What went wrong when the king rode under the arch?

It was too low and knocked off his crown

How does the chain of blame unfold in the poem?

Each accused person blames another, ending with the king's own changes

What is local government?

Elected government at the village and district level, closest to ordinary citizens, dealing with their day-to-day problems.

Why does local government strengthen democracy?

Because it ensures meaningful participation and purposeful accountability, involving common people in decisions about their lives, needs and development.

How did Mahatma Gandhi view local government?

He pleaded for decentralisation and saw strengthening village panchayats as the means; he wanted every village to be a self-sustaining republic.

Why did local government not get adequate importance originally?

Because Partition produced a unitary inclination, and leaders like Ambedkar feared faction- and caste-ridden rural society would defeat its purpose.

What did the 73rd Amendment create?

A uniform three-tier Panchayati Raj structure, a mandatory Gram Sabha, direct five-year elections, reservations, transfer of subjects, a State Election Commissioner and a State Finance Commission.

What is the three-tier structure under the 73rd Amendment?

The Gram Panchayat at the base, the intermediary (Block/Mandal) Panchayat in the middle, and the Zilla Panchayat at the apex.

What reservations does the 73rd Amendment provide?

One-third of seats for women and seats for SCs and STs in proportion to population, including at the level of chairpersons.

How many subjects were transferred to panchayats and where are they listed?

Twenty-nine subjects, listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.

What does the 74th Amendment deal with?

Urban local bodies (Nagarpalikas), with provisions similar to the 73rd Amendment and functions listed in the Twelfth Schedule.

What limits the effectiveness of local bodies in practice?

Many States have not transferred most subjects, and local bodies have very little funds of their own, leaving them dependent on grants.

Local Governments

Class 11 Political Science · Indian Constitution at Work · Chapter 8

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Summary

This chapter studies local government — government at the village and district level, closest to ordinary citizens. Local government rests on the belief that local knowledge and local interest make for democratic, efficient and people-friendly administration, and that it strengthens both participation and accountability. It traces the growth of local government from self-governing village sabhas and panchayats, through Lord Rippon's local boards (after 1882) and the Government of India Acts, to Mahatma Gandhi's vision of village republics. After independence local government was a State subject in the Directive Principles; the Community Development Programme (1952) and a three-tier Panchayati Raj were recommended, but local bodies often lacked powers, funds and regular elections. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992, in force 1993) transformed this. The 73rd Amendment created a uniform three-tier structure (Gram Panchayat, intermediary/Block, Zilla Panchayat), a mandatory Gram Sabha, direct elections every five years, reservation of one-third seats for women and seats for SCs/STs, transfer of 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule, a State Election Commissioner and a State Finance Commission. The 74th Amendment applied similar provisions to urban local bodies (Nagarpalikas), with 12 subjects in the Twelfth Schedule. The chapter assesses implementation, noting greater representation of women and weaker sections but limited transfer of powers and funds.

Local Governments

Key terms

Local government

elected government at the village and district level, closest to the common people.

Panchayati Raj

the three-tier system of rural local government: Gram Panchayat, intermediary (Block) Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat.

Gram Sabha

the assembly of all adult registered voters in a panchayat area, made mandatory by the 73rd Amendment.

73rd Amendment

the 1992 amendment giving constitutional status to rural local governments (Panchayati Raj Institutions).

74th Amendment

the 1992 amendment dealing with urban local bodies (Nagarpalikas).

State Election Commissioner

the officer who conducts elections to local bodies, independent of the Election Commission of India.

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Local government is government at the:

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Local Governments

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