Class 6 Social Science Chapter 11 Grassroots Democracy — Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas Practice Paper 3

Class: VI Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 11 - Grassroots Democracy – Part 2 Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. In which district is Hiware Bazar village located?
(a) Pune
(b) Ahmednagar
(c) Solapur
(d) Nashik

Q2. The 'Barefoot College' initiative was started by:
(a) Anna Hazare
(b) Bunker Roy
(c) Popatrao Pawar
(d) M.K. Gandhi

Q3. What is the population of Lakshmanpur village as mentioned in the chapter?
(a) About 300
(b) About 500
(c) About 700
(d) About 1000

Q4. According to the Arthashastra, 'Sthānīya' (provincial headquarters) was for every:
(a) 100 villages
(b) 400 villages
(c) 600 villages
(d) 800 villages

Q5. Popatrao Pawar was awarded which honor in 2020?
(a) Bharat Ratna
(b) Padma Vibhushan
(c) Padma Shri
(d) Padma Bhushan

Q6. In the Children's Parliament, the age group of participants was:
(a) 5 to 10 years
(b) 8 to 14 years
(c) 12 to 18 years
(d) 15 to 20 years

Q7. The term 'Sangrahaṇa' in Arthashastra refers to:
(a) Provincial headquarters
(b) District headquarters
(c) Sub-district headquarters
(d) Village council

Q8. How many candidates did Dnyaneshwar Kamble defeat to become Sarpanch?
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Five
(d) Six

Q9. The objective of Panchayati Raj institutions is to enable villagers to:
(a) Pay more taxes
(b) Take active part in management and development
(c) Move to cities
(d) Work for the State government only

Q10. How many towns does India have approximately?
(a) 4,000
(b) 6,000
(c) 8,000
(d) 10,000

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What is a Bal Panchayat? What issues has it addressed in Maharashtra?

Q12. Why is Panchayati Raj called 'grassroots democracy'?

Q13. What role does the Patwari play in the Panchayati Raj system?

Q14. Mention any two methods used by Popatrao Pawar to transform Hiware Bazar village.

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Explain the concept of 'three-tier system' in Panchayati Raj. Why is such a structure needed?

Q16. How does the Children's Parliament initiative contribute to democratic learning among children? Explain with examples.

Q17. Compare the composition and role of Gram Sabha with Gram Panchayat.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. "Panchayats play a vital role in addressing local issues, promoting development and ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach the grassroots level." Explain this statement with reference to:
(a) Functions of Gram Panchayat
(b) Child-friendly initiatives
(c) Role of women in Panchayati Raj
(d) Implementation of government schemes (e) Example of any successful Panchayat

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Read the following passage and answer the questions: India is a country of enormous size and diversity. We have about 600,000 villages, 8,000 towns and over 4,000 cities. Our population has crossed 1.4 billion, almost two-thirds of which live in rural areas. How do we govern ourselves in this complex society? Let us take a trip to Lakshmanpur, a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas. It has 200 houses and a population of about 700, most of whom are farmers.
(a) What is the approximate number of villages, towns and cities in India? (1)
(b) What fraction of India's population lives in rural areas? (1)
(c) Describe Lakshmanpur village in brief. (1)
(d) Why do you think local government is important for such a vast country? (1)

Q20. Read the following passage and answer the questions: The Panchayat Samiti at the block level is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the Zila Parishad at the district level. The members of these institutions are elected by the local people, but they may have other members like Sarpanchs of the villages in the area and local members of the State Legislative Assembly. The composition of the Panchayat Samitis differs from State to State, but their role in strengthening the participation of local people remains the same.

(a) What is the position of Panchayat Samiti in the three-tier system? (1)
(b) Who can be members of Panchayat Samiti besides elected members? (1)
(c) Does Panchayat Samiti have the same structure in all states? Why? (1)
(d) What is the common role of Panchayat Samitis across all States? (1) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 03

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(b) Ahmednagar Explanation: Hiware Bazar is a village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Ans 2.
(b) Bunker Roy Explanation: The 'Children's Parliament' is an offshoot of Bunker Roy's 'Barefoot College' initiative. Ans 3.
(c) About 700 Explanation: Lakshmanpur has 200 houses and a population of about 700. Ans 4.
(d) 800 villages Explanation: According to Arthashastra, Sthānīya (provincial headquarters) was for every 800 villages. Ans 5.
(c) Padma Shri Explanation: Shri Popatrao Pawar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020 for transforming Hiware Bazar.

Ans 6.
(b) 8 to 14 years Explanation: Children aged 8 to 14 are engaged in governance processes in the Children's Parliament. Ans 7.
(c) Sub-district headquarters Explanation: Sangrahaṇa refers to sub-district headquarters, established for every 10 villages. Ans 8.
(d) Six Explanation: Kamble defeated six other candidates to become the Sarpanch. Ans 9.
(b) Take active part in management and development Explanation: The objective is to enable villagers to take an active part in management and development of their villages.

Ans 10.
(c) 8,000 Explanation: India has about 600,000 villages, 8,000 towns and over 4,000 cities.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. Bal Panchayat: • Bal Panchayat is a forum where children participate in governance processes. • It is part of the Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative. • It provides opportunities for children to express their ideas and opinions. Issues addressed in Maharashtra: • Worked to eliminate child labour. • Campaigned against child marriage. • Brought many children back to school. Ans 12. Panchayati Raj is called 'grassroots democracy' because: • It brings governance to the lowest level – the village.

