delhi/ Mumbai/Kolkata.
Answer: The union government of India is based in New Delhi.
New Delhi is the national capital where the Parliament and the Prime Minister's office are located. From here, laws are made that govern every person living in India.
Teacher's Tip: Just like your school has a Principal's office, the country's office is in New Delhi.
Exam Tip: Identify New Delhi as the seat of the "Union" or "Central" government.

Question 2: Rural refers to town/villages/cities.
Answer: Rural refers to villages.
The word "rural" describes countryside areas where farming is usually the main activity. In contrast, "urban" is the word used for towns and big cities.
Teacher's Tip: Think: Rural = Rice fields (Villages), Urban = Upgraded (Cities).
Exam Tip: Don't mix up rural and urban; this is a very basic but essential definition.

Question 3: The panchayati raj is a two/three/Jive-ther
Answer: The panchayati raj is a three-tier system.
This three-level structure includes the village, the block, and the district levels. This ensures that help and administration are available at every step of rural life.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine a "Trio" of levels working together.
Exam Tip: "Three-tier" is the standard term for the Panchayati Raj structure in India.

Question 4: One third/One sixth/One fourth of the seats of the gram panchayat are reserved for women.
Answer: One third of the seats of the gram panchayat are reserved for women.
This reservation ensures that women have a fair chance to lead and make decisions for their community. It helps in empowering women at the grassroots level of our society.
Teacher's Tip: "One-third" is equal to about 33% of the total seats.
Exam Tip: This specific fraction (1/3) is a very common question in civics exams.

Question 5: The panchayat/block samiti/zila parishads is the local self-government body at the block level.
Answer: The block samiti is the local self-government body at the block level.
A block consists of many villages grouped together for better planning and sharing of resources. The Block Samiti supervises the work of all the individual Gram Panchayats in that area.
Teacher's Tip: The name gives it away: "Block" Samiti is for the "Block" level.
Exam Tip: Remember the order: Panchayat (Village) -> Samiti (Block) -> Parishad (District).

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: The Local self-government deals with matters of national importance.
Answer: False.
Correct : The Local self-government deals with matters of locality.
Local government focuses on immediate needs like village sanitation, local roads, and primary schools. National matters like defense or foreign policy are handled by the Union government.
Teacher's Tip: Local government is for "Local" things.
Exam Tip: When a statement is False, you must provide the correct version to get full credit.

Question 2: Panchayats are elected for 2 years.
Answer: False.
Correct: Panchayats are elected for 3 to 5 years.
(Note: Per the textbook, the answer is 3 to 5 years, though in most of modern India, it is strictly 5 years). This term allows enough time for the elected members to plan and complete their development projects.
Teacher's Tip: Two years is too short to build a school or a road!
Exam Tip: Mention "3 to 5 years" exactly as it appears in your specific textbook.

Question 3: The village panchayat is the basic unit of the panchayati raj system.
Answer: True.
It is the very first and most important level because it is closest to the people. Everything in the rural administration system starts from the village level.
Teacher's Tip: "Basic unit" means the foundation or starting point.
Exam Tip: Always describe the village level as the "grassroots" or "foundation" level.

Question 4: The Panchayat provides primary education.
Answer: True.
Opening and maintaining primary schools is one of the most important duties of the Gram Panchayat. They ensure that every child in the village has access to basic learning.
Teacher's Tip: Primary education is a "Basic Need" that local bodies must fulfill.
Exam Tip: Education is considered a "compulsory function" of the panchayat.

Question 5: The Nyaya Panchayat tries petty civil and criminal cases.
Answer: True.
By handling small or "petty" cases locally, they save the villagers time and money. It is meant to be a friendly and quick way to solve neighborhood disagreements.
Teacher's Tip: Petty means small or minor.
Exam Tip: Be sure to include the word "petty" to show that they do not handle big crimes.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: What are the three tiers of the panchayati raj system?
Answer: The three-tiers of panchayati raj system is as:
1. Panchayats at the village legel,
2. Block samitis at the block level,
3. Zila parishads at the district level.
This structure links every single village to the larger district administration. It ensures that development funds reach from the top down to the very bottom.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Village -> Block -> District.
Exam Tip: List all three levels clearly in a numbered format for better presentation.

Question 2: Who is the head of the village panchayat?
Answer: The village panchayat is headed by the pradhan or sarpanch.
This leader is responsible for calling meetings and overseeing all the work in the village. They are often the most trusted and respected member of the community.
Teacher's Tip: "Pradhan" and "Sarpanch" are two names for the same boss.
Exam Tip: Use both names to show you are thorough in your study.

