📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-I | Q.91 | Classroom Explanation
(Polity & Governance | Panchayati Raj Institutions)

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📌 Question

Q.91)
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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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This question tests three different constitutional dimensions of Panchayati Raj:

1. Structure (levels of Panchayats)
2. Eligibility (age qualification)
3. Finance Commission authority

UPSC has deliberately mixed common misconceptions with constitutional precision traps.

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🔍 Statement-wise Analysis

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🔹 Statement I

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

📜 Constitutional Provision

• Article 243B provides for a three-tier Panchayati Raj system:
  • Village level
  • Intermediate level
  • District level

⚠️ Key Exception

• States with a population not exceeding 20 lakhs are NOT required to have intermediate-level Panchayats.

📌 Conclusion
Intermediate Panchayats do not exist in all States.

➡️ Statement I is NOT correct

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🔹 Statement II

“Minimum age is thirty years to be a Member of a Panchayat.” ❌

📜 Constitutional Provision

• Article 243F(1)(a):
  • Minimum age = 21 years
  • Same age applies to all levels of Panchayats

📌 UPSC Trap

• Confusing Panchayat eligibility with:
  • Rajya Sabha (30 years)
  • Legislative Council (30 years)

➡️ Statement II is NOT correct

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🔹 Statement III

“Chief Minister constitutes the Panchayat Finance Commission.” ❌

📜 Correct Authority

• Article 243-I
• The Governor of the State constitutes the State Finance Commission

🧾 Functions of the Commission

• Review financial position of Panchayats at all levels
• Recommend:
  • Distribution of State taxes
  • Grants-in-aid
  • Measures to improve Panchayat finances

📌 Important

• Chief Minister has no constitutional role here

➡️ Statement III is NOT correct

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🧠 Final Verdict

All three statements contain constitutional errors.

✔️ Correct Answer: (d) I, II and III

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🧠 One-Line Memory Hook (Prelims Gold)

“Panchayat rules are constitutional — population matters, age is 21, Governor appoints Finance Commission.”

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📍 GS Mapping

Constitutional Bodies

GS Paper II mains

Polity & Governance

Panchayati Raj Institutions

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