Question

It is the ___________ that decides on which day of the week the market has to remain closed.
A.Gram Panchayat
B.State Assembly
C.Municipal Corporation
D.Union Parliament

Answer 1

Hint: India is often referred to as a quasi-federation which means that it has features of both a federation and a union. The federal arrangement created by the Constitution meets the basic normative requirements of federalism. At the same time, it also has certain specific additional and unitary features that make Indian federalism unique. There is a clear cut well-defined division of powers between the Union and state-level governments. This division of power is mentioned in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution which contains three lists with legislative subjects: Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Furthermore, to ensure decentralisation of power, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1992 provided for institutions of rural and urban local self-governments respectively.

Complete step by step solution:
Option A: Gram Panchayat is incorrect. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system in rural areas is responsible for the implementation of schemes for social development and social justice as entrusted to them under the 11th Schedule.
Option B: State Assembly is incorrect. The state governments are only responsible for devolving or delegating the work to the rural and urban local self-governments.
Option C: Municipal Corporation is correct. The Municipal Corporation is the highest among the three urban local self-government bodies constituted under the 74th Amendment Act, 1992. They derive their functions from those delegated to them by the state government and the matters contained in the 12th Schedule of the Constitution. Deciding the day on which the markets remain closed comes under their purview.
Option D: Union Parliament is incorrect as they do not take decisions regarding local functioning.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: The 73rd Amendment Act (1992) provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj with Gram Sabha as the base in villages, and above it, panchayats will be constituted at intermediate block and district levels. The 74th Amendment Act (1992) provides for the constitution of urban local self-government bodies—Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats depending upon the population in each notified area of the country.