← 30 October 2026's Current Affairs · Polity GA Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
NITI Aayog urban conclave calls for empowered city governments
Why in News?
Cities run from state capitals? The 74th Amendment's Part IXA answer every GS2 local-body question needs
NITI Aayog pushes empowered city governments; Frontier Tech Hub issues data-centre framework.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 min read
Speaking at the 2nd National Urban Conclave, NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba said cities cannot be run from state capitals and urged empowered city governments to unlock India's growth.
The call echoes the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which inserted Part IXA and gave municipalities constitutional status.
NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub also released a Data Centre Evaluation Framework to help states plan data-centre growth sustainably.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba told the 2nd National Urban Conclave that cities cannot be run from state capitals and need empowered city governments.
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IXA (Municipalities) and gave urban local bodies constitutional status.
- The 73rd Amendment covers Panchayats (Part IX); the 74th covers Municipalities (Part IXA).
- NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub released a Data Centre Evaluation Framework to help states plan data-centre growth sustainably.
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IXA, dealing with Municipalities, into the Constitution.
- Part IX of the Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment, deals with Panchayats, whereas Part IXA deals with urban local bodies.
- NITI Aayog, the Government of India's policy think tank, houses a Frontier Tech Hub that has issued a Data Centre Evaluation Framework for states.
Mains
GS2 (Governance, local bodies) and GS3 (Infrastructure). Issue: cities are still managed largely from state capitals despite the 74th Amendment's Part IXA, which gave municipalities constitutional status. Implication: weak finances, parastatal control and limited functional devolution hold back urban growth. Way forward: devolve functions, funds and functionaries to empowered city governments, and plan infrastructure such as data centres sustainably through state-level frameworks.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
With reference to urban local governance in India, consider the following statements:
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IXA in the Constitution.
- Part IXA of the Constitution deals with Panchayats.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A — Correct: 1 only — Correct: the 74th Amendment inserted Part IXA, giving municipalities constitutional status, and it is distinct from the 73rd Amendment. • 2 only — wrong: Statement 2 is false, so 2 alone cannot be right; Panchayats are covered by Part IX, inserted by the 73rd Amendment. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: Statement 2 is false, so 'both' fails; Part IXA covers Municipalities, not Panchayats. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: Statement 1 is true, so 'neither' fails; the 74th Amendment did insert Part IXA.
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