Question map
Which among the following statements regarding Lord Ripons plan for local self-government in India is /are correct? 1. The district should be the maximum area served by one Committee or Local Board. 2. The Local Boards should consist of a large majority of nominated official members and be presided over by an official member as Chairman. Select the correct answer using the code given below : Code :
Explanation
Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882, often called the 'Magna Carta' of local self-government, aimed to promote political education through decentralization [2]. Statement 1 is incorrect because Ripon proposed that the sub-division, taluka, or tehsil (not the district) should be the maximum area served by a local board to ensure local knowledge and interest [3]. Statement 2 is incorrect because the resolution explicitly advocated for a large majority of non-official members (at least two-thirds) in these boards [6]. Furthermore, Ripon recommended that the Chairman of these local bodies should be a non-official whenever possible, rather than an official member, to foster genuine self-governance [6]. Although district officials often continued to head boards in practice due to administrative resistance, Ripon's original plan intended for non-official leadership [5].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Ripon's Resolution of 1882 > p. 528
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 40: Municipalities > Historical Perspective > p. 398
- [3] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 40: Municipalities > Historical Perspective > p. 398
- [4] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 9: Administrative Changes After 1858 > Administration > p. 155
- [6] https://interstatecouncil.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/volume4.pdf
- [5] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Local Bodies > p. 529