Question 3: Mention any one optional function of the gram panchayat.
Answer:
1. It builds playgrounds and rest houses, installs television and radio sets in the community centers, and organizes educational programmers, etc.
2. It organizes cattle fairs and village markets.
Optional functions are things the panchayat can do if they have extra money and time. While not strictly required, these activities make village life much more enjoyable and convenient.
Teacher's Tip: Optional functions are like "Bonus" activities for the village.
Exam Tip: Only one is needed for a "one or two words" question, so pick the easiest one to remember.

Question 4: What does the nyaya panchayat do?
Answer: Its function is to settle disputes among the people. It also provides a cheap and speedy way to resolve disputes.
It works as a local court where common problems are talked out and solved without high lawyer fees. This helps keep peace in the village and prevents small arguments from becoming big fights.
Teacher's Tip: Nyaya = Justice; settle disputes = resolve arguments.
Exam Tip: Use the words "cheap and speedy" as these are the key benefits of this system.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: What are the functions of the union, state and local self-governments?
Answer:
1. Union (Central government) deals with matters of national importance like defence, national finance, foreign, exchange, railways, postal services etc.
2. State government maintain law and order, local transport, health services and it also carries out the community development programmer.
3. Local self-government deals with local problems and looks after the basic needs of the local people.
Each level of government acts like a specialist, handling specific areas to keep the country running smoothly. By dividing the work, they can focus on both the big national picture and the small local details.
Teacher's Tip: Union = Whole Country, State = The Region, Local = Your Area.
Exam Tip: Give at least two examples for each level of government for a "brief answer" question.

Question 2: What is local self-government? Name the two kinds of local self-governing bodies in India?
Answer: It is a government run by the elected representatives of the local people. In India there are two kinds of local self-government. They are following.
1. Urban: It refers to towns and cities. Municipalities, corporations and cantonment boards are urban local bodies.
2. Rural: It refers to villages. Zila parishads, block samitis and panchayats are rural local bodies.
Local self-government means that the people who live in an area also help rule it through elections. This ensures that the specific problems of a city or a village are understood and solved by those who live there.
Teacher's Tip: Local Self-Gov = People ruling their own neighborhood.
Exam Tip: Distinguish clearly between "Urban" (cities) and "Rural" (villages) in your naming.

Question 3: Mention any five compulsory functions of the Gram Panchayat.
Answer: They are following:
1. It provides drinking water, school, health and sanitation facilities.
2. It constructs buildings, roads, drains and tanks.
3. It helps farmers to develop and improve their farms and cattle.
4. It looks after the welfare of the weaker sections.
5. It organizer educational programmes, cattle fair and village markets.
Compulsory functions are tasks that the panchayat must perform to ensure the basic survival and growth of the village. These are essential services like clean water and schools that no village can live without.
Teacher's Tip: Compulsory means "Must Do."
Exam Tip: If you forget one, think of the "basic needs" of a village like water and roads.

Question 4: What is the importance of Gram Panchayats?
Answer: The Gram Panchayat assists the villagers in dealing with day-to-day problems. It performs administrative, social, economic and judicial function. It ensures the participation of the villages in developing their community. Hence, people learn to cooperate and participate in the government of the country at the grass-roots level.
By giving power to the villagers, the government makes sure that everyone's voice is heard. This system trains people in leadership and helps build a stronger nation from the bottom up.
Teacher's Tip: It is "Democracy in Action" at the most local level.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "grass-roots level" to emphasize the importance of local involvement.

G. Picture study.

Question 1: Name the function.
Answer: A gram panchayat in session - gram panchayats ensure that villages participate in their own development.
In these sessions, people sit together to discuss projects like digging wells or repairing the local primary school. It is a time for decision-making and planning for the village's future.
Teacher's Tip: "In session" simply means having a formal meeting.
Exam Tip: Mention "participation in development" to explain why the session is important.

Question 2: Is it a compulsory or an optional function?
Answer: It is compulsory function.
Holding regular meetings is required by law so that the government remains transparent and fair. Without these sessions, the villagers would not have a way to vote on important projects.
Teacher's Tip: Meetings are a "Must" for any government body.
Exam Tip: Identify it as "compulsory" as it is the foundation of their work.

