← HCS syllabus
HCS (Haryana)Stage 2: Main Written Examination
Haryana: Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies
What the official syllabus says
HCS Main Written Examination, Paper IV: General Studies-II:
- Related issues of Haryana.
This page applies “devolution of powers and finances up to local levels” to Haryana.
Topics in detail
Panchayati Raj in Haryana
- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, passed after the 73rd Amendment
- Three tiers: Gram Panchayat (headed by the Sarpanch), Panchayat Samiti at the block, Zila Parishad at the district
- Gram Sabha: membership, meetings, powers over village plans and beneficiaries
- Reservation of seats and offices for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and women
- Qualifications for candidates (education, no arrears, functional toilet) and the Rajbala judgment (2015)
- Functions transferred under the Eleventh Schedule; standing committees
- Panchayat finances: own revenue (shamlat land income, fees), State Finance Commission grants, Central Finance Commission grants
- Shamlat deh (village common land): management, encroachment and litigation
- Role of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer and the Deputy Commissioner
Urban local bodies
- Haryana Municipal Act, 1973 (municipal committees and councils) and Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994
- Municipal corporations in the larger cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Panipat, Karnal, Rohtak, Hisar, Ambala, Yamunanagar and Sonipat
- Mayor, councillors, the Commissioner; ward committees
- Development authorities alongside municipalities: Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran, the Gurugram and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authorities
- Urban finances: property tax, development charges, grants
- Urban issues: rapid growth of NCR towns, unauthorised colonies, waste management, waterlogging, traffic
Elections and oversight
- State Election Commission, Haryana: elections to panchayats and municipalities
- State Finance Commission of Haryana: share of State revenue for local bodies
- Audit of local bodies; social audit
- E-governance in local bodies: online property records, e-Gram Swaraj
Issues for analysis
- Gap between functions on paper and funds and staff in practice
- Representation of women and the “Sarpanch-pati” problem
- Effect of eligibility conditions on who can contest
- Village-level social institutions (khaps, caste panchayats) and elected panchayats
- Overlap between municipal bodies and development authorities in planning cities
The three tiers
| Tier | Area | Elected head |
|---|---|---|
| Gram Panchayat | Village or group of villages | Sarpanch |
| Panchayat Samiti | Block | Chairperson |
| Zila Parishad | District | Chairperson |
Village services through panchayats
- Rural sanitation and solid waste management; open-defecation-free status
- Drinking water: village water and sanitation committees under the Jal Jeevan Mission
- Village ponds: revival and the problem of polluted ponds
- Rural roads, streetlights, community centres and libraries
- Gram Panchayat Development Plans prepared with the Gram Sabha
Capacity of local bodies
- Training of elected representatives and officials: Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Nilokheri
- Panchayat staff: Gram Sachiv and the shortage of technical staff
- Record-keeping, accounts and audit of panchayat funds
- Accountability: Gram Sabha meetings, social audit, removal and suspension of Sarpanches under the Act
Overlaps
The national framework is on Union and States: Federalism, Devolution and Local Government.