Students must practice these AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 10th Lesson Local Governments in India to boost their exam preparation.
AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 10th Lesson Local Governments in India
Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Explain the functions of Panchayat Raj Institutions in India.
Answer:
Introduction:
At present Panchayat Raj Institutions in India are constituted on the basis of the Constitution (Seventy Third Amendment) Act, 1992. This act provided three tire Panchayat Raj system in rural areas. They are i) Village Panchayats, ii) Panchayat Samithi (Mandal Parishads), iii) Zilla Parishad.
Functions of Panchayat Raj Institutions:
The functions of Panchayat Raj Institutions may be explained unit wise – They are:
I) Functions of Village Panchayat:
Village Panchayat performs two types of functions. They are: a) Essential Functions, b) Discretionary Functions.
a) Essential functions:
- Construction, repair and maintenance of roads and other public places.
- Construction, repair and maintenance of drainage canals.
- Construction and maintenance of burial grounds.
- Erection and maintenance of electric polls.
- Maintenance of birth and death registers.
- Conducting vaccinations for controlling rabies and other contagious diseases.
- Provision of drinking water facilities.
- Construction, repair and maintenance of footpaths, causeways, culverts, public parks, play grounds.
- Manufacture and sale of manures.
- Maintenance of cattle farms and so on.
b) Discretionary Functions:
Gram Panchayat performs these functions subject to the availability of financial resources. These include the following.
- Construction and maintenance of rest houses.
- Construction and maintenance of primary schools, dispensaries, libraries, reading rooms, market places, etc.
- Establishment and maintenance of maternal and child welfare centres.
- Mobilizing voluntary labour for community development works.
- Publicizing the modern methods of cultivation.
- Implementation of land reforms and so on.
II) Functions of Mandal Parishad:
- It take steps for implementing various community development programmes.
- It makes arrangements for providing amenities like dispensaries, drinking water, vaccination and non-choking gas stoves.
- It implements several programmes like community education, communi-cations, cooperation, cottage industries, women welfare, social welfare, etc.
- It takes steps for raising production in agricultural sector through the provision of superior quality seeds, manures, pesticides, latest technology etc.
- It implements programmes for improving the health and strength of cattle by furnishing improved fodder, artificial insemination centers, cattle grazing, etc.
III) Functions of Zilla Parishad:
- It approves the annual budget of the Mandal Parishads in the district.
- It allocates the grants sanctioned by the Union and State governments among the Mandal Parishads.
- It takes steps for implementing the directives of the Union and State governments.
- It acts as the supervising and coordinating agency of various programmes of Mandal Parishad in the district.
- It conducts statistical surveys as per the guidelines of various Union and State governments.
- It maintains secondary schools in the district.
- It renders advice to the Union and State governments on financial matters of the Village Panchayats and Mandal Parishads.
Question 2.
Describe the various types of Urban Local Governments in India. [March-2017]
Answer:
Introductions:
As per the 74th Constitution Amendment Act, Nine types of Urban Local Bodies are existing in India.
They are:
- Municipal Corporation
- Municipality
- Nagar Panchayat
- Notified Area Committee
- Town Area Committee
- Cantonment Board
- Township
- Port Trust
- Special Purpose Agency
These may be explained as follows:
1. Municipal Corporation:
Municipal Corporation is an important category of urban local government. It is the highest local government institution working in each large urban area. It is constituted by a special Act of the State Government.
The number of members of each Municipal Corporation is determined on the basis of the population of the city concerned by the law passed by the state legislature. Every Municipal Corporation consists of four organs, namely (i) Corporation Council, (ii) Mayor, (iii) Commissioner and (iv) Standing Committees.
2. Municipality:
Municipalities are a type of urban local bodies functioning below the level of Municipal Corporation and above that of the Nagar Panchayat/Notified Area. Normally, Municipalities are constituted for a population of 20,001 and above or when annual income is above Rs. 60 Lakhs. They are also constituted when annual income is above 20 lakhs acquiring from Trade Licenses, Profession taxes and non-agricultural sectors. Sometimes Panchayats are upgraded as Municipalities on the basis of population density and employment opportunities.
3. Nagar Panchayat:
Nagar Panchayats are created for transitional areas (the area which is fast changing from a rural to an urban area) or for a very small urban area. For this purpose, several factors are taken into consideration; the density of the population therein, the revenue generated for local administration, the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic importance of the area and some others.
4. Notified Area Committee:
This is constituted either for a fast developing town or an area not fulfilling the conditions for the creation of Municipality. As it is created through a special notification of the state government, it is known as Notified Areas Committee. It does not possess statutory position. It will have a Chairman and some members who are nominated by the state government. Its functions are more or less same as that of a Municipality.
5. Town Area Committee:
Town area committee is setup by an act of State Legislature. It fulfils the public needs of a small town. It will have a chairman and members nominated by the state government. It performs limited functions like street lighting, drainage, etc. Its authorities take steps for improving the conditions of the people living in the town area.
6. Cantonment Board:
Cantonment Boards are established in India under the Cantonment Act of 1924. At present there are 62 Cantonment Boards in India. These bodies take steps for improving the conditions of civilian population and military personnel in their jurisdiction. There are three types of Cantonment Boards in India. They are created by an Act of the defense ministry. Each Board comprises some members belonging to the elected, nominated and ex-officio categories. There will be a General Officer on Command (GOC) for every Cantonment Board.
7. Township:
Township is established by the public sector undertakings to provide basic civic amenities to its personnel. It has no elected members. There will be a Town Administrator for every Township. He is appointed by the concerned ministry of union government. Its services are meant not for the general public but for the personnel working in the public sector undertakings.
8. Port Trust:
Port Trust is setup in the areas where port personnel are in considerable member. It manages the affairs of ports. It takes proper steps for protecting the interests of personnel in the port areas. The union government constitutes port affairs committee. The committee comprises both nominated and elected’members.
9. Special Purpose Agencies:
These agencies are meant for tackling some special issues faced by the people. They perform some peculiar functions for the people residing in municipalities and other notified urban areas. They are established by the special Acts of state legislature. Sometimes they came into vogue through a special order of the state government. Housing Board, Water Supply, Undertakings, Electricity Generation and Distributions Grids, Urban Development Authorities, etc. are some examples of these Agencies.
Question 3.
Mention briefly the main provisions of the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act.
Answer:
Main provisions of the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act.
- The Act defined clearly certain terns like District, Gram Sabha, Panchayat, Village etc.
- It constituted a Gram Sabha for every village which acts as the legislative body at the village level.
- It made obligatory for every state to implement three tire system of Panchayat Raj i.e., Panchayat at the Village, intermediate and district levels.
- It insisted every state legislature to make laws for the composition of Panchayat on uniform basis. It further specified direct elections to Panchayat based on territorial constituencies. It provides right to vote to the chairpersons of Panchayat and other members whether directly elected or not.
- It provided reservation in every Panchayat for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in proportion to their population to the total population in the Panchayat area and women not less than 1 /3rd of the total seats (Andhra Pradesh Government enhanced the Women Reservation up to 50%).
- It specified the duration of Panchayat as five years and insisted on holding elections before the expiration of the term or in case of dissolution within six months.
- It prescribed the eligibility and disqualif ications of the candidates in local government elections.
- It provided for the creation of a Finance Commission for local bodies.
- It provided for auditing the accounts of the Panchayats by the state account and audit officers.
- It also provided for State Election Commission for conducting elections to the local bodies.
- It stated that union territories shall follow the directives of the President of India in constituting or abolishing Panchayats.
- It mentioned some exemptions to the states having administrative councils in scheduled areas.
- It provided for special Tribunals for solving election disputes..
Question 4.
Explain briefly the main provisions of 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
Answer:
Main provisions of the 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
- The Act gave Constitutional status to the urban local bodies in India for the first time. It introduced a new part in the Constitution, namely part IX-A.
- It incorporated the 12th Schedule in the Constitution.
- It listed out 18 subjects under the jurisdiction of urban local bodies.
- It gave definitions of various terms concerning the urban local bodies. It constituted metropolitan area for urban areas having a population of ten lakhs or more.
- It provided for the Constitution of various urban local bodies such as Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat, etc. The Act authorized the state governments to designate and demarcate the urban local bodies as and when necessary.
- It specified the composition of the Municipalities, it declared that the elected members of the Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha of the concerned area will act as ex-officio members of the Municipalities. It also authorized the members of Legislative Council and the Rajya Sabha as members of Municipalities subject to their voting enumeration in the respective areas.
- It authorized the state legislature to make legislation for the composition of ward committees in Municipalities.
- It provided for reservation of some seats in urban local bodies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population in municipal areas. It also enabled one – third reservation for women in municipal areas and to the offices of Chairman/Chaiperson of Municipalities on rotation basis.
