1. Local Government - The First Level

Local government is divided into two main categories:

Rural Government

Panchayati Raj

The Panchayati Raj System (Villages).

Urban Government

Municipal System

Municipalities (Towns and Cities).

Rural Government : The Panchayati Raj System

How it started : The modern Panchayati Raj system was first started in Rajasthan on 1959, when it was implemented in Nagaur district, and then spread to other states before being given constitutional status in 1992 under the 73rd Amendment.

The 73rd Constitutional Ammendment :

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment is a change made to the Constitution of India that made village councils (Panchayats) a real and permanent part of India's law. It said every state must have three levels of Panchayats (village, block, and district), and there must be elections every five years so people pick their local leaders. It also said that some seats must be kept for women and weaker communities so everyone gets a fair chance to be part of local decision-making. This helped villages have their own government that works for their development.

Panchayati Raj has 3 types:

1: Gram Panchayat (Village Council)

Where Villages with a population of less than 10,000 have Gram Panchayats. (NOTE : Population limits vary by state government rules.)

Leaders :
How are they elected?

Ward Members: Directly elected by voters (villagers 18+) in that ward.

Sarpanch: Directly elected by villagers in some states; in others, elected indirectly by Ward Members.

Upa-Sarpanch (Deputy): Elected by the Ward Members from among themselves.

Government Officer: There is always a Panchayat Secretary. This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

The Gram Sabha (Important): This is a meeting of all adult villagers. It is like a "Village Parliament" where:

The Gram Sabha is the most powerful body at the village level because it represents the people directly.

Mandal Parishad / Block Parishad (Block Level)

2. Mandal Parishad / Block Parishad (Block Level)

Where A group of many villages form a Mandal (also called a Block or Taluka).

Leaders & How they are Elected:

Government Officer: There is always a Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO)/Block Development Officer (BDO) This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

Zilla Parishad (District Level)

3. Zilla Parishad (District Level)

Where Many Mandals together form a District.

Leaders & How they are Elected:

Government Officer: There is always a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

Urban Government: Municipal System

How it started : The Municipal System in India began during British rule to manage growing towns and cities. These bodies handled basic services like water supply, roads, sanitation, and public facilities. After independence, the system was improved to suit India's needs, but it did not have strong constitutional support until later.

The 74th Constitutional Ammendment :

The 74th Constitutional Amendment (1992) is a change made to the Constitution of India that gave constitutional status to urban local bodies (Municipalities). It made it compulsory for states to have Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Corporations, with regular elections every five years. It also ensured reservation for women and weaker communities, helping towns and cities have permanent local governments to manage urban development and public services.

The Municipal System has 3 levels :

1. City Council (Nagar Panchayat)

Where Areas that are changing from rural to urban (Population: 11,000 to 25,000). (NOTE : Population limits vary by state government rules.)

Leaders :
How are they elected?

City Councillors: Directly elected by voters (People 18+) in that ward.

Council Chairperson: Usually elected by the Voters in that Town But in some states they are Elected indirectly by the City Councillors.

Deputy Chairperson: Elected by all the Councillors from among themselves.

Government Officer: There is always an Executive Officer (EO). This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

The Municipal Council

2. Municipal Council

These are Smaller cities (Population: 25,000 to 1,00,000). (NOTE : Population limits vary by state government rules.)

Leaders :
How are they elected?

Municipal Councillors: Directly elected by voters (People 18+) in that ward.

Municipal Chairperson: Usually elected by the Voters in that City But in some states they are Elected indirectly by the Municipal Councillors.

Deputy Municipal Chairperson: Elected by all the Municipal Councillors from among themselves.

Government Officer: There is always an Civil Servant (Often an IAS Officer). This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

The Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Palika)

3. Municipal Corporation

These are Bigger cities (Population: 1,00,000+). (NOTE : Population limits vary by state government rules.)

Leaders :
How are they elected?

Corporators: Directly elected by voters (People 18+) in that ward.

Mayor: Usually elected by the Voters in that City But in some states they are Elected indirectly by the Corporators.

Deputy Mayor: Elected by all the Corporators from among themselves.

Government Officer: There is always an Municipal Commissioner (Often A Senior IAS Officer). This person is not elected but appointed by the government to keep records and handle official papers.

Responsibilities

Local governments have several responsibilities that aim to improve the lives of local citizens. Here are the key responsibilities at the Rural and Urban levels.

Rural Government

  • ✅ Construct and repair roads, drains, and schools.
  • ✅ Provide clean drinking water and street lights.
  • ✅ Maintain sanitation (cleaning garbage).
  • Ward Member: Listens to neighbors' problems and reports them to the Gram Panchayat.
  • Sarpanch: Leads meetings and ensures work gets done.
  • Deputy Sarpanch: Takes charge as a Leader when the Sarpanch is Absent.
  • Secretary: Handles the money, records, and government paperwork.

Urban Government

  • ✅ Collect garbage and keep the city clean.
  • ✅ Maintain public parks, markets, and street lights.
  • ✅ Supply water and manage sewage systems.
  • Councillor/Corporator: Represents their specific area (ward) in the council meetings.
  • Mayor/Chairperson: Leads the council and plans the city's development.
  • Deputy Chairperson/Deputy Mayor: Takes charge as a Leader when the Chairperson/Mayor is Absent.
  • The Executive Officer/Municipal Commissioner: Handles the money, records, and government paperwork.

Eligibility

Local governments have several Eligibilities that require to stand in Elections.

Eligibility: Who Can Become a Leader?

To contest in local elections (Ward Member, Sarpanch, Councillor, etc.), a person must generally be:

Must have these Eligibilities :

Citizen : A citizen of India.

Age : At least 21 years old.

Voter : Registered as a voter in that specific area/ward.

Clean Record : Must not have certain criminal convictions or be legally disqualified.

Note: The Secretary, EO, Civil Servant & Municipal Commissioner are government employees, so they need educational qualifications and must pass an exam (not an election).

Salaries

Local governments have different Salaries in different stages of Leadership. Here are the most common Average Salaries ranges in Rural and Urban levels.

Panchayati Raj Salaries

  • Average Salaries of Panchayati Raj Elected Members (Differ from Each State) :
  • Ward Member: ₹500 - ₹1,500
  • Sarpanch: ₹3,000 - ₹10,000
  • Deputy Sarpanch: ₹0 - ₹4,000
  • Secretary: ₹20,000 - ₹30,000+ at starting and may increase
  • MPTC Member: ₹3,000 - ₹6,500
  • MPTC Chairperson (MPP): ₹7,000 - ₹15,000
  • ZPTC Member: ₹5,000 - ₹20,000
  • ZPTC Chairperson (ZPP): ₹10,000 - ₹40,000

Municipality Salaries

  • Salaries of all Council, Municipality Elected Leaders : (Differ from Each State) :
  • City/ Municipal Councillor: ₹3,000 - ₹10,000 (many towns pay in this range)
  • Municipal Council Chairperson: ₹10,000 - ₹18,000
  • City Council Chairperson: ₹10,000 - ₹18,000
  • Deputy Chairperson: ₹8,000 - ₹12,000
  • Municipal Corporator: ₹7,000 - ₹25,000 (depends on city size)
  • Mayor: ₹18,000 - ₹30,000 (often around this range)
  • Deputy Mayor: ₹12,000 - ₹20,000
  • Government Officers: (like the Secretary/Commissioner) get a full monthly salary from the State Government.

Term: All elected representatives serve for 5 Years.

(NOTE : These are approximate honorarium ranges. Actual amounts depend on state government notifications and may change over time.)

Budget

Local governments get the Budget from several Sources. Here are the most common Sources.

Budget of Panchayati Raj

  • State Government and Central Government grants
  • Finance Commission funds
  • Government schemes (like roads, housing, sanitation, pensions)
  • Local income such as house tax, water tax, shop rents, fines

This money comes every year, not once in five years.

  • The Panchayat Secretary prepares the budget draft.
  • The Sarpanch presents it.
  • Ward Members discuss village needs.
  • The Gram Panchayat approves it in a meeting.
  • The budget is then sent to Mandal / Block offices for checking and release of funds.

Budget of Municipality

The city or town budget comes from four main places.

  • Taxes paid by people : This includes property tax, water tax, shop tax, and other local taxes.
  • Money from the State Government : The state gives money for roads, water, sanitation, salaries, and welfare schemes.
  • Money from the Central Government : This comes through schemes like housing, cleanliness, smart city work, and health programs.
  • Fees and fines : This includes water bills, building permission fees, parking fees, market fees, and penalties.

The council or corporation plans and approves how to spend it for public work.

How it is Spent: The Secretary, EO, Civil Servant & Municipal Commissioner prepares a plan (Budget), the Sarpanch/Mayor presents it, and the elected members (Ward Members/Councillors) must vote to approve it before a single rupee can be spent.

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