Which of the following work is the responsibility of a ‘Patwari’?
2019
Which of the following work is the responsibility of a ‘Patwari’?
- A.
Construction and maintenance of common property.
- B.
Executing employment schemes for land development.
- C.
Preventing land disputes by investigating complaints.
- D.
Measuring land and keeping records.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: In India's village-level revenue administration, duties are split across distinct functionaries by law and convention — a Patwari (also called Lekhpal / village accountant in some states) is the revenue department's field officer, and their defined job is custodianship of land data: surveying/measuring plots and maintaining the village land records (khasra, khatauni). Civic works, employment-scheme execution, and dispute adjudication are assigned to separate bodies (the elected Gram Panchayat, rural-development block offices, and revenue courts/police respectively).
Application: Matching each offered activity to the functionary it actually belongs to shows only one falls under a Patwari's own charge:
Activity offered | Functionary it actually belongs to |
|---|---|
Building/maintaining shared village property | Gram Panchayat, the elected local self-government body |
Running an employment scheme for land development | Rural-development block office / Gram Panchayat executing a works programme |
Investigating complaints to settle a land dispute | Revenue courts, the SDM, or police (adjudication/enforcement) |
Surveying plots and maintaining land records | Patwari — this is the role's own defined charge |
Cross-check: NCERT-level civics/EVS material used for CTET preparation and the official CBSE CTET 2019 Paper II answer key both anchor this same mapping — revenue record-keeping sits with the Patwari, while civic works, scheme execution, and dispute settlement sit with the other three bodies. No other offered activity fits a Patwari's charge, so the option describing land measurement and record-keeping is the answer.