Democracy must begin at the grassroots — where people live and work. — Mahatma Gandhi
8.1 Why Local Government?
Local self-government brings democracy closer to citizens. It enables:
- Participation in decisions affecting daily life (water, sanitation, roads)
- Accountability — officials answer to neighbours, not distant capitals
- Efficiency — local knowledge improves service delivery
Before 1992, local bodies lacked constitutional status and depended on state laws.
8.2 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992)
Landmark reforms added Part IX (Panchayats) and Part IXA (Municipalities):
| Amendment | Covers | Key Articles |
|---|---|---|
| 73rd | Rural — Panchayati Raj | Arts. 243–243O |
| 74th | Urban — Municipalities | Arts. 243P–243ZG |
Both came into force in 1993, institutionalising decentralisation.
8.3 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
Three-tier structure in states with population over 20 lakh:
- Gram Panchayat — village level
- Panchayat Samiti / Mandal — block level
- Zilla Parishad — district level
Key provisions:
- Direct elections every five years (Art. 243K)
- Reservation — SC/ST in proportion to population; not less than one-third for women
- State Election Commission — independent conduct of local polls
- State Finance Commission — devolution of funds (Art. 243-I)
- Gram Sabha — village assembly of registered voters (Art. 243A)
Eleventh Schedule lists 29 subjects for Panchayats.
8.4 Urban Local Bodies
Municipalities (Nagar Palika, Municipal Corporations, Nagar Panchayats):
- Mayor/Chairperson and elected councillors
- Same reservation principles as Panchayats
- Twelfth Schedule — 18 functional areas (urban planning, water, slums, etc.)
- Metropolitan Planning Committee for cities with 10 lakh+ population (Art. 243ZE)
8.5 Challenges
- Inadequate devolution — states retain financial and administrative control
- Capacity gaps — training, staffing, corruption
- Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 — PESA for tribal areas; uneven implementation
- Women's representation — significant but proxy participation (sarpanch pati) remains an issue
Despite gaps, local governments are now an irreversible tier of Indian democracy.
Chapter Summary
- Local government decentralises power to village and urban levels
- 73rd and 74th Amendments constitutionalised Panchayats and Municipalities
- Direct elections, reservations (including women), and finance commissions are core features
- Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules define functional domains
- Effective decentralisation requires fiscal and administrative empowerment
Exercises (NCERT)
- Exercise 1 — three-tier Panchayati Raj structure with functions
- Exercise 2 — significance of 33% reservation for women in local bodies
- Exercise 3 — comparing Gram Sabha with state legislature