Question 3: Mention four compulsory functions of the village panchayat.
Answer: The functions of the village Panchayat are following:
1. It provides drinking water, Primary schools, health and sanitation facilities.
2. It constructs buildings, road and drains.
3. It records births and deaths in the village.
4. It helps farmers to develop and improve their farms and cattle.
These duties cover the most basic requirements for a healthy and organized community. For example, keeping records of births and deaths helps the government plan for future needs like more schools or hospitals.
Teacher's Tip: Think: Water, School, Health, and Roads.
Exam Tip: Use a numbered list for these functions to make your answer easy to read.

Question 4: Mention two optional functions of the panchayat.
Answer:
1. It builds playgrounds and rest houses.
2. It organizes cattle fairs and village markets.
These functions are considered extra and are only done if the panchayat has enough funds after the compulsory tasks. They help in the cultural and recreational development of the village.
Teacher's Tip: Optional functions make a village "Better," but compulsory functions keep it "Running."
Exam Tip: Name "playgrounds" or "fairs" as they are the easiest optional functions to recall.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1: Make a Block diagram of Local self-government?
Answer:
Local Self-Government
Rural
- Panchayats
- Block Samitis
- Zila Parishads
Urban
- Municipal Corporations
- Municipalities
- Cantonment Boards
- Port Trusts
This diagram shows how the administration is split into two main branches: one for the countryside (Rural) and one for the cities (Urban). Within each branch, there are different levels of authority to manage specific sizes of settlements.
Teacher's Tip: Draw this as a "Tree" diagram to visualize the structure clearly.
Exam Tip: Practice drawing this diagram as it is often a 5-mark question in exams.

Question 2: Name three parts of panchayati system at the villages.
Answer:
1. Gram Sabha
2. Gram Panchayat
3. Nyaya Panchayat
The Gram Sabha is the assembly, the Gram Panchayat is the executive, and the Nyaya Panchayat is the local court. Together, these three parts handle all the needs of the village people.
Teacher's Tip: Sabha (People) -> Panchayat (Work) -> Nyaya (Justice).
Exam Tip: Label all three to provide a complete picture of the village-level system.

Question 3: Why is panchayati raj a three-tiered system?
Answer: Because this was done to involve the people of the villages in the management of their own affairs.
By having different levels, the system ensures that decisions are made by people who actually understand local issues. It bridges the gap between the small village and the larger state and national governments.
Teacher's Tip: It is like having a class monitor, a student council, and a principal.
Exam Tip: Focus on the concept of "people's involvement" in your explanation.

Question 4: Why do you think panchayats are so important in this country?
Answer: India is vast country with a large population. The Prime Minister alone cannot attend to each and every need of the people in remote village. To make the task of administration easier the government in India operates panchayat.
Local leaders are much closer to the problems and can act faster than a distant central government. This decentralization of power ensures that even the furthest corners of India get the attention they deserve.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Prime Minister as a busy CEO who needs local branch managers.
Exam Tip: Use the words "vast country" and "large population" to explain the necessity of local government.

Question 5: List three functions of: (1) Block samiti and (2) Zila parishads.
Answer:
Functions of Block Samiti:
1. It supervises the working of the village panchayats.
2. It arranges funds from the government for block development programmers.
3. It prepares the community development programmer for their area.
Functions of Zila Parisad:
1. It supervises the working of the block samitis and panchayats.
2. It advises the state government on the working of the panchayati raj system.
3. It approves the budget of the block samitis and distributes funds among them.
The Block Samiti acts as a coordinator for multiple villages, while the Zila Parishad manages the entire district. This multi-level supervision helps ensure that government money is spent honestly and correctly.
Teacher's Tip: Samiti = Oversees Villages; Zila = Oversees everything in the District.
Exam Tip: Mention "supervision" as a key function for both of these higher-level bodies.

Question 6: What are some of the sources of income for block samitis and zila parishads?
Answer: The sources of income for block samitis and zila parishad are following:
1. The state government and the central government give grants and aids.
2. It advised the state government on the working of the panchayati raj system.
(Note: Point 2 in the OCR appears to be a functional duty rather than an income source; usually, they also collect certain taxes and fees). Most of their funding comes from higher levels of government to help with big development tasks. They also collect some small local taxes on houses and water to help pay for their daily operations.
Teacher's Tip: Income comes from "Grants" (gifts of money) and "Taxes."
Exam Tip: "Grants and aids" from the government is the most significant source of income to remember.