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LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Contents 1. Panchayati Raj in India: Historical Background and Evolution 1.1. Ancient Period 1.2. Medieval Period 1.3. Colonial Period 1.4. Mahatma Gandhi and Panchayati Raj 1.5. Post Independence period 2. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Mains features of the act 2.3. Administrative Structure of the PRIs 2.4. Elections to the PRIs 2.5. State Election Commission 2.6. Financial Powers of the PRIs 2.7. State Finance Commission 2.8. Role of Panchayati Raj in the democracy 2.9. Challenges related to PRIs 3. The provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996 3.1. Objective 3.2. Definition of Village and Gram Sabha 3.3. PESA and Gram Sabha 3.4. Importance of PESA 4. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)4.1. Historical Background 5. 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 5.1. Main features of the act 5.2. Constitution of Municipalities 5.3. Composition of Municipalities 5.4. Reservation of Seats 5.5. Duration of Municipalities 5.6. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities 5.7. Impact of the act on the Urban governance 5.8. Challenges related to ULBs 5.9. 2nd ARC recommendation on Urban governance 6. UPSC Previous Years Prelim Questions Answer: B Answer: B 8. GS Mains Test Series Questions 1. What are the different aspects of capacity building that need to be taken into account to address the capacity deficit within Panchayats and Municipal bodies?Answers:2. Though Parliament had enacted The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, but it has been implemented very poorly across the states. Bring out the various reasons behind its poor implementation and the measures needed for its success.Answer 3. Tracing the evolution of panchayati raj since independence highlight its achievements in facilitating the inclusion of vulnerable sections of society in the political process.Answer:4. Panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) are simultaneously a remarkable success and a staggering failure, depending on the goalposts against which they are evaluated. Discuss.Answer:Failures:5. Absence of a powerful and politically accountable leadership in the cities is considered as one of the primary reasons for urban woes. Do you think that direct election of mayor can help in overcoming this issue? What other alternatives can be explored for improving the working of urban local bodies?Answer:Position of Mayor Necessity of direct elections Alternative to direct elections 1. Introduction 1.1. What is an Emergency?three kinds of emergencies–2. National Emergency (Article 352)2.1. Grounds for National Emergency 2.2. Territorial extent 2.3. Procedures and safeguards receiving a written recommendation from the Cabinet.2.4. Impacts of National Emergency 1. Effect on Centre-State Relations 2.6. Judicial Review and Article 352 3. State Emergency (Articles 356 and 365)3.1. Grounds for President’s Rule 3.2. Procedures and safeguards 3.3. Difference between National Emergency & President rule:Consolidated Fund of the State.3.6. Observations of various Committees/Commissions Sarkaria Commission (1987)National Commission for Reviewing the Working of Constitution (2002)Punchhi Commission (2008)Law Commission 3.7. Judicial review and Article 356 State of Rajasthan v. Union of India case judgment, 1977 S.R. Bommai case Judgment,1994 Rameshwar Prasad & Ors vs Union of India, 2006 (The defection case)4. Financial Emergency (Article 360)4.1. Grounds for Financial Emergency 4.2. Procedures and safeguards 4.3. Effects of Financial Emergency 5. Criticisms of Emergency Provisions 6. Important Articles related to Emergency Provisions Mains Prelims 8. Previous Years Questions 1. Compare and contrast the National Emergency and President's Rule in terms of their declaration and effects on fundamental rights as well as centre-state relations. 2019- 1228-14 Answer:Effects on Centre-state relations 2. Explain the grounds on which a National Emergency can be declared and highlight its effects on Centre-state relations and Fundamental Rights.Answer:3. What was hoped to be a 'dead-letter' of the Constitution has become one of the most controversial provisions. Discuss in the context of Article 356. 2019-20-1220 Answer:Grounds for imposition:4. Highlight the extent of President's powers under Article 352. Comment on the judicial scrutiny of proclamation and the exercise of executive powers under National Emergency. How is this power different from the one bestowed under Article 356?2018-19-1049 Answer:Extent of President's powers under Article 352 Judicial scrutiny of proclamation Exercise of Executive Powers Difference in the nature of powers between Article 352 and Article 356 1. The Electoral Process 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Objectives of our founding fathers 1.3 Brief Overview of the Election Process in India 1.4. Types of Voting Systems 1.4.1. First past the post System/Plurality System 1.4.2. Proportional Representation Systems 1.5. Provisions of the Constitution 2. Composition of the Elected Houses 2.1. Lok Sabha House of People. It shall consist of—2.2. State Legislative Assemblies 2.3. Rajya Sabha 2.4. Legislative Council 3. Delimitation of Constituencies for Elections to the Lok Sabha/Legislative Assemblies 3.1. Readjustment of Seats after every Census 4. Preparation/Revision of Electoral Rolls 5. Voter Registration 5.1. Eligibility 5.2. Disqualification 5.3. Categories of Voters/Electors 5.3.1. General Voters 5.3.2. Service Voters 5.3.3. Overseas Voters 5.4. Members of Parliament and State Legislatures 6. Qualifications & Disqualifications for a Candidate 6.1. Qualifications 6.2. Disqualifications 7. Officers on Poll Duty 7.1. Chief Electoral Officer 7.2. District Election Officer 7.3. Observer 7.4. Returning Officer 7.5. Presiding Officer 7.6. Polling Officer 8. Election Notification 8.1. Nomination Process 8.2. Deposits for Election 8.3. Scrutiny of Nominations 8.4. Withdrawal of Candidature 9. Recognition of Parties For National Party Status:10. Election Campaign 10.1. Duration of Election Campaign 10.2. Campaigning Guidelines and Model Code of Conduct 11. The Poll 11.1. Polling Stations 11.2. Fixing time for poll 11.3. Secret Ballot 11.4. One Person One Vote 11.5. Personation 12. Conducting Elections 12.1. Counting of Votes 12.2. Recording of Result 12.3. Equality of votes 12.4. Declaration of Result 12.5. Recount 12.6. Reporting of Result 13. Disputes Regarding Elections 13.1. Election Petitions 13.2. Presentation of Petitions 13.3. Jurisdiction 13.4. Decision of the High Court 14. Process of Election to the Rajya Sabha (Total number of votes polled/Total number of candidates to be elected+1)+1 15. Process of Election to Local Bodies 15.1. Delimitation of Constituencies 15.2. Disputes Regarding Elections to Panchayats 16. Conducting Elections to Municipalities 16.1. Disputes Regarding Elections to Panchayats 17. Identifying problem areas with elections in India 18. Attempts at Electoral Reforms and Previous Committees/Panels Criminalization of Politics Money Power in Elections Misuse of Caste and Religion for Electoral Gains Regulating Political Parties Political Reforms 19. General Elections 2014 Factsheet

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