Q. To what extent, in your opinion, as the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

Model Answer: 

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts revolutionized India’s democratic fabric, shifting representative governance toward participatory grassroots planning (Articles 243G/243W).

1. Transformative Changes at the Grassroots

• Political Inclusion: Created 31+ lakh grassroots leaders, with over 46% women, and secured mandated SC/ST representation.
• Participatory Planning: Institutionalized Gram Sabhas for localized decision-making and direct accountability (e.g., GPDPs, MGNREGA social audits).
• Service Delivery Synergies: Enabled structural convergence between local bodies and self-help groups for poverty alleviation (e.g., Kudumbashree in Kerala).
• Democratic Maturation: Transformed citizens from passive welfare recipients to active governance stakeholders.

2. Persisting Limitations in Local Governance

• The ‘3Fs’ Deficit: Chronic shortage of devolved Funds, Functions, and Functionaries restricts true autonomy (2nd ARC 6th Report).
• Proxy Governance: The pervasive Sarpanch Pati syndrome undermines the de facto agency of elected women representatives.
• Parallel Bureaucracy: State parastatal agencies and excessive bureaucratic vetoes routinely bypass elected local councils.
• Fiscal Dependency: Negligible internal tax generation leaves local bodies heavily dependent on tied State and Central grants.

Though decentralization successfully deepened political inclusion, achieving genuine functional autonomy requires urgent fiscal empowerment and capacity building as envisioned by the 2nd ARC.