Q1. [4]
DECENTRALISATION IN INDIA
When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralization. The basic idea behind decentralization is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Local government is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-government.
The need for decentralisation was recognized in our Constitution. Since then, there have been several attempts to decentralize power to the level of villages and towns. Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas were set up in all the States. But these were directly under the control of State Governments. Elections to these local governments were not held regularly.
Read the given extract and answer all questions :
- (36.1) Explain Decentralization in democracy. [1]
- (36.2) Explain the importance of Local self Government in democracy. [1]
- (36.3) Describe any two steps taken by Indian government for decentralization. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 32/1/1 Q36
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:00 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(36.1) Decentralization means taking power away from Central and State governments and giving it to local governments, so that local problems are solved at the local level by the people themselves.
(36.2) Local self-government is an important principle of democracy. At the local level, people can directly participate in decision-making, have better knowledge of local problems, and can manage resources more efficiently.
(36.3) Two steps taken for decentralization in India:
- The need for decentralization was recognized in the Constitution itself.
- Panchayats in villages and Municipalities in urban areas were set up in all States to govern at the local level.
Source: Democratic Politics, Chapter – Federalism (Decentralisation in India)
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Explanation
- (36.1) is a 1-mark definition — one clear sentence is enough.
- (36.2) focus on "local self-government" as a democratic principle + direct participation; both points earn the mark.
- (36.3) needs two distinct steps from the passage — Constitutional recognition and setting up Panchayats/Municipalities are the two explicitly mentioned. Avoid adding outside information not in the extract.
- All answers must stay within the passage; examiners check source-based fidelity.
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