Historical Perspective

The institutions of urban local government originated and developed in modern India during the period of British rule. The major events in this context are as follows:

(i) In 1688, the first municipal corporation in India was set up at Madras.

(ii) In 1726, the municipal corporations were set up in Bombay and Calcutta.

(iii) Lord Mayo’s Resolution of 1870 on financial decentralisation visualised the development of local self-government institutions.

(iv) Lord Ripon’s Resolution of 1882 has been hailed as the 'Magna Carta’ of local self-government. He is called as the father of local-self government in India.

(v) The Royal Commission on decentralisation was appointed in 1907 and it submitted its report in 1909. Its chairman was Hobhouse.

(vi) Under the dyarchical scheme introduced in Provinces by the Government of India Act of 1919, local self-government became a transferred subject under the charge of a responsible Indian minister.

(vii) In 1924, the Cantonments Act was passed by the Central legislature.

(viii) Under the provincial autonomy scheme introduced by the Government of India Act of 1935, local self-government was declared a provincial subject.