Class 9 Social Science · Chapter 5

Samacheer Class 9 Social Science - Local Self Government

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Chapter-wise textbook exercise answers for Local Self Government with validation-aware solutions.

Answers marked verified were checked during generation against the chapter context and source question text.
Sections in this chapter
Exercise I - Choose the correct answer 4Exercise II - Fill in the blanks 5V - Give short note 1VI - Answer in detail 2VII - Activity 1Exercise III - Match the following 1Exercise IV - Correct the statement 4
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1Exercise I - Choose the correct answer4 questions
Q.I.1Which committee was appointed by the Planning Commission in 1985?v
  1. a. Balwant Rai Mehta
  2. b. Ashok Mehta
  3. c. G V K Rao
  4. d. L M Singhvi
Solution

The Planning Commission appointed the G. V. K. Rao Committee in 1985.

Answer:

c

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Q.I.2The Uthiramerur stone inscriptions show evidence of prevalent local self-government during the ____________ period in Tamil Nadu.v
  1. a. Chola
  2. b. Chera
  3. c. Pandiya
  4. d. Pallava
Solution

The Uthiramerur inscriptions date from the Chola period and show well-developed local self-government practices.

Answer:

a

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Q.I.3The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts were enacted in the year __________.v
  1. a. 1992
  2. b. 1995
  3. c. 1997
  4. d. 1990
Solution

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts were enacted in 1992, providing constitutional status to rural and urban local bodies.

Answer:

a

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Q.I.4_____________ acts as the inspector of Village Panchayat.v
  1. a. Commissioner
  2. b. District Collector
  3. c. Councillors
  4. d. Mayor
Solution

The District Collector generally acts as the inspecting and supervisory authority for Village Panchayats.

Answer:

b

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2Exercise II - Fill in the blanks5 questions
Q.II.1_____________ is known as the 'Father of Local Governments'.v
Solution

Lord Ripon (Governor-General of India, 1880s) is commonly called the 'Father of Local Self-Government' for his reforms (Ripon Resolution) that promoted local self-government.

Answer:

Lord Ripon

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Q.II.2Restoration of ______________ has become an article of faith during our freedom struggle.v
Solution

During the freedom movement Indian leaders emphasized restoration of local self-government (Gram Swaraj) as a core aim.

Answer:

local self-government

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Q.II.3_______________ was the name of the secret ballot method used to elect members to the village councils during the Chola period.v
Solution

The Kudavolai system (literally 'pot-leaf') was a secret ballot method used in Chola times to elect village council members.

Answer:

Kudavolai

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Q.II.4Local government which function in villages are called _____________.v
Solution

Local governments functioning in rural areas are called Panchayats or Village Panchayats.

Answer:

Panchayats (Village Panchayats)

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Q.II.5_____________ will look after the administration of the Town Panchayat.v
Solution

The Town Panchayat is administered by the elected Town Panchayat Chairman along with an Executive Officer appointed by the state government.

Answer:

Town Panchayat Chairman (with an Executive Officer)

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3V - Give short note1 questions
Q.V.1Name the taxes levied by the Village Panchayat.v
Solution

Common Village Panchayat levies include: house/property tax, water tax, lighting and conservancy charges, taxes/fees on shops and markets, profession tax, trade licence fees, and market tolls; exact powers vary by state law.

Answer:

House tax, water tax, lighting/conservancy tax, tax on shops/markets, profession tax, fees for trade licences and market tolls.

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4VI - Answer in detail2 questions
Q.VI.1Write in details about the salient features of the 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992).v
Solution

Concise explanation of each feature: constitutional status ensured permanence; regular elections promote accountability; reservations ensure representation; finance/state election commissions improve fiscal autonomy and electoral management; schedules define functional responsibilities; District Planning Committees enable local planning.

Answer:

Salient features:
- Constitutional recognition: 73rd (rural) and 74th (urban) give constitutional status to local bodies (Part IX/IXA).
- Regular elections every five years for local bodies.
- Institution of Gram Sabha (rural) and Gram Panchayats; three-tier Panchayati Raj (village, intermediate/block, district) where applicable.
- Reservation of seats for SC/ST and reservation of at least one-third seats for women (increased in some states).
- Provision for State Election Commission to conduct local elections.
- Creation of State Finance Commission every five years to recommend devolution of finances and grants.
- Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects) lists functions for Panchayats; Twelfth Schedule lists functions for urban local bodies.
- Establishment of District Planning Committees to prepare plans for districts.
- Strengthening decentralisation and local self-government autonomy.

