74th Amendment Act of 1992

The 74th Amendment Act of 1992 was a landmark reform in urban governance. It provided constitutional recognition to urban local bodies by mandating the establishment of a three-tier system for urban areas. This Act made it compulsory for states to create municipal corporations, municipalities, or nagar panchayats based on the size of the urban area. Key provisions include regular elections, reservation of seats for women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other marginalized communities, as well as a framework for decentralized planning.

In simple language, the 74th Amendment ensures that cities have a proper, democratically elected government that can address local issues effectively. It also empowers urban bodies with financial autonomy and administrative responsibilities. For example, after this amendment, many metropolitan cities started implementing local development projects with increased public participation.

This Act has been instrumental in transforming urban governance, making it more responsive, inclusive, and transparent.