Which of the following statement(s) is/are true about Panchayati Raj Institutions in Uttarakhand?

1. The State of Uttarakhand does not have its own Panchayati Raj Act.
2. One-third of the seats are reserved for women.
3. Block Development Councils have been set up at intermediate level.
4. Block Development Officer acts as Secretary to the Block Development Council (Kshetra Panchayat).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct option is B

The correct answer is:(B) 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:

• Statement 1: "The State of Uttarakhand does not have its own Panchayati Raj Act."

  • Incorrect. Uttarakhand does have its own Panchayati Raj Act, which is based on the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2016, following the framework laid out by the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution.

• Statement 2: "One-third of the seats are reserved for women."

  • Correct. As per the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, one-third of the seats are reserved for women in the Panchayati Raj Institutions at all levels (village, intermediate, and district).

• Statement 3: "Block Development Councils have been set up at intermediate level."

  • Correct. The Block Development Councils (BDCs) are established at the intermediate level, also referred to as Kshetra Panchayat.

• Statement 4: "Block Development Officer acts as Secretary to the Block Development Council (Kshetra Panchayat)."

  • Correct. The Block Development Officer (BDO) acts as the Secretary to the Block Development Council (Kshetra Panchayat), assisting in the administration and functioning of the council.

Information Booster:

• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Uttarakhand are a key part of local governance, with the Gram Panchayat at the village level, Kshetra Panchayat at the block level, and Zila Panchayat at the district level.

• These institutions are meant to promote decentralized governance, ensuring local communities participate in decision-making processes and implementation of development programs.

• The reservation of seats for women and marginalized communities aims to enhance gender equality and inclusive development.