The 73rd and 74th Amendments promised a three-tier federation, but local governments remain financially and functionally hollow. Comment.
Subtopic: Polity · Local Government & Federalism
How to structure your answer
Introduction: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments 1992 added Parts IX and IXA and the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules, listing 29 panchayat and 18 municipal subjects.
Body: Three dimensions — (i) constitutional design left functions, funds and functionaries as 'may' devolutions under Articles 243G and 243W; (ii) State Finance Commissions under Article 243-I are constituted with delay and ignored; the 15th Finance Commission flagged uneven local-body grant utilisation; (iii) parallel bodies and elected mayors with no executive control hollow the third tier.
Way forward / Conclusion: Activity mapping for all 29 and 18 subjects, predictable SFC awards, and a constitutional bar on parallel bodies are the reforms that match the 1992 promise.
Written within the word limit
143 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments 1992 added Parts IX and IXA and the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules, listing 29 panchayat and 18 municipal subjects to build a three-tier federation under Articles 243G and 243W.
Body: Three dimensions explain the hollowness. First, Articles 243G and 243W left devolution of functions, funds and functionaries as 'may' provisions, not obligations, leaving the third tier hostage to State will. Second, State Finance Commissions under Article 243-I are constituted late and their awards routinely ignored; the 15th Finance Commission earmarked Rs 4.36 lakh crore for local bodies (2021-26) but flagged uneven utilisation. Third, parallel parastatal bodies and elected mayors without executive control hollow the tier, as Bengaluru's Brand Bengaluru debate and the Panchayat Advancement Index 2024 record.
Conclusion: Activity mapping for all 29 and 18 subjects, predictable SFC awards and a constitutional bar on parallel bodies are the reforms that match the 1992 promise.
What an examiner expects to see
- 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments 1992 — Parts IX and IXA
- Articles 243G and 243W on devolution of functions — enabling, not obligatory
- Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects) and Twelfth Schedule (18 subjects)
- Article 243-I and 243Y — State Finance Commissions
- 15th Finance Commission earmarked Rs 4.36 lakh crore for local bodies (2021–2026)
- Article 243K — State Election Commission for panchayat elections
- Panchayat Advancement Index (Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 2024) measures devolution gaps
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Kerala's People's Plan Campaign as a devolution model
- Karnataka's Nagarpalika reforms
- Bengaluru's Brand Bengaluru parallel agency debate
- Panchayat Advancement Index 2024 ranking
- Second ARC report on Local Governance (2007)