India

This chapter documents the growth and evolution of local self-government in India. Despite some major obstacles, the past 75 years have seen the gradual institutionalisation of local government. The historic 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 set out, for the first time, to provide local bodies within the country’s federal system with certain mandatory structures and powers, but these have not been fully effectuated. Although India has experienced increasing levels of participation from marginalised groups (including women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes), active resistance by state-level elites as well as feudal and bureaucratic leadership, in addition to a range of structural challenges, has significantly impeded the deepening of decentralisation and self-governance in the country.