- It prescribed the uniform term for 5 years for Municipalities, it also clarified that elections shall be held within the six months after its dissolution.
- It specified that the persons who are disqualified to become members of Legislative Assembly shall also become disqualified as members of Municipality. It also prescribes 21 years of age for becoming a member of Municipality.
- It empowered the state legislature to make laws enabling the Municipalities to impose and collect taxes, allocate funds and receive Grant-in-aid from the state government.
- It enabled the state government to appoint the State Finance Commission for every five years for making recommendations (to the Governor) on the principles for distribution of Grartts-in-aid among the urban local bodies.
- It allowed the state legislature to make legislation for the audit of the accounts of urban local bodies.
- It provided for the appointment of State Election Commission to conduct, supervise direct and control the elections to the urban local bodies.
Question 5.
Estimate the powers and functions of the District Collector.
Answer:
Powers and functions of the District Collector:
The District Collector enjoys vast powers and performs several functions as the head of the District administration. These may be explained as follows:
1. The Collector as District Revenue Officer:
The Collector is the Chief District Revenue Officer, He, in that capacity, serves as the Chief guide to the farmers in the district by fulfilling several obligations. His revenue functions include various activities such as collection of land revenue, sanction of agricultural loans to farmers, rescuing the farmers in times of natural calamities by assessing the loss incurred by them, rendering assistance to the union and state authorities in emergency relief measures, etc.
2. The Collector as District Magistrate:
The Collector acts as the District Magistrate. He will have supervision over the activities of the district police personnel. He sees that law and order conditions in the district are normal. For this purpose he will be assisted by a large number of police personnel. The District Superintendent of Police and other police officers owe responsibility to the Collector in matters such as supervision over police personnel, prisons, etc. The Collector can inspect the police stations in the district He is empowered to issue prohibitory orders on the occasion of breakdown of law and order.
3. The Collector as Chief Co-ordinator:
The District Collector acts as the Chief Co-ordinator of various government departments in the district. He acts as the Chief counsel and Co-ordinator of the departments such as agriculture, irrigation, co-operation and labour affairs. The heads of these departments shall oblige and implement the suggestions and guidelines of the Collector in the district.
4. The Collector as District Electoral Officer:
The Collector acts as the Chief District Electoral Officer. He serves as the main agent of the Election Commission of India for conducting elections to the various representative bodies in the district. He makes arrangements for conducting the elections in fair and impartial manner. These include preparation of electoral list and its modification, hearing public grievances on voters list, registration of new voters, issue of voter IDs. appointing returning officers, etc.
5. The District Collector as the Chief Census Officer:
The Collector acts as the Chief Census Officer in the district. He, on behalf of the union and state governraehts, takes steps for holding census operations in the district for every ten years. He also sees that the statistical data regarding much cattle, trees, and domesticated animals in the district is compiled properly.
6. The District Collector as Permanent Invitee of Local Bodies:
The District Collector is a permanent invitee to the meetings of Panchayat Raj and Urban Local Bodies in the district He acts as a main link between the union, state governments and district local bodies on various matters. He participates in the normal/emergency meetings of Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishads in the district. He sends confidential reports to the state government on the nature of functioning of these bodies. He conducts the meeting meant for considering the no-confidence motion against the Zilla Parishad Chairman.
7. Other functions:
The District Collector also performs the following functions.
- Matters concerning the welfare of Ex-servicemen.
- Provision of irrigation facilities.
- Supervision over sub treasuries.
- Coordinating the activities of various government departments.
- Supervising the training programmes for junior officers.
- Acting as the Chief Protocol Officer.
- Proper distribution of essential commodities.
- Implementing the directives of union and state governments, etc.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Write briefly about the historical background of Local Governments in India.
Answer:
The Britishers developed these bodies to promote their colonial interests. Lord Mayo’s Resolution (1870) and Lord Rippon’s Resolution (1882) paved the way for the progress of these institutions in India. Earlier the East India Company established the Municipal Corporation of Madras in 1687 with the consent of Emperor George II. Some Mayor courts were set up in Madras in 1726 for collecting taxes and administering justice. The Regulating Act of 1773 given the way for establishment of local governments at Calcutta (Kalkota) Madras (Chennai) and. Bombay (Mumbai). Lord Rippon, the Governor General of India moved the famous resolution for devolving financial and administrative powers to the local governments. His resolution is known as the ’Magna Carta of Local Governments’ in India. He was described as the father of local self-governments in India.
