Who among the following occupies elected office in a Gram Panchayat? A.…

Part IX of the Constitution (added by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, effective April 1993) establishes elected Panchayat bodies: Article 243C(2) requires that seats representing individual wards be filled by direct election, and Article 243C(5)(a) requires the Panchayat's chairperson's seat to be filled by election in whatever manner State law prescribes (many States provide for direct election of this post too). By contrast, a Panchayat's supporting administrative staff — such as its Secretary — are provided for under the applicable State Panchayati Raj legislation and are appointed, not elected. Article 243(b) further clarifies that being a “Gram Sabha” member is simply the status of being a registered voter of the village — it is not itself an office within the Panchayat.

Checking each person named in the options against this framework:

• Sarpanch — the Panchayat's chairperson; the seat is filled by election under Article 243C(5)(a), in the manner State law provides.

• Ward Member (Panch) — the representative of an individual ward, directly elected under Article 243C(2).

• Secretary — an administrative officer appointed under the applicable State Panchayat law; not an elected member of the body.

• Gram Sabha Member — the automatic status of every adult resident on the village electoral roll under Article 243(b); not an elected Panchayat office.

So among the four, only the Sarpanch and the Ward Members hold elected office in the Gram Panchayat.

• Pairing the Sarpanch with the Secretary (A and C) still brings in an appointed official, so it is not purely elected.

• Adding the Secretary to the Sarpanch-and-Ward-Members group (A, B and C) again brings in an appointed official.

• Grouping the Ward Members with the Secretary and Gram Sabha membership (B, C and D) brings in both an appointed official and a non-office status.

• Only the Sarpanch-and-Ward-Members pair (A and B) is fully elected, matching the exam's official answer key.