Question

Which of the following is/are correct?

1. Rajasthan was the first state in India to pass Right to Information.

2. Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayati Raj.

3. Rajasthan was the first state in the country to fix a minimum educational qualification for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

1.

1 only

2. 2 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 2 and 3 only

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : 2 and 3 only

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

• Rajasthan was the first state to establish a Panchayati Raj system. Hence option 2 is correct.
  • The system was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on October 2, 1959, in Bagdari Village of Nagaur district.
• Rajasthan was also the first State in the country to fix a minimum educational qualification for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. Hence option 3 is correct.
  • The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill, 2015, which makes Class VIII pass mandatory in order to contest election for the post of sarpanch, except in tribal areas. 
• Tamil-Nadu was the first state in India to have passed a law on Right to Information. Hence option 1 is false.
  • Tamil Nadu was the first state to introduce the Right To Information (RTI) Act in April,1996.

• Right to Information is an act of the Parliament of India which sets out the rules and procedures regarding citizens' right to information.
  • An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 
• Rajasthan Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 also make a provision for functional toilet mandatory in the house of the contestant.