← 28 October 2026's Current Affairs · Economy GA Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
Second National Urban Conclave: NITI Aayog member calls for empowered city governments
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Cities cannot be run from state capitals: the 74th Amendment Part IXA devolution gap explained
NITI Aayog member says cities need empowered governments, not control from state capitals.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
Speaking at the 2nd National Urban Conclave, NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba said cities cannot be run from state capitals and called for empowered city governments.
Municipalities were given constitutional status by the 74th Constitution Amendment Act, 1992, which inserted Part IXA, but states have often held back functions and finances.
The call revives the debate on genuine devolution to urban local bodies.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- 74th Constitution Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to urban local bodies by inserting Part IXA (Articles 243P to 243ZG).
- The Twelfth Schedule lists 18 functions that may be devolved to municipalities.
- Article 243Y provides for a State Finance Commission to review municipal finances.
- Article 243ZD provides for a District Planning Committee; Article 243ZE for a Metropolitan Planning Committee.
- NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba made the call at the 2nd National Urban Conclave in New Delhi.
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- Part IXA of the Constitution, inserted by the 74th Amendment Act, deals with Municipalities.
- The Twelfth Schedule enumerates the functional items of municipalities; devolving them is left to the state legislature.
- Article 243Y requires the State Finance Commission to be constituted every five years to review the financial position of municipalities.
- Urban local bodies are a State subject under the Seventh Schedule, so devolution of functions and funds depends on state laws.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS2 (Polity, local government) and GS1/GS3 (urbanisation). Issue: states have often retained functions and finances despite the 74th Amendment; provision: Part IXA, Twelfth Schedule, State Finance Commissions; implication: weak, parastatal-dominated city governance hampers service delivery; way forward: genuine devolution of the 3Fs (functions, funds, functionaries), empowered mayors, regular SFC reports and municipal bond/own-source revenue reforms.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
With reference to the United Nations Security Council, consider the following statements:
- It has five permanent members, each holding the power of veto.
- Its non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: C — The correct answer is Both 1 and 2. Both are true: five permanent members hold the veto and ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two years.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