Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in
Show answer
Answer: B. Local self-government hands power and responsibility to elected bodies at the village and town level. This spreading of power downward through elected bodies is democratic decentralisation, the term used for Panchayati Raj. So democratic decentralisation.
Watch for: Watch for 'direct democracy'; gram sabhas have a direct element, but the system as a whole is representative.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because federalism is division of power between Union and States, set by the Constitution.
- C. Wrong because delegation passes tasks to officials, not to elected local bodies.
- D. Wrong because local bodies work through elected representatives, not direct rule by all citizens.
Source to check: NCERT Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 8 'Local Governments'; Balwant Rai Mehta Committee Report, 1957
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.