2.4 Local Government in India: Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Government


SIMPLY SMART

Introduction

Local government is the third tier of India’s democratic system.
It operates at the grassroots level, enabling people to participate directly in governance.
The Constitution recognises local government through:

  • 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 → Rural Local Government (Panchayati Raj)

  • 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 → Urban Local Government (Municipalities)

Both reforms strengthened decentralisation, local democracy, and participatory development.

1. Panchayati Raj (Rural Local Government)

(Under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992)

The Panchayati Raj system creates a three-tier structure for rural governance.
It ensures local-level planning, execution, development, and community participation.

1.1 Three-Tier Structure of Panchayati Raj

1. Gram Panchayat (Village Level)

  • Directly elected body at the village level

  • Head: Sarpanch / President

  • Responsible for sanitation, drinking water, street lighting, maintaining records, etc.

2. Panchayat Samiti (Block Level)

  • Intermediate tier covering a group of villages

  • Coordinates development programs at the block level

  • Head: Chairperson

3. Zila Parishad (District Level)

  • Highest tier of rural local government

  • Supervises all panchayats in the district

  • Head: Zila Parishad President / Chairperson

Keyword: Panchayati Raj Three-Tier System

1.2 Key Provisions of the 73rd Amendment

  1. Constitutional Status to Panchayats

  2. Regular Elections every 5 years

  3. Reservation for:

    • SCs, STs

    • Women (not less than 1/3rd of seats)

    • OBCs (as per state policy)

  4. State Finance Commission every 5 years

  5. Powers and Responsibilities listed in Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects)

  6. Gram Sabha formed at the village level for direct participation

Keyword: 73rd Amendment Features

1.3 Functions of Panchayats

  1. Rural development

  2. Drinking water supply

  3. Primary education

  4. Health and sanitation

  5. Roads and rural infrastructure

  6. Agricultural and poverty alleviation programs

  7. Welfare of weaker sections

1.4 Importance of Panchayati Raj

  1. Strengthens grassroot democracy

  2. Encourages people’s participation

  3. Reduces administrative burden on states

  4. Ensures local decision-making

  5. Improves rural development outcomes

2. Urban Local Government

(Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992)

Urban local government ensures planning and development of urban areas such as towns and cities.

2.1 Types of Urban Local Bodies

1. Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Palika)

  • For large cities (population 10 lakhs or more)

  • Head: Mayor (ceremonial)

  • Real authority: Municipal Commissioner

  • Responsible for major urban services: water supply, waste management, public health, street lighting.

2. Municipality (Nagar Palika)

  • For medium-sized towns

  • Head: Chairperson / President

3. Nagar Panchayat

  • For areas transitioning from rural to urban

  • Head: Chairperson

Keyword: Urban Local Bodies in India

2.2 Key Provisions of the 74th Amendment

  1. Regular elections every 5 years

  2. Reservation for SC/ST and women

  3. Ward Committees for direct participation

  4. State Election Commission to conduct elections

  5. State Finance Commission for revenue distribution

  6. Twelfth Schedule lists 18 functions including:

    • Urban planning

    • Regulation of land use

    • Roads and bridges

    • Public health

    • Fire services

    • Urban poverty alleviation

    • Water supply

    • Slum improvement

Keyword: 74th Amendment Urban Governance

2.3 Functions of Urban Local Bodies

  1. Water supply & storage

  2. Sewage, drainage, waste management

  3. Road construction and maintenance

  4. Birth & death registration

  5. Urban planning and zoning

  6. Health services & hospitals

  7. Street lighting

  8. Slum upgrading

  9. Environmental protection


3. Importance of Local Government in India

  1. Strengthens decentralisation

  2. Encourages community participation

  3. Ensures efficient service delivery

  4. Promotes rural and urban development

  5. Builds democratic culture at the grassroots

  6. Reduces burden on state governments







Conclusion

Local government plays a crucial role in India’s democratic structure.
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments transformed rural and urban governance by giving constitutional status, clear powers, and people’s participation at the grassroots level.
Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies together ensure development, democracy, and accountability from the bottom up, making governance more effective, responsive, and citizen-centric.





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