The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, enacted in 1992, aimed to promote local governance in India. The 73rd Amendment empowered rural local bodies (Panchayats) by providing them constitutional status, clear roles, regular elections, and financial resources, enabling grassroots decision-making. The 74th Amendment did the same for urban local bodies (municipalities), ensuring urban communities had a statutory voice in local governance. Both amendments sought to decentralize authority, strengthen local self-governments, and improve service delivery at the grassroots level, making governance more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to citizens' needs.