What is a Gram Sabha?

(a) All adults in the village

(b) Only elected members

(c) Only teachers

(d) Only government officers

The correct Answer: (a) All adults in the village

The Gram Sabha is the general assembly of all adults (18+ years) in a village (or a cluster of small villages) whose names are on the electoral roll. It is the foundation of rural democracy and sits above the Gram Panchayat in terms of community oversight. Every eligible woman and man is a member—there are no elections to the Gram Sabha because it includes everyone.

Key roles/powers of the Gram Sabha

• Approves village plans & annual budget prepared by the Gram Panchayat.
• Selects/validates beneficiaries for government schemes (housing, pensions, toilets, etc.).
• Conducts social audit: reviews works, expenditures (e.g., MGNREGA), asks questions, and demands corrections.
• Holds the Sarpanch and Panchayat accountable through open meetings, questioning, and resolutions.
• Resolves local issues by discussion/consensus and recommends action to officials.

How it works

• Meets periodically (as per state rules; often at least 2–4 times a year or on special notice).
• Quorum (minimum attendance) and procedures are set by state Panchayati Raj laws.
• Decisions are recorded and sent to the Gram Panchayat for implementation.

Gram Sabha vs. Gram Panchayat (don’t confuse!)

• Gram Sabha: all adult voters (deliberative/oversight body).
• Gram Panchayat: elected representatives (executive body) led by the Sarpanch.

Why other options are incorrect

(b) Only elected members: That’s the Gram Panchayat, not the Gram Sabha.

(c) Only teachers

(d) Only government officers: These are not membership criteria; the Gram Sabha includes all adult voters.