Previous Year Question

Among the options, the L.M. Singhvi Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee and Balwant Rai Mehta Committee are all clearly associated with the development and reform of Panchayati Raj in India. Therefore, the P.V.N. Rao Committee is the one not connected with Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee of 1957 was one of the earliest and most important committees in the development of Panchayati Raj. It emphasised democratic decentralisation and recommended a three-tier structure of Gram Panchayat → Panchayat Samiti → Zila Parishad. Rajasthan subsequently introduced Panchayati Raj in 1959.

The Ashok Mehta Committee later reviewed the condition of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Its recommendations included strengthening these institutions, adopting a two-tier structure and giving greater importance to the district level. It also contributed to the discussion on providing a constitutional basis to Panchayats.

The L.M. Singhvi Committee of 1986 emphasised constitutional recognition of local self-government and strengthening the Gram Sabha as the foundation of decentralised democracy. Panchayats subsequently received constitutional status through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

For examination purposes, the three committees can be remembered as—

Balwant Rai Mehta → Three-tier system
Ashok Mehta → Two-tier system
L.M. Singhvi → Constitutional recognition