Question

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

1. Swaran Singh Committee : Fundamental Duties
2. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee : Three-tier system of Panchayati Raj Institutions
3. Rajamannar Committee : Two-tier system of Panchayati Raj Institutions
4. Ashok Mehta Committee : Centre-State relations

• A. i, ii
• B. i only
• C. None of these
• D. ii only

Answer 1

Answer:

A. i, ii

Rajamannar Committee

• This commission was established by the Tamil Nadu state government in 1969
• It was constituted under the leadership of Dr. P.V. Rajamanar to examine the relationship between the central government and the states within the federal framework of India.

The commission's recommendations included significant changes to the federal structure and governance of India, including:

• The establishment of an Inter-State Council immediately to provide a platform for the discussion and resolution of issues between the central government and the states.
• Making the Finance Commission a permanent body as it plays a crucial role in the distribution of financial resources between the central and state governments.
• Deletion of Articles 356, 357, and 365: These articles of the Indian Constitution deal with the imposition of President's rule in states, and their deletion would likely have shifted more power to the states in matters of governance.
• Abolition of All-India Services (IAS, IPS, and IFS)
• Replacing the Planning Commission with a statutory body

The Ashok Mehta Committee

• Officially known as the Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions 
• It was established in 1977 by the Government of India to examine and recommend reforms in the functioning of Panchayati Raj institutions. 
• It recommended that a two-tier system must be established to replace the three-tier Panchayat system.
• The two tier system recommended by the committee consisted of a Mandal Parishad and a Zila Parishad
•  Althoughthe recommendation was not adopted. 

Sardar Swaran Singh Committee

• It was established in 1976 during the operation of the internal emergency in India (1975-1977) by the Congress Party 
• The purpose of the committee was to make recommendations on fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution
• The committee recommended the inclusion of a chapter on fundamental duties in the Constitution.
• It also pointed out that the citizens should become conscious that in addition to the enjoyment of rights, they also have certain fundamental duties to perform as well.
• The Government of India accepted these recommendations and enacted the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976.
• This amendment added a new part, namely, Part IVA to the Constitution. 

Balwant Rai Mehta Committee 

• It was established by the Government of India in 1957
• The primary object of the committee was to investigate the operation of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working.
• The chairman of this committee was Balwant Rai G Mehta.
• The committee submitted its report in November 1957
• It recommended the establishment of the scheme of ‘democratic decentralisation’, which ultimately came to be known as Panchayati Raj.
• Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati raj system was recommended by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee 
• It consisted of village-level grama panchayats, block-level panchayat samitis, and district-level Zila Parishads.