Question 2.
Explain the advantages of Local Governments.
Answer:
Local governments have the following advantages:
- Local government institutions provide extensive range of service to the people.
- They lead to efficiency of administration at local as well as state and national level,
- They lead to economy in administration.
- They cultivate spirit of self-help and self-dependence.
- They promote spirit of liberty among people.
- The Local Governments facilitate the ventilation of people’s grievances and provide effective solution to local problems.
- They ensure the participation of the people in the formulation and implementation of developmental programmes at grass root level.
Question 3.
What are the functions of Panchayat Secretary?
Answer:
Panchayat Secretary performs the following functions. They are
- Preparation of budget and annual administration report.
- Preparation of monthly/quarterly statements of accounts.
- Maintenance of cash book,
- Keeping all records of the Panchayat in safe custody,
- Allotment of duties to the staff posted in Gram Panchayat.
- Submission of application for grant-in-aid and maintain grant-in-aid register.
- Visit the work sites and assess the work in progress.
- Attend to complaints relating to developmental works, etc.
Question 4.
What do you know about Gram Sabha?
Answer:
There will be a Gram Sabha in every Panchayat. It comprises all the adult citizens who have been entitled to vote. It meets at least twice a year usually after Rabi and Kharif crops are harvested. It discusses and approves the administrative and audit reports. It identifies the beneficiaries of development schemes. It takes steps for mobilizing voluntary labour for community welfare programmes. In many states Gram Sabhas are known with the same name.
However, they are called Panchayats in Bihar and Palisabhas in Odisha. The Union Government declared the year 2009-2010 as the year of Gram Sabha on the eve of golden jubilee celebrations of village Panchayat. It directed the state governments to make arrangements for convening Gram Sabha on April 14 of every year, (Second one in the month of October)
Question 5.
Write a brief note on Mandat Parishad.
Answer:
Mandal Parishad is the legislative and deliberative wing of the Mandal. It comprises some elected MPTC Members (Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency), coopted and ex-officio members. Besides there are some persons like District Collector, Village Sarpanches, Z.P.T.C. members (Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency), 2.P. Chairman and Agricultural Marketing Committee Chairman who attend its meetings as permanent invitees. Every Mandal Parishad will have a President and a Vice-President. They are elected by the members of the Mandal Parishad. Some of the offices of Mandal Parishad members arid presidents are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Weaker sections and Women. Mandal Parishad will have tenure of five years.
The Chief Executive head of the Mandal Parishad is Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO). He is appointed by the state government and works under the control of the state government only.
Question 6.
Explain the composition of Zilla Parishad.
Answer:
Composition of Zilla Parishad:
Zilla Parishad is the upper tier of the Panchayat Raj System. There will be a Zilla Parishad in every district. Zilla Parishad is the superior local body at the district level and has the corporate status. .
Zilla Parishad comprises six organs, namely;
- Zilla Parishad
- Zilla Parishad Chairman
- Zilla Mahasabha
- Chief Executive Officer
- Standing Committees and
- District Collector.
Question 7.
Elucidate Various Urban Local Bodies in India.
Answer:
As per the 74th Constitution Amendment Act, Nine types of Urban Local Bodies are existing in India.
They are:
- Municipal Corporation
- Municipality
- Nagar Panchayat
- Notified Area Committee
- Town Area Committee
- Cantonment Board
- Township
- Port Trust
- Special Purpose Agency
Question 8.
What do you know about the Municipalities?
Answer:
Municipalities are a type of urban local bodies functioning below the level of Municipal Corporation and above that of the Nagar Panchayat / Notified Area. Normally, Municipalities are constituted for a population of 20,001 and above or when annual income is above Rs. 60 lakhs. They are also constituted when annual income is above 20 lakhs acquiring from Trade Licenses, Profession taxes and non-agricultural sectors. Sometimes Panchayats are upgraded as Municipalities on the basis of population density and employment opportunities.
Municipalities are classified into five grades basing on their annual income. They are:
- Selection Grade Municipalities – Annual income over and above Rs. 4 crores.
- Special Grade Municipalities – Annual income varying between Rs. 3 and 4 crores.
- First Grade Municipalities – Annual income varying between Rs. 2 and 3 crores.
- Second Grade Municipalities – Annual income varying between Rs. 1 and 2 crores.
- Third Grade Municipalities – Annual income below Rs. One crore.
