In a unitary form of government, all powers of governance are constitutionally concentrated in the hands of which level of government?

Introduction / Context:
Political science distinguishes between federal and unitary forms of government based on how power is distributed between different levels of government. In a federal system, powers are divided between central and regional governments by the Constitution. In a unitary system, power is organised quite differently. This question asks you to state in whose hands all powers are concentrated in a unitary form of government.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about a unitary form of government, not a federal system.
- The options are local government, central government, provincial or State government and Panchayats.
- It is assumed that the learner understands that a unitary system typically has one supreme central authority.
- Examples of unitary states include countries where regional bodies derive their powers from the central authority rather than from the Constitution directly.

Concept / Approach:
In a unitary government, all legal powers are concentrated in the central or national government. Regional or local authorities may exist, but they exercise only those powers that the central government chooses to delegate, and these powers can often be altered or withdrawn by ordinary law. This is different from a federal system, where the Constitution itself divides powers between the central and State governments, making both levels coordinate and independent within their respective spheres. Therefore, in a unitary system, the central government is supreme and holds the ultimate authority.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the basic definition of a unitary system: a system in which sovereignty and ultimate law making power are vested in a single central authority. Step 2: Recognise that in such a system, provinces, States, municipalities or Panchayats, if they exist, do so by virtue of laws made by the central authority and can be reorganised or abolished by it. Step 3: Understand that local government and Panchayats are subordinate bodies that operate within what the central authority or, in some systems, a delegated authority allows; they do not hold ultimate constitutional power. Step 4: Note that the term provincial or State government suggests a federal or quasi federal arrangement where States have constitutionally guaranteed powers, which is not typical of a purely unitary state. Step 5: Since the question asks in whose hands all powers are concentrated, the answer must be the central government in the unitary model. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is that powers are concentrated in the hands of the central government.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on political science and Indian polity explain that in a unitary state, the central government is legally supreme and that any sub national units exercise only those powers which it chooses to grant. Classic examples of unitary states include systems where the national parliament can alter regional boundaries and competences by ordinary law. These descriptions consistently emphasise that all powers flow from the central government, which confirms that central government is the correct answer for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, local government, is wrong because local bodies in a unitary system are subordinate institutions created by the central authority and do not hold all powers themselves.

Option C, provincial or State government, is wrong because this description is more appropriate for federal systems where States have constitutionally protected powers, which is not the defining feature of a unitary government.

Option D, Panchayats, is wrong because Panchayats are local self government institutions at the village level and are subordinate to higher levels of government; they do not constitute the central authority in any form of government.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse the presence of local or provincial bodies with federalism, without examining whether their powers are constitutionally guaranteed or merely delegated. Another mistake is to think that any system with elected local bodies shares power equally among levels, even if the central government can legally override them. For exam purposes, students should remember that unitary means centralised power, whereas federal means divided power between central and State governments under the Constitution.

Final Answer:
In a unitary form of government, all powers are concentrated in the hands of the central government.