🏛️ Local Government (स्थानीय शासन) – Class 11 Political Science
❇️ Meaning of Democracy (लोकतंत्र का अर्थ)
- 🔹 Democracy means meaningful participation (सार्थक भागीदारी) and accountability (जवाबदेही).
- 🔹 A strong and active local government ensures both.
- 🔹 Works that can be done at the local level should remain in the hands of local people & their representatives.
- 🔹 Citizens are more familiar with local governance than with state or central government.
🏡 Local Government (स्थानीय शासन)
- 🔹 Governance at village (गाँव) and district (जिला) level is called local government.
- 🔹 It is the closest governance to common people.
- 🔹 It solves daily problems quickly and at a low cost.
🌟 Importance of Local Government (स्थानीय शासन का महत्व)
- 🔹 Solves everyday problems (रोजमर्रा की समस्याएँ) quickly & cheaply.
- 🔹 Increases citizens’ participation in democracy.
- 🔹 Provides practical solutions to local issues.
📜 Development of Local Government in India (भारत में स्थानीय शासन का विकास)
- 🔹 In ancient India, self-governing communities (सभा) existed.
- 🔹 In modern times, elected bodies appeared after 1882, known as Mukhami Boards (मुकामी बोर्ड).
- 🔹 Under Government of India Act 1919, village panchayats were formed.
- 🔹 The Constitution gave states the responsibility of local governance.
- 🔹 Directive Principles of State Policy (नीति निर्देशक सिद्धांत) also mention it.
🇮🇳 Local Government in Independent India (स्वतंत्र भारत में स्थानीय शासन)
- 🔹 After 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments, local government got a strong base.
- 🔹 Before this, Community Development Programme (1952) and Panchayati Raj (three-tier system) were introduced.
- 🔹 Local bodies were financially dependent on state & central governments.
- 🔹 After 1987, reforms started.
- 🔹 In 1989, P.K. Thungan Committee recommended giving constitutional status to local bodies.
⚡ Need of Local Government (स्थानीय शासन की आवश्यकता)
- 🔹 Strengthens democracy (लोकतंत्र).
- 🔹 Ensures maximum participation of people.
- 🔹 Best way to solve local-level problems.
- 🔹 Promotes division of powers (शक्तियों का बंटवारा).
📖 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (संविधान का 73वाँ और 74वाँ संशोधन)
- 🔹 Passed in 1992.
- 🔹 73rd Amendment → Related to Rural Local Government (Panchayati Raj).
- 🔹 74th Amendment → Related to Urban Local Government (नगर शासन).
🏡 73rd Amendment – Provisions (73वें संशोधन के प्रमुख प्रावधान)
🔶 Three-tier Structure (त्रि-स्तरीय ढाँचा)
- All states must have Panchayati Raj in three levels.
🗳️ Elections (चुनाव)
- Direct elections by people.
- Tenure of 5 years.
👩 Reservation (आरक्षण)
- 1/3rd seats reserved for women.
- Reservation for SCs & STs as per population.
- States can provide reservation for OBCs too.
- Due to this, today many women work as Sarpanch.
🌿 Special Provision for Tribal Areas
- Initially excluded, but in 1996, special law included tribal areas under Panchayati Raj.
✨ Summary: Local government ensures grassroots democracy (जमीनी लोकतंत्र), faster solutions, and stronger citizen participation. The 73rd & 74th Amendments made it a permanent part of India’s Constitution. 🇮🇳
🌆 74th Constitutional Amendment (Urban Local Government)
🏙️ About the 74th Amendment
- The 74th Amendment relates to Urban Local Government (शहरी स्थानीय शासन) i.e. Municipalities.
- It was enacted for major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai (Madras) and other towns having municipalities or municipal corporations.
🏛️ Structure of Municipal Corporation
- Each Municipal Corporation has a General Council (सामान्य परिषद्) elected by all adult voters.
- Elected members are called Councillors (पार्षद).
- All elected councillors together elect a Mayor (महापौर) as the head of the corporation.
- The tenure of Municipal Corporations / Municipalities / Nagar Panchayats = 5 years.
- If dissolved, re-election must be held within 6 months.
🗳️ State Election Commissioner
- Every state must appoint a State Election Commissioner (राज्य चुनाव आयुक्त).
- Responsible for conducting elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions & Urban Local Bodies.
💰 State Finance Commission
- Every state must set up a State Finance Commission (राज्य वित्त आयोग) once every 5 years.
- It reviews the financial condition of local bodies (स्थानीय संस्थाएँ).
🌍 Criteria for Urban Area
An area is considered Urban if:
- Minimum population = 5,000 👥
- At least 75% of male workers engaged in non-agricultural (गैर कृषि) activities 👨🏭
- Population density ≥ 400 persons per sq. km
📌 The 74th Amendment is similar to the 73rd Amendment, but it applies to Urban areas instead of Rural areas.
🔄 Similarities with 73rd Amendment
- Direct elections (प्रत्यक्ष चुनाव)
- Reservation (आरक्षण)
- Devolution of subjects (विषयों का हस्तांतरण)
- State Election Commission (राज्य चुनाव आयुक्त)
- State Finance Commission (राज्य वित्त आयोग)
All these provisions apply to Municipalities.
📅 Implementation of 73rd & 74th Amendments
- Between 1994 – 2016, local body elections held 4–5 times in states.
- Huge increase in number of elected representatives.
- Strengthened women’s participation & confidence (महिलाओं की शक्ति और आत्मविश्वास).
📂 Transfer of Subjects to Local Government
🔹 29 subjects transferred to local governance (related to local development & welfare).
Some examples (as per 11th Schedule / ग्यारहवीं अनुसूची):
- Roads (सड़कें)
- Rural development (ग्रामीण विकास)
- Small industries (लघु उद्योग)
- Irrigation (सिंचाई)
- Fairs & markets (बाजार एवं मेला)
- Rural electrification (ग्रामीण विद्युतीकरण)
- Agriculture (कृषि)
- Education (शिक्षा)
- Drinking water (पेयजल)
⚠️ Problems of Local Governance
- Lack of funds (धन का अभाव) 💸
- Dependence on state & central government for financial support 🏛️
- Expenditure higher than income 📉
- Lack of public awareness (जनता का जागरूक न होना) 🙈
📌 Exam Tip: Remember —
73rd Amendment = Rural (Panchayati Raj)
74th Amendment = Urban (Municipalities) ✅
