The Panchayati Raj form of rural local government in India was first adopted by which pair of states?

Introduction / Context:
Panchayati Raj is a system of rural local self government in India which aims to decentralise power to village level institutions. Questions on Indian polity often focus on which states were pioneers in adopting this system. This particular question asks about the earliest adopters of Panchayati Raj after it was recommended and promoted as a formal framework for rural governance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The subject is Panchayati Raj form of rural government. - Four pairs of states are given, each including Rajasthan and another state. - The question asks which pair first adopted this system. - We assume basic knowledge of the historical sequence of adoption.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, Rajasthan is widely recognised as the first state where the Panchayati Raj system was inaugurated in Nagaur district on 2 October 1959. Shortly thereafter, Andhra Pradesh became the second state to introduce Panchayati Raj. Therefore, the correct pair should be Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The other pairings do not match the chronological order of adoption recorded in standard polity references.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended the establishment of Panchayati Raj institutions. 2. The first formal inauguration of Panchayati Raj took place in Rajasthan on 2 October 1959. 3. Andhra Pradesh followed soon after in the same year, becoming the second state to adopt this system. 4. Therefore, when the question asks for the pair of states that first adopted Panchayati Raj, it refers to Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh together. 5. Among the options, only Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh correctly reflects this combination.

Verification / Alternative check:
Polity textbooks for civil services and state level exams clearly mention that Panchayati Raj was first introduced in Rajasthan and then in Andhra Pradesh. In many multiple choice question banks, the pair Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh is repeatedly given as the correct answer to similar questions. No standard reference lists Rajasthan combined with Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal or Uttar Pradesh as the first pair to adopt Panchayati Raj. This cross checking confirms that option with Andhra Pradesh is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is incorrect because while both states later adopted Panchayati Raj, Madhya Pradesh was not the second state in the historical sequence. Rajasthan and West Bengal is historically inaccurate, as West Bengal is not recorded as the earliest adopter. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also does not reflect the documented order of introduction. These combinations may appear plausible but they do not match the specific historical fact being tested here.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates remember only that Rajasthan was the first state but forget which state came second. Under pressure, they may select any familiar large state combined with Rajasthan. Another pitfall is to assume that a more populous or politically prominent state like Uttar Pradesh must have been among the first, which is not correct. To avoid such confusion, it is best to memorise the two names together as a fixed pair: Rajasthan first, followed by Andhra Pradesh, both in the year 1959.

Final Answer:
The Panchayati Raj form of rural government was first adopted by the pair of states Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.