74th Amendment: Urban Local Bodies Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

74th Amendment: Urban Local Bodies

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Explains the constitutional status granted to municipalities—Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Corporations. It mandates regular elections, reservations, State Finance Commissions, and District Planning Committees. Municipalities shoulder responsibilities such as urban planning, water management, fire services, and poverty alleviation. The Act aims to boost self-governance in cities, bridging the gap between the state and local communities. However, municipal bodies often depend on state or central funds, limiting fiscal autonomy. Effective decentralization requires capacity-building, better revenue sources (property tax reforms), and synergy with metropolitan planning. The 74th Amendment is crucial for sustainable, inclusive urbanization in India’s rapidly expanding cities.