Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

Consider the following statements:

I. Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.
II. To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.
III. The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of net proceeds of taxes and duties, leviable by the State, between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

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✅ Correct Answer: (d) I, II and III

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Polity & Governance
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
73rd Constitutional Amendment
State Finance Commission

This question tests constitutional provisions, not general governance understanding.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

Let us examine each statement strictly with constitutional backing.

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🔹 Statement I ❌

“Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.”

• Article 243B provides for a three-tier Panchayati Raj system:
  • Village level
  • Intermediate level
  • District level
• Exception clearly provided:
  • States with a population not exceeding 20 lakhs are not required to establish Panchayats at the intermediate level.

📌 Verdict: ❌ Not correct

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🔹 Statement II ❌

“Minimum age for membership at the intermediate level is thirty years.”

• Article 243F(1)(a):
  • Minimum age for being chosen as a member of a Panchayat = 21 years
• This applies uniformly to all Panchayat levels.
• There is no constitutional provision prescribing 30 years.

📌 Verdict: ❌ Not correct

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🔹 Statement III ❌

“Chief Minister constitutes a commission to review Panchayat finances.”

• Article 243-I:
  • The Governor of the State shall constitute the State Finance Commission
  • Interval: every five years (or earlier)
• The Commission reviews the financial position of Panchayats at all levels, not only intermediate level.

📌 Verdict: ❌ Not correct

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📊 Final Assessment

Statement	Status
I	❌ Incorrect
II	❌ Incorrect
III	❌ Incorrect

✔️ All three statements are not correct

👉 Correct answer: (d) I, II and III

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🧩 Prelims Trap Alerts

• Intermediate Panchayat ≠ mandatory in all States
• 21 years, not 30, is the constitutional minimum age
• Governor, not Chief Minister, constitutes the State Finance Commission

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🧠 One-Line Memory Hooks

• “Intermediate tier skips small States.”
• “21 unlocks Panchayat entry.”
• “Finance Commission answers to the Governor.”

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

UPSC Polity punishes casual reading — Articles matter more than assumptions.