Question 9.
Write any three functions of District Collector.
Answer:
Powers and functions of the District Collector:
The District Collector enjoys vast powers and performs several functions as the head of the District administration. These may be explained as follows:
1. The Collector as District Revenue Officer:
The Collector is the Chief District Revenue Officer. He, in that capacity, serves as the Chief guide to the farmers in the district by fulfilling several obligations. His revenue functions include various activities such as collection of land revenue, sanction of agricultural loans to farmers, rescuing the farmers in times of natural calamities by assessing the loss incurred by them, rendering assistance to the union and state authorities in emergency relief measures etc.
2. The Collector as District Magistrate:
The Collector acts as the District Magistrate. He will have supervision over the activities of the district police personnel. He sees that law and order conditions in the district are normal. For this purpose he will be assisted by a large number of police personnel. The District Superintendent of Police and other police officers owe responsibility to the Collector in matters such as supervision over police personnel, prisons, etc. The Collector can inspect the police stations in the district. He is ‘”” ^empowered to issue prohibitory orders on the occasion of breakdown of law and order.
3. The Collector as Chief Co-ordinator:
The District Collector acts as the Chief Co-ordinator of various government departments in the district. He acts as the Chief counsel and co-ordinator of the departments such as agriculture, irrigation, co-operation and labour affairs. The heads of these departments shall oblige and implement the suggestions and guidelines of the collector in the district.
Question 10.
Estimate the role of a District Collector.
Answer:
The Role of District Collector in the District Administration:
The District Collector plays a crucial role in the affairs of local governments in the district. He serves as the friend, philosopher and guide to the common men living in the district. He also serves as a link between people and local bodies in the district. Normally common men seek guidance and solace from the Collector in times of natural calamities and other unforeseen conditons.
The Collector makes recommendations to the state government in regard to the working of the local bodies in the district. His valuable remarks are required for constituting new Gram Panchayats and Mandal Parishads in the district. The entire administrative, revenue, police, health, educational and agricultural personnel working in the district depend to a great extent “upon the advice and suggestions of the Collector on many occasions. He sees that the farmers irithe district receive sufficient agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, water, rural credit, riiarketing facilities, etc.
Question 11.
Explain the concept of Smart Village.
Answer:
The concept of Smart Village is the recent development in Panchayat Raj System in A.P. inaugurated by its Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in 2015. Andhra Pradesh is committed to achieve holistic, inclusive and sustainable development of the state. The state has a vision “Swarnandhra Vision 2029” to be a developed State and to be among the best three states in the country. To realize this vision, the government has adopted the mission based approach to create the social and economic infrastructure; has initiated campaigns to create awareness seeking participation of the stakeholders.
A ‘Smart Village/Ward’ displays sustainable and inclusive development with all sections of its community enjoying a high standard of living.
Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Rural Local Governments. [March-2019]
Answer:
Rural Local Governments in India were setup on the recommendation of Balwant Rai Mehta. Committee in the year 1957. The Rural Local Governments are of three tier system. They are i) Village Panchayats ii) Panchayat Samithi or Mandal Parishads and iii) Zilla Parishads.
Question 2.
The Constitution (Seventy Third Amendment) Act, 1992.
Answer:
The Constitution (Seventy Third Amendment) Act, 1992 clearly defined certain terms like ? District, Gram Sabha, Panchayat, Village, etc. It constituted a Gram Sabha for every village which acts as the legislative body at village level. It specified the duration of Panchayats as five years and insisted on holding elections before the expiration of the term.
Question 3.
Gram Sabha. [March-2019, May-2017]
Answer:
There will be a Gram Sabha in every Panchayat. It comprises all the adult citizens who have been entitled to vote. It meets at least twice a year. It discusses and approves the administrative and Audit reports. It identifies the beneficiaries of development schemes. Gram Sabha will be presided by the Village Sarpanch.
Question 4.
Zilla Parishad.
Answer:
Zilla Parishad is the legislative wing at district level. It comprises various types of members, i.e., elected, co-opted and ex-officio members. District level authorities like the District Collector, Chairman of District Co-operative Centred Bank, District Co-operative Marketing Society and Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha participate in the meetings as permanent invitees.
Question 5.
M.P.D.O. [March 2018,’16]
Answer:
Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) is the administrative head of Mandal Parishad. He plays a vital role in the administrative affairs of the Mandal Parishad. He prepares the agenda of the Parishad meetings and participates in the meeting and renders advice to the members on the several matters of Mandal Parishad.
