QUESTION 3
GS2
10 marks
To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Judge how far the 73rd and 74th Amendments have actually changed governance at the village and town level.
To what extentAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Changes: regular elections, women's representation (1/3, many states 50%), SC/ST reservation, Gram Sabhas, state finance commissions≈35 words
- 2Gaps: weak devolution of funds, functions and functionaries (3Fs), parallel bodies, proxy representation (sarpanch-pati), dependence on state grants≈35 words
- 3Evidence: Kerala's people's plan, Devolution Index≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Constitutional designChanges achievedGapsEvidenceJudgementMeasures
Where marks usually go
- Describing the amendments without judging 'to what extent'
- Ignoring the 3Fs framework of devolution
Draw this
- Scale graphic: what has changed vs what has not
Value addition
- DataAbout 46% of elected panchayat representatives are women (around 14 lakh).Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- ReportThe 2nd ARC's 6th Report (Local Governance) called for clear delineation of functions and real devolution of funds.Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 6th Report
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Alfred Thomas · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Alfred Thomas · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.