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Q.VI.2Describe the major problems & challenges faced by the local self governments.v
Solution

Each problem affects service delivery: inadequate funds limit development works; lack of staff impedes project execution; weak devolution prevents local decision-making; political interference and low participation reduce accountability. Solutions include stronger fiscal devolution, capacity building, clear assignment of functions, and enhanced citizen engagement.

Answer:

Major problems and challenges:
- Inadequate finances and irregular transfers of funds.
- Limited revenue-generating powers and weak tax base.
- Lack of administrative and technical staff, and capacity constraints.
- Centralized state control and limited real devolution of powers.
- Political interference and corruption.
- Low public awareness and participation in local governance.
- Overlapping functions with state departments leading to confusion.
- Rapid urbanisation and infrastructure strain in urban local bodies.
- Poor planning and weak implementation/monitoring of schemes.

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5VII - Activity1 questions
Q.VII.1Meet your Panchayat President / Municipal Chairman and discuss with him how the local self government is being administered.v
Solution

Suggested steps:
1. Fix an appointment and explain purpose.
2. Ask about structure (members, officials), key functions (water, sanitation, roads), funding (taxes, grants), recent projects, and public participation (Gram Sabha/ward meetings).
3. Record responses and take photographs or documents if allowed.
4. Prepare a short report summarising administration, achievements, and problems to submit in class.

Answer:

Activity — guidance: Prepare questions about local services, revenue sources, development schemes, citizen participation, meetings of the Panchayat/Municipality, and problems faced. Take notes on their duties, functions, recent works, and challenges. Summarise findings for class discussion.

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6Exercise III - Match the following1 questions
Q.IIIMatch the following: 1. Zilla Parishad - Villages 2. Gram Sabhas - Mayor 3. Ward Committees - Chairman 4. Panchayat Union - District Collector 5. Corporation - Municipalities (Note: the page also contains other short questions interleaved with the matching table.)v
Solution

The OCR on the page mixed rows; reconstructed intended pairs from chapter context: (1) Zilla Parishad corresponds to the district level (the Zilla Parishad is the district council). (2) Gram Sabha is the village assembly — so Gram Sabha → Villages. (3) Ward Committees are bodies within urban local governments and relate to municipal wards (so Ward Committees → Municipalities/wards). (4) Panchayat Union is the block/taluk-level rural body (a group of village panchayats) and is headed by an elected Chairman. (5) Municipal Corporations are headed by a Mayor — so Corporation → Mayor. (If your exercise requires one-to-one literal labels from the printed right column, match Gram Sabhas→Villages and Corporation→Mayor, and pair Panchayat Union→Chairman, Ward Committees→Municipalities, Zilla Parishad→District-level body.)

#Correct match
1Zilla Parishad — District (Zilla/district level)
2Gram Sabhas — Villages
3Ward Committees — Municipalities / Ward-level units
4Panchayat Union — Grouping of villages (block level) ## has an elected Chairman
5Corporation — Mayor
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7Exercise IV - Correct the statement4 questions
Q.IV(i)Panchayat Union is formed by grouping of Districts.v
Solution

A Panchayat Union (Block Panchayat) is a rural local body formed by grouping several Village Panchayats within a block—not by grouping districts.

Answer:

False. Correct statement: Panchayat Union is formed by grouping of Village Panchayats (within a block).

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Q.IV(ii)District Panchayat is constituted in each village.v
Solution

District Panchayat (Zilla Parishad) is the local government body at the district level, not at the village level.

Answer:

False. Correct statement: District Panchayat is constituted for each district.

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Q.IV(iii)The Municipal Commissioner will be a person from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).v
Solution

While many Municipal Commissioners are IAS officers, the law only requires an appointed administrative officer; the post may be filled by IAS or state service officers depending on the state government's decision.

Answer:

False. Correct statement: The Municipal Commissioner is an appointed administrative officer (often an IAS officer or a state civil servant) appointed by the state government.

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Q.IV(iv)In Village Panchayat, the President and ward members are elected by the people.v
Solution

Village Panchayat President (Sarpanch/President) and ward members are elected representatives chosen by the people of the village in local elections.

Answer:

True.

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