The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of t

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2013 UPSC Prelims Indian Polity & Governance paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Indian Polity & Governance?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Indian Polity & Governance, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2013 question covers Panchayati Raj – 73rd & 74th Amendment topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2013 Indian Polity & Governance question has a medium difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

Q: Where can I find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions?

You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — To create autonomous regions in tribal areas (this is NOT an objective of PESA)Step-by-step Solution:The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) was enacted to extend the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment (Panchayati Raj) to the Fifth Schedule areas (tribal areas of 10 states) with modifications to respect tribal customary law and self-governance traditions.Stated objectives of PESA:Option A — Self-governance: This IS an objective. PESA aims to empower Gram Sabhas (village assemblies) in tribal areas to exercise control over their community resources and governance — providing a form of grassroots self-governance that respects tribal systems. ✓ (IS an objective)Option B — Recognizing traditional rights: This IS an objective. PESA explicitly recognises the customary law, social and religious practices, and traditional management practices of tribal communities over their resources. It gives Gram Sabhas authority over natural resources based on traditional rights. ✓ (IS an objective)Option C — Creating autonomous regions in tribal areas: This is NOT an objective of PESA. Creating autonomous regions (like Autonomous District Councils under the Sixth Schedule) is a different constitutional mechanism. PESA works within the framework of the existing state administrative structure — extending Panchayati Raj to tribal areas with tribal modifications. It does NOT create separate autonomous regions or territorial autonomy. The Sixth Schedule provides for autonomous regions in northeast India — PESA is the mechanism for Scheduled Areas (Fifth Schedule) in the rest of India. ✗ (NOT an objective)Option D — Free tribal people from exploitation: This IS an objective. PESA empowers tribal communities to protect themselves from exploitation by money-lenders, contractors, and others who historically exploited tribals in Scheduled Areas. Gram Sabhas are given powers to regulate money lending, minor forest produce collection, and resource exploitation to prevent exploitative practices. ✓ (IS an objective)Key Concept: PESA key provisions: Gram Sabha as the basic unit of governance in tribal areas (not the Gram Panchayat); Gram Sabha's ownership of minor forest produce; Gram Sabha's control over money-lending, liquor policy in the village; consultation with Gram Sabha mandatory before land acquisition; no land alienation without Gram Sabha's recommendation; Gram Sabha's control over water bodies and sand and gravel mining; applies to 10 states with Fifth Schedule areas: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana. Difference from Sixth Schedule: PESA — Fifth Schedule areas (central + western + southern tribal areas), works through modified Panchayati Raj; Sixth Schedule — Northeast tribal areas (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura), creates Autonomous District Councils with legislative/executive/judicial powers. Both PESA and the Forest Rights Act (2006) were used in the famous Niyamgiri Hills (Vedanta mining) Supreme Court case (2013).

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Panchayati Raj – 73rd & 74th Amendment

Frequently Asked Questions

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Panchayati Raj – 73rd & 74th Amendment

Frequently Asked Questions