Evolution of Urban Local Bodies

📔Introduction

Let’s begin with the basics.

When we talk about Urban Local Government, we mean the system of governance in urban areas — cities and towns — where people govern themselves through elected representatives.

👉 In simple words, it is the government of an urban area, by the people, for the people, and through the people — but only within a specific geographical boundary, which is decided and notified by the State Government.

So, if you live in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, or Jaipur — you have a Municipal Body governing your locality. That’s your Urban Local Government.

🏙️ Types of Urban Local Governments in India

India doesn’t have a single type of urban body; it has eight different forms — each serving different kinds of urban areas. Let’s list them:

1. Municipal Corporation – for big metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, etc.
2. Municipality – for smaller towns and cities.
3. Notified Area Committee – for areas in transition from rural to urban.
4. Town Area Committee – for small towns with limited civic needs.
5. Cantonment Board – for areas under military control (defence cantonments).
6. Township – usually set up by large public enterprises (like ONGC Township).
7. Port Trust – for port cities handling maritime trade (like Mumbai Port Trust).
8. Special Purpose Agency – created for specific urban functions, e.g., Metro Rail Authority, Urban Development Authority, etc.

So, India’s urban governance is diverse and multi-layered, depending on the size, function, and nature of the area.

🏛️ Constitutionalisation through the 74th Amendment Act, 1992

Before 1992, these urban bodies existed — but they were not constitutional entities.
They existed merely because of state laws.
This meant they could be easily dissolved or ignored.

To fix this, the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in 1992, and it came into force on 1st June 1993.

➡️ This amendment gave constitutional recognition to the urban local bodies — just like the 73rd Amendment had done for the rural Panchayati Raj Institutions.

It inserted a new Part IX-A (Articles 243P to 243ZG) in the Constitution — exclusively dealing with Municipalities.

So, just as Panchayats are the rural self-government,
Municipalities are the urban self-government.

🏢 Ministries Responsible for Urban Local Government

At the Central level, three ministries handle matters related to urban local governance:

1. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs – the main body dealing with municipalities, smart cities, etc.
2. Ministry of Defence – handles Cantonment Boards, since they are related to defence areas.
3. Ministry of Home Affairs – handles urban local bodies in Union Territories.

📜 Evolution of Urban Local Bodies – Historical Perspective

Now, let’s go back a bit — to understand how this system evolved.

(i) 1688 – Birth of Urban Local Governance in India

The first Municipal Corporation in India was set up at Madras (now Chennai).

• The Charter for its establishment was issued on 30th December 1687,
• and it came into existence on 29th September 1688.
  So, 1688 marks the beginning of municipal governance in India.

(ii) 1726 – Bombay and Calcutta got their municipal corporations.

Thus, by the 18th century, the three presidency towns — Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta — had their own municipal administrations.

(iii) 1870 – Lord Mayo’s Resolution on Financial Decentralisation

This was the first major step towards developing local self-government.
It emphasized that local bodies should have their own financial powers — not everything should be decided by the central or provincial government.

(iv) 1882 – Lord Ripon’s Resolution

This is the most celebrated event.
Lord Ripon’s 1882 Resolution is called the “Magna Carta of Local Self-Government” — a turning point in Indian local administration.
He is rightly called the Father of Local Self-Government in India because he introduced the idea that local bodies should be democratic and accountable to the people.

(v) 1907–1909 – Royal Commission on Decentralisation

Headed by C.E.H. Hobhouse, this Commission studied local self-governance in detail and suggested further reforms.

(vi) 1919 – Government of India Act, 1919

Under the dyarchical system, local self-government was made a “transferred subject”, meaning it would be handled by Indian ministers responsible to the legislature in the provinces.
This was another step towards giving Indians control over local affairs.

(vii) 1924 – Cantonments Act

This Act provided a legal framework for Cantonment Boards, governing military areas.

(viii) 1935 – Government of India Act, 1935

Under this Act, local self-government was declared a “provincial subject”.
So, from now on, each province (state) had the power to legislate on urban local bodies — a system that largely continues even today.

🧾 Constitutionalisation Attempts Post-Independence

After independence, urban local bodies were functioning, but they lacked constitutional protection.
Let’s see how three governments tried to fix this:

(i) Rajiv Gandhi Government – 65th Constitutional Amendment Bill (1989)

• Introduced the Nagarpalika Bill in August 1989.
• Objective: To strengthen and constitutionalise urban local bodies.
• Status: Passed in Lok Sabha, but defeated in Rajya Sabha (October 1989) — hence, lapsed.

(ii) V. P. Singh Government – Revised Bill (1990)

• Introduced again in September 1990.
• But before it could be passed, the Lok Sabha was dissolved — so, it lapsed again.

(iii) P. V. Narasimha Rao Government – Final Success (1991–1992)

• Brought a modified version of the bill in September 1991.
• Finally passed as the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
• Came into force on 1st June 1993.

And this, friends, is how Municipalities became constitutional bodies — ensuring democratic governance in India’s urban areas.

🧩 In Summary

Stage	Year	Event / Person	Significance
1688	—	First Municipal Corporation (Madras)	Start of urban local governance
1882	Lord Ripon	Magna Carta of Local Self-Government	Foundation of democratic local bodies
1935	Govt. of India Act	Local government = Provincial subject	States got control
1992	74th CAA	Constitutionalised Municipalities	Urban local bodies got constitutional status

💡 Final Thought

You see, friends — the story of Municipalities is not just about institutions;
it’s about bringing democracy to the doorstep of the urban citizen.
The same way a Panchayat gives a voice to a villager,
a Municipality gives a voice to the city-dweller —
and both together form the foundation of India’s democratic decentralisation.

📋A Quick Look at Articles on Municipalities

Article No.	Subject-Matter
243P	Definitions
243Q	Constitution of municipalities
243R	Composition of municipalities
243S	Constitution and composition of wards committees, and so on
243T	Reservation of seats
243U	Duration of municipalities, and so on
243V	Disqualifications for membership
243W	Powers, authority and responsibilities of municipalities, and so on
243X	Powers to impose taxes by, and funds of, the municipalities
243Y	Finance commission
243Z	Audit of accounts of municipalities
243ZA	Elections to the municipalities
243ZB	Application to Union Territories
243ZC	Part not to apply to certain areas
243ZD	Committee for district planning
243ZE	Committee for metropolitan planning
243ZF	Continuance of existing laws and municipalities
243ZG	Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters