*74th Constitutional Amendment Act: Strengthening Urban Local Governance in India*

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, passed in 1992 and implemented on June 1, 1993, gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) such as municipalities and corporations. It aimed to decentralize power, strengthen urban self-governance, and enhance citizen participation in local administration through the creation of a uniform structure across India.

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•  Enacted in 1992; came into force on June 1, 1993.
•  Added Part IXA (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG) and 12th Schedule to the Constitution.
•  Gave constitutional recognition to municipalities and urban governance.
•  Mandated three types of urban bodies: Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, and Municipal Corporation.
•  Aimed to promote decentralization and empower local governments for urban development.
•  Reserved seats for SCs, STs, and 1/3rd for women in all municipalities.
•  Established State Election Commissions to conduct fair municipal elections.
•  Created Finance Commissions to review municipal finances and recommend revenue-sharing.
•  Directed formation of District and Metropolitan Planning Committees for integrated urban planning.
  trengthened democracy at the grassroots, linking citizens directly with governance.