Local Government of India
Delhi Police / SSC – Polity Master Notes
Introduction
The Local Government system in India brings democracy to the grassroots level — enabling citizens to participate directly in governance and development. It works through two branches: Rural Local Bodies (Panchayati Raj) and Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities & Corporations).
A. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) – Rural Local Governance
- Came into effect on 24 April 1993.
- Added Part IX (Articles 243–243O) to the Constitution.
- Gave constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj System.
Key Features
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Structure | 3-Tier System (Village, Block, District) |
| Elections | Every 5 years (direct elections for members) |
| Reservation | 1/3rd seats reserved for women + SC/ST |
| Finance | State Finance Commission (every 5 years) |
| Planning | District Planning Committee |
| Gram Sabha | Foundation of Panchayati Raj System |
B. Panchayati Raj System (3-Tier Structure)
Gram Sabha
All adults above 18 yrs; Parliament of the Village.
Meets twice yearly, approves plans/budgets.
Gram Panchayat
Village Level; Sarpanch / Pradhan heads; 5-year tenure.
Panchayat Samiti
Block Level; Chairperson heads.
Coordinates Gram Panchayats.
Zila Parishad
District Level; Zila Pramukh heads.
Supervises and allocates funds for district.
- Village works, Block coordinates, District supervises.
- Zila Parishad = CEO of District Development.
| Level | Body | Head | Main Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village | Gram Panchayat | Sarpanch | Execution |
| Block | Panchayat Samiti | Chairperson | Coordination |
| District | Zila Parishad | Zila Pramukh | Supervision |
C. 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) – Urban Local Governance
- Came into force on 1 June 1993.
- Added Part IXA (Articles 243P–243ZG) to the Constitution.
- Gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Types of Urban Local Bodies
| Type | Area Covered | Example / Head |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal Corporation | Big cities (Population >10 lakh) | Mayor |
| Municipality | Medium towns | Chairperson |
| Nagar Panchayat | Transition areas (rural→urban) | President |
Composition & Tenure
- Members elected directly by people for 5 years.
- 1/3rd seats reserved for women.
- States establish Finance Commission & District Planning Committees.
Functions of Urban Local Bodies
| Type of Function | Examples |
|---|---|
| Civic | Water supply, sanitation, waste disposal |
| Developmental | Roads, parks, schools |
| Social Welfare | Health centers, housing for poor |
| Regulatory | Building rules, trade licenses |
D. Role of Local Self-Government in India
- Promotes grassroot democracy.
- Citizen participation in development.
- Local solutions to local problems.
- Reduces burden on Central and State governments.
- Encourages leadership from rural & urban communities.
E. PYQs (Delhi Police + SSC + State Exams)
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act relates to —
A) Urban local bodies B) Panchayati Raj institutions C) Judiciary D) Fundamental Rights
Category: Amendment
Show Answer
B) Panchayati Raj institutions
The Panchayati Raj System was given constitutional status by —
A) 72nd Amendment B) 73rd Amendment C) 74th Amendment D) 75th Amendment
Category: Amendment
Show Answer
B) 73rd Amendment
The 74th Constitutional Amendment deals with —
A) Rural local bodies B) Urban local bodies C) Cooperative societies D) Judiciary
Category: Amendment
Show Answer
B) Urban local bodies
Which of the following is NOT a tier of Panchayati Raj?
A) Gram Panchayat B) Panchayat Samiti C) Zila Parishad D) Lok Sabha
Category: Structure
Show Answer
D) Lok Sabha
Who is the head of the Gram Panchayat?
A) Collector B) Sarpanch / Pradhan C) District Magistrate D) MLA
Category: Leadership
Show Answer
B) Sarpanch / Pradhan
The term of a Panchayat is —
A) 4 years B) 5 years C) 6 years D) 3 years
Category: Tenure
Show Answer
B) 5 years
Which article deals with the Constitution of Panchayats?
A) Article 243 B) Article 244 C) Article 245 D) Article 246
Category: Articles
Show Answer
A) Article 243
Who heads the Municipal Corporation?
A) District Collector B) Mayor C) Chief Minister D) Deputy Commissioner
Category: Urban Leadership
Show Answer
B) Mayor
The Panchayati Raj System was first recommended by —
A) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee B) Ashok Mehta Committee C) G.V.K. Rao Committee D) L.M. Singhvi Committee
Category: History
Show Answer
A) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
Nagar Panchayats are meant for —
A) Rural areas B) Big cities C) Transitional areas D) Capital cities
Category: Urban Structure
Show Answer
C) Transitional areas
F. Summary Chart – Rural vs Urban Local Bodies
| Aspect | Rural Local Bodies | Urban Local Bodies |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment | 73rd (1992) | 74th (1992) |
| Part of Constitution | Part IX (Art. 243–243O) | Part IXA (Art. 243P–243ZG) |
| Structure | Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad | Municipalities, Corporations, Nagar Panchayats |
| Head | Sarpanch, Chairperson, Zila Pramukh | Mayor or Chairperson |
| Focus | Rural development | Urban administration |
G. Key Constitutional Bodies Linked
| Body | Function |
|---|---|
| State Election Commission | Conducts Panchayat/Municipal elections |
| State Finance Commission | Distributes funds between State & Local Bodies |
| District Planning Committee | Integrates local and state plans |
Master Local Government for Delhi Police & SSC Exams!
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