Local Self-Government and Administration
What the domain tests
This domain tests the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, rural and urban local bodies, and how decentralisation works in practice.
Core ideas
- 73rd Amendment: constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions; three-tier structure in many states; elections every five years; State Election Commission; State Finance Commission; reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women.
- 74th Amendment: urban local bodies such as municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats; ward committees; District Planning Committees.
- Functions: local planning, water supply, sanitation, roads, public health, and implementation of welfare schemes.
- Accountability: elected bodies, gram sabha, audits, and state supervision.
Worked example
A gram panchayat prepares a water-supply plan, the gram sabha discusses it, and the district planning committee coordinates it with the Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad. The reasoning shows participatory planning within a multi-level framework.
Traps
Do not describe local bodies as sovereign. Do not say the 73rd Amendment applies identically to every area; special provisions exist for scheduled areas. Do not confuse gram sabha with gram panchayat.