Question : How do the Union Government policies on Smart and AMRUT Cities address the problems of management of urban development? Explain.
(2015)
Answer : A smart city is an urban settlement which uses digital technologies to optimise the resource consumption in an effective manner for the citizens. The NDA government’s mission to build 100 smart cities in India has now been combined with AMRUT, which aims to renew the urban settlements to help them become smart cities eventually.
To cater to 50% of the population in Urban areas by 2050 and for providing better amenities to the urban area government ....
Question : Explain the notion of one hundred ‘smart cities’ and its likely impact on India’s Urbanization.
(2014)
Answer : Cities accommodate nearly 31% of India’s current population and contribute 63% of GDP (Census 2011). Urban areas are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute 75% of India’s GDP by 2030. This requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. All are important in improving the quality of life and attracting people and investment, setting in motion a virtuous cycle of growth and development. Development of Smart Cities is a step ....
Question : Municipal administration in India faces both structural and operational challenges. Examine in context of the post 74th amendment Act.
(2013)
Answer : Urban local governments in India continue to remain plagued by numerous problems, which affect their performance in the efficient discharge of their duties. These problems relate to the extent of participation and rule of law in the municipal decision making process, transparency in the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects, and level of efficiency in various municipal management and finance practices.
Decentralisation initiatives post 74thamendment Act has had some positive impact on the financial health of ....
Question : How does New Localism impact Centre-State- Local relations in the era of LPG?
(2012)
Answer : New Localism means giving special emphasis to local aspirations in local development.Main objective of New Localism is to promote diversity within the city in theselection, decision and implementation of developmental programs and provide scienticism and democracy in the better management of cities.
Post-20th century has seen high rate of urbanization. This has led to increased population density, uncontrolled growth in slum areas, lack of services to citizens. All these factors has increased pressure on local urban ....
Question : Local self-government in India is the interplay of several factors - historical, ideological, and administrative. Critically examine these factors.
(2012)
Answer : Tradition of self rule in India is quite old. Possibly, first republic in India was established by Mithila people. Local self-government started to develop during Mauryan period- not only rural self-government but also urban self-government as mentioned in Indica of Megasthanese. Even, modern works like Census were being conducted by these bodies.
During Mughal period, the tradition of self-government matured. But the form and organization of local self-government developed during British period mainly. Therefore, modern self-government ....
Question : Examine the institutional vulnerability of municipal governance in the midst of an ‘emerging spectre of multiple partnerships.
(2011)
Answer : After the 74th amendment act, municipal governance came into force. Unlike the division of power between centre and state, the municipal power was not predefined state was conferred with enabling laws. Finance, Function and Functionaries remain main drawback for efficient and effective functioning of municipal governance.
In the era of new localism, and city which is considered as engine of growth, multiple partnership emerged. As central sponsored fund and state doing act unilaterally has by and ....
Question : “Sound Municipal Governance requires a cadre of specialized municipal services executives equal in status to state services.”
(2009)
Answer : After 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 urban local bodies have got constitutional status of local self-governance.
To conform with the criteria of local self-governance it needs a well defined, well-structured committed administrative system which is responsible to Municipal government for their actions. In absence of these municipality cadre of civil servants at par with state civil servants the municipalities are dependent on state govt. functionaries for execution/implementation of its policies. However in case of failure to ....
Question : In urban governance, uni-functional agencies and development authorities create a ‘functional jungle.’ Explain.
(2008)
Answer : In Urban Governance there are number of uni-functional agencies, which have separate functional activities within them. The Departments like Agriculture, Irrigation, Labour Development and others make their own functions in the Urban Development. For example, the Health Department makes their own style of technical function with their own specialist agency. At the same time the elected planning authorities like District Planning Commission (U/A 243ZD) and Metropolitian Planns Committee (U/A 2432E) having their own planning to ....
Question : “The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments are major landmarks in India’s constitutional history and local governance”.
(2006)
Answer : At the insistence of Mahatma Gandhi the provision of local government was incorporated in the constitution under article 40 of Directive Principle of the State Policy. But till 1992 no Act was passed relating to this article.
During the time of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, it was considered necessary to further the organization of these local units by inserting specific provisions in the constitution itself on the basis of which the legislatures of the various states might ....
Question : The role of local-self government in the state administration is of considerable importance. Evaluate the statement in the context of 73rd and 74th amendments made.
(2002)
Answer : The 73rd Amendment Act and 74th Amendment Act is a very crucial Act for the concept of local-self government in India.
For the sake of convenient local-self government can be divided into Rural local government and Urban local government.
Rural Local Self-Government—The passage of the constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 marks a new era in the federal democratic set up of the country and provides constitutional status the Panchayati Raj institutions. The Act provides for a uniform ....
Question : “A singular feature of the 74th Constitutional Amendment is the new role assigned to the urban local bodies in the field of planning”. Comment.
(1997)
Answer : The constitution 74th Amendment Act makes provision for the constitution of a planning committee at the district level with view to consolidate the plans prepared by the panchayats and the municipalities and prepare a development plan for the district as whole.
As of 1993, there were 23 metropolitan agglomerations in the country, where the metropolitan area encompassed not only the main city corporation but also a number of other local bodies – both urban and rural ....
Question : Examine the provisions of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment from the point of view of autonomy of the local bodies.
(1996)
Answer : The passage of the Constitutional (73rd and 74th) Amendment Act, 1992 marks a new era in the federal democratic set up of the country and provides constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Some specific provisions were incorporated into the constitution to make this ground level institution autonomous and self-dependent. Those few provisions are: (1) creation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure at the Zilla, block and village levels, (2) all posts at all level ....
Question : “The institution of Nagar Panchayat as mentioned in the 74th Constitutional Amendment has to be created with utmost care.” Comment.
(1996)
Answer : A Nagar Panchayat or Town Panchayat is established for a transitional area - that is to say, an area in transition from a rural area to an urban area. The role, which Nagar Panchayat performs, makes this small institution very much important in the context of Rural-Urban Scenario. The Nagar Panchayats perform two types of functions – obligatory and discretionary. The obligatory functions include water supply, drainage, scavenging of the streets, street lighting, sanitation and ....