• It enables direct participation of common people in decision-making. • People at the base level (grassroots) elect their own representatives. • Local issues are addressed by local people themselves. Ans 13. Role of Patwari: • The Patwari is an officer who assists the Gram Panchayat. • Maintains the villagers' land records. • Keeps maps of village lands (some maps are generations old). • Helps in resolving land-related matters and disputes. Ans 14. Two methods used by Popatrao Pawar:

1. Rainwater harvesting: • Applied Anna Hazare's model of collecting and storing rainwater. • This helped address the drought problem.

2. Watershed conservation and tree planting: • Massive tree planting of lakhs of trees. • Watershed conservation for groundwater recharge.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. Three-tier system: The Panchayati Raj operates at three levels (tiers):

1. Village level: Gram Panchayat / Village Parishad

2. Block level: Panchayat Samiti / Block Panchayat

3. District level: Zila Parishad / District Panchayat Why this structure is needed: • India has 600,000 villages – single-tier cannot handle all issues. • Different levels handle different scales of problems. • Village-level handles local issues; block-level coordinates multiple villages. • District-level manages larger development projects. • Ensures efficient communication from village to state level. • Facilitates fund allocation and scheme implementation. Ans 16. Children's Parliament and democratic learning:

How it contributes: • Engages children in governance processes. • Teaches about democracy and social responsibility through practical experience. • Uses night schools for education. • Conducts parliament-like elections with voter ID cards and campaigning. Examples: • Elected representatives form a 'Cabinet' – learning about executive functions. • Cabinet oversees school management – learning administrative skills. • Children advocate for community needs – learning citizenship. • They address issues like education, sanitation, social equality.

• Initiative received World's Children's Honorary Award in 2001. This hands-on approach helps children understand democracy practically rather than theoretically. Ans 17. Gram Sabha: • Composition: All adult voters of a village or group of villages. • Membership: All women and men enrolled as voters (universal). • Role: Primary body for direct participation; discusses village matters; takes collective decisions; elects Gram Panchayat members. • Nature: Assembly of all citizens – direct democracy.

Gram Panchayat: • Composition: Elected members (Ward Members) and Sarpanch/Pradhan. • Membership: Limited to elected representatives. • Role: Executive body; implements decisions; manages village affairs; assisted by Panchayat Secretary and Patwari. • Nature: Representative body – elected democracy. Key difference: Gram Sabha is the electoral body; Gram Panchayat is the elected governing body.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18.
(a) Functions of Gram Panchayat: • Agriculture management and support to farmers. • Housing provisions for villagers. • Construction and maintenance of village roads. • Management of water resources and supply. • Primary education and running village schools. • Health care and sanitation facilities. • Social welfare programs. • Cultural activities and community events.
(b) Child-friendly initiatives: • Child-Friendly Panchayat Initiative creates opportunities for children to express ideas.

• Bal Sabhas and Bal Panchayats encourage children's participation. • In Maharashtra, Bal Panchayats eliminated child labour and child marriage. • Sangkhu Radhu Khandu GP in Sikkim built compound walls and kitchens in schools. • These efforts ensure children's needs and rights are addressed.
(c) Role of women in Panchayati Raj: • One-third seats reserved for women at all three levels. • More women are becoming Sarpanchs in recent years. • Example: Vandana Bahadur Maida became first female Sarpanch of Khankhandvi.

• She convinced women to attend Sabha meetings and addressed education and sanitation. • Women's participation strengthens inclusive democracy.
(d) Implementation of government schemes: • Panchayat Samiti collects development plans from all Gram Panchayats. • Plans are presented at District/State levels for fund allocation. • Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (rural roads) are implemented. • Benefits of government programs reach grassroots level through Panchayats. (e) Example of successful Panchayat:

• Hiware Bazar in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. • Under Sarpanch Popatrao Pawar, the village transformed from drought-affected to prosperous. • Methods: Rainwater harvesting, watershed conservation, tree planting. • Result: Groundwater recharged, village became green and prosperous. • Recognition: Padma Shri awarded to Popatrao Pawar in 2020.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) Numbers: • Villages: About 600,000 • Towns: 8,000 • Cities: Over 4,000
(b) Rural population: • Almost two-thirds of India's population lives in rural areas. • (Approximately 65-66% of 1.4 billion)
(c) Description of Lakshmanpur: • A small village in the foothills of the Himalayas. • Has 200 houses and population of about 700. • Most residents are farmers who cultivate lands and rear cows or goats.
(d) Importance of local government: • With 600,000 villages, central government alone cannot address all local issues.

• People cannot run to State or national capital for every small matter. • Local government brings governance closer to people. • Enables participation in decision-making at grassroots level. Ans 20.
(a) Position in three-tier system: • Panchayat Samiti is at the middle tier (block level). • It acts as a link between Gram Panchayat (below) and Zila Parishad (above).
(b) Other members besides elected members: • Sarpanchs of the villages in the area. • Local members of the State Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

(c) Structure variation: • No, Panchayat Samiti does not have the same structure in all states. • The composition differs from State to State. • This is because States have authority over Panchayati Raj institutions.
(d) Common role across all States: • Strengthening the participation of local people in governance. • Coordinating matters across different Gram Panchayats. • Collecting and presenting development plans. • Facilitating fund allocation for local development.