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General Studies 2022 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Evaluate

GS Paper II — Q3

To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots ?…

To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots ? (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आपकी राय में, भारत में शक्ति के विकेन्द्रीकरण ने जमीनी-स्तर पर शासन-परिदृश्य को किस सीमा तक परिवर्तित किया है ? (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q3 of the 2022 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2022 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2022 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, 1992, marked a foundational shift by institutionalising Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as a distinct third tier of Indian federalism.

Transformative Impact Decentralisation has democratised the grassroots by creating nearly 3 million elected local representatives. Mandatory reservations have driven political inclusion, with women now constituting over 46% of PRI representatives. Legislation like the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996 has empowered tribal self-governance, while decentralised planning has improved last-mile public service delivery in sanitation, health, and rural works.

Persistent Limitations However, effective local governance is severely constrained by the incomplete devolution of the "3Fs" (funds, functions, and functionaries). Local bodies suffer from acute fiscal dependence due to negligible own-source revenue generation, pervasive administrative subordination to state line departments, and elite capture. Devolution also remains uneven across states, visible in the stark contrast between Kerala’s participatory planning model and Bihar’s functional deficit.

Verdict The grassroots decentralisation in India represents a significant but incomplete transformation: it has achieved remarkable structural and representative deepening of democracy, yet substantive administrative and financial empowerment remains largely unfulfilled.

What "Evaluate" is asking you to do

Judge how well something has performed against the standard it set for itself — its stated aim, mandate or promise — and commit to a verdict. Name the yardstick before you judge; an unanchored judgement reads as opinion.

Structure that answers it

Name the yardstick — stated aim, mandate or benchmark → performance against it → shortfall against it → why the gap exists → verdict

Where marks are lost

Presenting both sides and then declining to decide, or delivering a verdict against a standard you never stated, which makes it look arbitrary.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Governance: Decentralisation & Panchayati Raj. evaluate: criteria > evidence > balanced judgment Full marks: Balanced judgment with specific examples and constitutional basis.

Key points expected

  • Cite 73rd/74th Amendment as the constitutional basis.
  • Analyze the 'Three Fs' (Functions, Funds, Functionaries).
  • Provide specific examples of grassroots impact (e.g., MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat).
  • Conclude with a balanced judgment on the extent of change.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Assess the extent of change in grassroots governance due to decentralisation. 10 marks · 150 words

    evaluate— criteria → evidence → balanced judgment

    Must cover

    • Cite 73rd/74th Amendment as the constitutional basis.
    • Analyze the 'Three Fs' (Functions, Funds, Functionaries).
    • Provide specific examples of grassroots impact (e.g., MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat).
    • Conclude with a balanced judgment on the extent of change.

    Loses marks

    • Reciting Article 243 without analyzing its impact.
    • Focusing only on central government schemes, ignoring local bodies.
    • Ending without a clear judgment on the 'extent' of change.

    Earns more

    • Mention 2nd ARC recommendations on local governance.
    • Reference specific state-level decentralisation models (e.g., Kerala, Karnataka).
    • Discuss the role of Gram Sabhas in accountability.
    • Mention the impact of e-governance on transparency.

    Extra mark

    • Cite a specific Supreme Court judgment on Panchayati Raj.
    • Reference a specific Law Commission report on local bodies.

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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