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Despite constitutional safeguards, ULBs across India are increasingly being hollowed out by centralising tendencies, undermining the spirit of democra

Decentralising income tax revenue could turn India’s 250,000 local councils into growth engines—delivering equity, efficiency, and resilience

President Muizzu’s problematic urban centres’ plan contradicts the Maldives’ democratic and decentralised frameworks

The central and state governments must step up efforts at creating pathways for effective urban self-governance

Amidst the population rise, a push for decentralised governance structures that focus on data-driven efficient public service delivery is extremely cr

भारताच्या ऊर्जेशी संबंधित समस्येचे मुख्य कारण म्हणजे भ�

भारत की ऊर्जा संबंधी समस्या का मुख्य कारण यह है कि भारत मे

India’s key energy problem is the inadequate effective demand for energy, especially from poor rural households in India and an underdeveloped marke

संघवाद का मुखौटा बिल्कुल स्पष्ट है, जहां प्रशासन के किसी �

Worldcoin aims to create a vast network that would benefit all individuals, but it raises concerns about exclusion and limited benefits for those outs

Through initiatives like Project Meridian, central banks could move towards more efficient, secure, and accessible financial systems that benefit indi

कई संरचनात्मक कमियों के बावज़ूद 73वें और 74वें संशोधन ने सम�

Despite many structural shortfalls, the 73rd and the 74th Amendments were able to create critical democratic space for these underrepresented groups s

Arguments are being advanced for and against the trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi as one single entity to deliver good governance 

संघवाद का मुखौटा बिल्कुल स्पष्ट है, जहां प्रशासन के किसी �

The façade of federalism is apparent as none of the government levels want to part with their authority

A global platform can be one where cities learn from each other, share best practices, discuss challenges — and seek solutions together.

With panchayats emerging as front warriors in the collective fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister’s address to key members of rural self-

In a massive state of the size of Uttar Pradesh, centralisation is a recipe for administrative paralysis.

Can Panchayats truly be considered “self-governing institutions”? Has the spirit of decentralisation taken a deep root in the democratic spaces of

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil¿s none-too-recent hint that the Centre was considering the setting up of a new commission to review Centre-State relations is a welcome move. While it may be yet another effort at decentralization of administrative power between the Centre and the States, care should be taken in formulating the terms of reference and in the choice of the commission¿s members that the process percolates down to the panchayat-lev

Mere constitutional creation of new political space would not become the answer to the growing demands for inclusion and participation in the countryside. For substantive democracy to become a reality, Centre and States need to show willingness to share powers (3Fs).

In April, the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022, merged the North, South, and East Delhi municipal corporations into a single urban local body (ULB) called the Delhi Municipal Corporation. The unification is expected to lead to better service delivery, greater financial strength, economies of scale, and eliminate administrative duplication. However, the Act does not outline the functional and financial domains of ULBs and aspects

The 2011 anti-corruption movement in India—characterised by a huge trust deficit in the political class—was the culmination of several such localised movements that marked the birth of a new civil society in contemporary urban India. This paper studies the profusion of middle-class-led associations in Mumbai fighting for good governance, and their increased political mobilisation in the city. It argues that a new civil society bypasses electe

Paradiplomacy as it is conducted by sub-state governments introduces the idea of decentralisation of political power to make regional governments prominent actors in the international sphere. This paper examines the scope for subnational diplomacy in India, as the country seeks to appreciate the significance of federalism and regionalism in promoting local interests, as well as identity, in current international politics. Regional governments ope

As India’s landmark Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 completes its decadal anniversary, the country continues to grapple with the problem of poor learning outcomes in schools. This brief argues that the RTE Act must now move beyond “easy to measure” metrics and focus on the quality of learning. Moreover, since states across India have varying requirements, the law must work towards increasing the scope for decentralisation. The brief take

The Ministry of Human Resource Development in late June floated the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2018, to repeal the seven-decade-old University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956. The HECI, when established, will replace the UGC that has been the bedrock of India’s higher education system. This brief analyses the draft bill and examines its deficiencies. It suggests that the present bill fails to address the shortcomings of

Until the early 1990s, India’s urban local bodies (ULBs) were under the complete control of the states, having little functional, financial and administrative autonomy. The 74th Amendment Act of 1992 sought to make ULBs self-governing institutions. Many salutary provisions were made in the Act and there have been certain positive outcomes since it came into effect in April 1993. However, many key issues have remained unresolved and at present,

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is seeking to promote a political model with centralisation and one-party rule at the core to achieve economic growth and stability. This brief assesses the extent to which the CCP’s policymaking mechanisms and internal politics have influenced China’s strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decentralisation, with all its limitations, is the way to go for India to make the state effective in fulfillment of its sovereign functions.