Local Government – 50 MCQ Quiz

Summary

Before Lord Ripon’s reforms, local bodies existed but were largely controlled by the British officials. Ripon’s Resolution of 18 May 1882 laid the foundation for democratic decentralization in India. His main proposals included:

1. Decentralization of administration – transferring more powers to local boards and municipalities.
2. Majority of elected members in local bodies, reducing the dominance of nominated members.
3. Non-official chairpersons wherever possible, instead of government officials.
4. Local taxation powers to raise funds for development.
5. Focus on education, sanitation, and public health through local institutions.

These reforms aimed to make local bodies representative, accountable, and people-oriented, though the British still retained ultimate control.

Later, these ideas evolved into the Panchayati Raj system (through the 73rd Amendment, 1992) and Urban Local Bodies (74th Amendment, 1992), making local self-government a constitutional mandate in India. local self government