Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are pivotal to inclusive and efficient urban governance, yet they remain fiscally constrained and nationally weak. Analyze.

ULBs Urban Local Bodies were made justiciable under the 74th amendment act 1992. ULBs constitute elected bodies such as Municipalities, municipal corporations etc. ULBs: pivotal to inclusion and efficient governance. (1) Decentralized developmental approach by principle of subsidiarity (73rd ARC). (2) High public participation through election at grassroots. eg: Ward mano- (3) Local development planning eg: District development committee. Yet there are constraints: 1: Fiscally constrained: (1) Own revenue sources merely 59% of local revenue. (2) ULA revenue is just 0.42% of UDT. (BRICS countries → 6-8%). (3) Devolution dependency on states and Centre. (4) Nature of funds is tied and conditional → impair functional autonomy. eg: 40% funds under (15th Finance Commission) need tied. II: Institutionally weak: Last Study: Indian municipal corporation → hold ₹260 lakh (each municipality) bonds for development. (2) Most important functions are not devolved. eg: Planning for local area. (3) Parallel bodies so parallel bodies → eg: town health bee groups in UP. (4) Functions centralization (NIH Aarog agus) → eg: Bihar govt. legislation → take over.

— SURAMYA SHARMA · AIR 359