Topic Details (Notes format)

Municipalities: Overview (74th Amendment)

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Details urban local governance introduced by the 74th Amendment Act (1992). Municipal bodies—Nagar Panchayats for transitional areas, Municipal Councils for smaller cities, and Municipal Corporations for large metropolitan areas—enable grassroots democracy in towns. Elected councils deliberate on urban planning, water supply, solid waste management, street lighting, and local taxation. Ward committees and reservations for women/SC/ST ensure inclusivity. The Act mandates regular elections, State Finance Commissions for resource devolution, and District Planning Committees for integrated rural-urban planning. Yet, municipalities often struggle with financial dependency on state grants, capacity deficits, and bureaucratic overlap, highlighting the need for deeper reforms in urban governance.

Practice Questions

Which of the following is the right of a citizen under the Indian Constitution?

Which article of the Indian Constitution mentions the procedure for amendment?

अभियोजक की नियुक्ति किस प्रावधान के तहत होती है?

Who among the following is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of India?

Who appoints the members of the Finance Commission of India?

नागरिकता की अवधारणा किस अनुच्छेद से शुरू होती है?

राष्ट्रपति के आपातकालिक शक्तियाँ किस अनुच्छेद के तहत निर्धारित हैं?

राज्यसभा के सदस्यों का चुनाव किस प्रकार से होता है?

संसद द्वारा विधेयक का पुनर्विचार किस अनुच्छेद के अंतर्गत संभव है?

केंद्र और राज्य सरकारों के बीच शक्तियों का विभाजन किस अनुच्छेद में निर्धारित है?