Examining urban local governance in India through the case of Bengaluru
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Karnataka legislature passed the BBMP Act, 2020 to replace provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 for Bengaluru, aiming to improve decentralisation and public participation.
- Urban local bodies across India face challenges such as lack of autonomy, functional overlap with state-accountable parastatals, and stressed municipal finances with revenue accounting for only one percent of the GDP in 2017-18.
- The BBMP Act, 2020 grants the Corporation power over the 18 functions under the 74th Amendment Act and adds taxation powers for professions and entertainment, though ambiguities regarding parastatal accountability remain.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Urban governance falls under the State List of the Constitution, and urban local bodies were given constitutional status via the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine the structural and financial challenges plaguing urban local governance in India, specifically highlighting the issues of parastatal overlap and fiscal federalism.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Consider the following statements regarding urban local governance and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Act, 2020: 1. Urban governance falls under the State List of the Constitution of India, allowing states to determine the administrative framework of urban local bodies. 2. The BBMP Act, 2020 completely resolves the functional overlap between municipal corporations and state-accountable parastatals by shifting total accountability to the municipal body. 3. Across India, municipal revenues have historically remained low, accounting for a minor fraction of the GDP. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct because urban governance is part of the State List under the Constitution, resulting in varying regulatory frameworks across states. Statement 2 is incorrect because the BBMP Act, 2020 fails to provide clarity on whether existing parastatals will continue or if their accountability will shift from the state to the corporation, thereby leaving ambiguities regarding parastatal accountability. Statement 3 is correct as urban local bodies across India face stressed municipal finances with revenues accounting for only one percent of the GDP in 2017-18.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.