Question 6.
Mandal Parishad.
Answer:
Mandal Parishad is the Legislative and deliberative wing of the Mandal. It comprises some elected MPTC Members (Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency), co-opted and ex-officio members. Every Mandal Parishad will have a President and Vice-President. They are elected by the members of the Mandal Parishad.
Question 7.
Zilla Maha Sabha.
Answer:
There will be a Zilla Maha Sabha in every Zilla Parishad. It comprises a chairman and some other members of Zilla Parishad. It serves as an advisory body to the Zilla Parishad. The Zilla Parishad Chairman presides over its meetings.
Question 8.
Zilla Parishad Standing Committees.
Answer:
There are seven standing committees in Zilla Parishad. They render advice to the Zilla Parishad on several matters like planning, finance, agriculture, rural development, women, social welfare, education, health, etc. The District Collector participates in Zilla Parishad and Standing Committee meetings as a permanent invitee.
Question 9.
Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer.
Answer:
There will be a Chief Executive Officer in every Zilla Parishad. He is appointed by the state government and responsible to the State Government and Zilla Parishad in exercise of his powers and functions. He serves as the administrative head of Zilla Parishad. He plays a key role in preparing the annual budget and agenda for the general meetings of Zilla Parishad in consultation with Zilla Parishad Chairman.
Question 10.
Municipal Council.
Answer:
Municipal Council is the deliberative body of the Municipality. It consists of some (i) elected members (ii) co-opted and iii) ex-officio members. Registered voters in the municipal area elect the first category of members. They are called councillors. Normally the council meets once in a month. Municipal Chairman presides over its meetings.
Question 11.
Nagar Panchayat.
Answer:
Nagar Panchayats are created for transitional areas (the area which is fast changing from a rural to an urban area) or for a very small urban area. The strength of the members of Nagar Panchayat is fixed by the state legislature. The Nagar Panchayat performs all the civic functions as is of the Municipal Council in town area.
Question 12.
Notified Area Committee.
Answer:
This is constituted either for a fast developing town or an area not fulfilling the conditions for the creation of Municipality. As it is created through a special notification of the state government, it is known as Notified Area Committee. It will have a Chairman and some members who are nominated by the state government. Its functions are more or less same as that of a Municipality.
Question 13.
Cantonment Boards.
Answer:
Cantonment Boards are established in India under the Cantonment Act of 1924. At present, there are 62 Cantonment Boards in India. These bodies take steps for improving the conditions of civilian population and military personnel in their jurisdiction. There will be a General Officer on Command (GOC) for every Cantonment Board.
Question 14.
Town Area Committee.
Answer:
Town area committee is setup by an act of State Legislature. It fulfills the public needs of a small town. It will have a chairman and members nominated by the state government. It performs limited functions like street lighting, drainage, etc.
Question 15.
Township.
Answer:
Township is established by the publi.c sector undertakings to provide basic civic amenities to its personnel. It has no elected members. There will be a Town Administrator for every Township. He is appointed by the concerned ministry of Union Government. Its services are not meant for the general public but for the personnel working in the public sector undertakings.
Question 16.
Port Trust. [March-2018]
Answer:
Port Trust is setup in the area where port personnel are in considerable member. It manages the affairs of ports. It takes proper steps for protecting the interests of personnel in the port areas. The union government constitutes port affairs committee.
Question 17.
Collector as the District Revenue Officer. [March-2017]
Answer:
The Collector is the Chief District Revenue Officer. He, in that capacity, serves as the Chief guide to the farmers in the district by fulfilling several obligations His revenue functions include various activities such as collection of land revenue, sanction of agricultural loans to farmers, rescuing the farmers in times of natural calamities, etc.
Question 18.
Collector as Chief Electoral Officer in the district.
Answer:
The Collector acts as the Chief District Electoral Officer. He serves as the main agent of the Election Commission of India for conducting elections to the various representative bodies in the district. He makes arrangements for conducting the elections in fair and impartial manner.
Question 19.
Smart Village. [March 2017,’16; May ’16]
Answer:
The concept of Smart Village is the recent development in Panchayat Raj System in Andhra Pradesh inaugurated by its Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in 2015. A smart village or ward displays sustainable and inclusive development with all sections of its community enjoying a high standard of living.
Question 20.
Smart City.
Answer:
A ‘Smart City’ is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability. It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents.