UPSC Prelims 2017 Q16: Indian Polity – Local Government

UPSC Prelims 2017, General Studies Paper I · Indian Polity

Local self - government can be best explained as an exercise in

Answer: (b) Democratic decentralisation

Explanation

Local self-government as democratic decentralisation

Local self-government hands real power and resources to elected local bodies, Panchayats and Municipalities.

This is democratic decentralisation: power moves down to people's elected representatives.

Option	Meaning	Fits?
(a) Federalism	Division of power between Union and States under the Constitution	No
(b) Democratic decentralisation	Transfer of power to elected local bodies	Yes
(c) Administrative delegation	Officials pass tasks to subordinate officials; no elected body involved	No
(d) Direct democracy	Citizens decide laws themselves, as in a referendum	No

The term was popularised by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) and given constitutional status by the 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992).

Answer: (b) Democratic decentralisation.

(a) Incorrect. Federalism divides power between the Union and States, not with local bodies.
(b) CORRECT. Local self-government transfers power to elected local bodies: democratic decentralisation.
(c) Incorrect. Administrative delegation passes tasks between officials, with no elected local body.
(d) Incorrect. Local bodies are representative, not direct democracy (apart from the Gram Sabha).

Local self-government = democratic decentralisation (Balwant Rai Mehta, 1957; constitutional status by the 73rd and 74th Amendments, 1992).

Panchayati Raj = democratic decentralisation.

Choosing federalism, which concerns Union-State relations only.
Confusing decentralisation (to elected bodies) with delegation (to officials).
Picking direct democracy because of the Gram Sabha; Panchayats themselves are elected bodies.

Decentralisation moves power to elected bodies; delegation moves tasks to officials.