खालीलपैकी कोणत्या कारणांमुळे स्वातंत्र्यप्राप्तीनंतरच्या कालखंडामध्ये जिल्हाधिकारी पदाची प्रतिष्ठा व अधिकार कमी होत गेले ?
(a) शासन रचनेमध्ये झालेला बदल.
(b) जिल्हामध्ये विभागांच्या संख्येत झालेली वाढ.
(c) पंचायती राज पद्धतीचा उदय.
(d) कायदा व सुव्यवस्थेकरिता विभागीय पद्धतीत झालेली वाढ.
पर्यायी उत्तरे :

The correct answer is Option D ((a), (b), (c) and (d)).

Key Points:
• Evolution of the Office of District Collector Post-Independence:
• Change in Form of Government (a): Transition from an authoritarian colonial police state to a democratic welfare state subjected the Collector to political accountability, legislative questions, and scrutiny of elected representatives.
• Departmental Specialization (b): Creation of independent technical departments at the district level (Agriculture, PWD, Health, Forests, Social Welfare) headed by their own state directors eroded unitary district control.
• Panchayati Raj (c): In states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, development administration was devolved entirely to Zilla Parishads and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), divesting the Collector of extensive development portfolios.
• Police Commissionerate System (d): Introduction of the Police Commissionerate system in major urban cities took away magisterial law & order control from the Collector/District Magistrate.
• Therefore, all four factors contributed to reducing the colonial primacy of the Collector.
• Key Takeaway: Democratic governance, departmental growth, Panchayati Raj, and commissionerates reduced the unitary authority of the Collector.