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

संसद सत्रों का आयोजन किसके द्वारा किया जाता है?

Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with the President’s power to dissolve the Lok Sabha?

प्रधानमंत्री का कार्यकाल कितने वर्षों का होता है?

Which of the following is a power of the Rajya Sabha?

आपातकाल की घोषणा के लिए केंद्रीय सरकार को अतिरिक्त शक्तियाँ किस अनुच्छेद द्वारा दी जाती हैं?

वरिष्ठ न्यायाधीशों की नियुक्ति में किस समिति का योगदान होता है?

न्यायिक समीक्षा किस सिद्धांत पर आधारित है?

भारतीय संविधान में मौलिक कर्तव्यों का प्रावधान किस अनुच्छेद में है?

In India, the power to declare war and peace is vested in which of the following?

What is the role of the Election Commission of India?