To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance…

Question

To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Decentralisation has largely changed who governs at the grassroots, through women's and SC/ST representation and participatory planning, but only partially what local bodies control. The Panchayat Devolution Index rose only from 39.9% in 2013-14 to 43.9% in 2021-22.

**Introduction**

The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave local bodies constitutional status under Parts IX and IX-A. Decentralisation has since changed who governs at the grassroots more than how much they govern.

**Where the Grassroots Landscape Has Changed**

SKETCH: spectrum | Depth of Grassroots Change
left: Deep change
right: Shallow change
- Women's presence
- SC/ST voice
- Local planning
- Service delivery
- Fiscal autonomy

1. **Representation**: Nearly half of elected panchayat members are women, and Chattopadhyay and Duflo (2004) found women pradhans invested more in drinking water.
2. **Margins empowered**: Article 243D reservation seated SC and ST leaders, and using PESA (1996) and forest-rights powers, the Niyamgiri Gram Sabhas rejected bauxite mining in 2013.
3. **Participatory planning**: Over 17.73 lakh Gram Panchayat Development Plans were uploaded between 2019-20 and 2025-26 (PIB, 2025), Kerala's People's Plan (1996) devolved over a third of plan funds, and MGNREGA social audits opened local spending to village scrutiny.

**Where the Change Remains Shallow**

1. **Partial devolution**: The Panchayat Devolution Index rose only from 39.9% (2013-14) to 43.9% (2021-22), leaving most Eleventh Schedule subjects with line departments.
2. **Fiscal dependence**: Panchayats raise little of their own revenue and live on grants, 60% of the 15th Finance Commission's rural grants being tied to water and sanitation.
3. **Proxy and capture**: "Pradhan pati" proxies, examined by the Sushil Kumar Advisory Committee (2023), and caste elites blunt women's and Dalit leadership.
4. **State control**: Only 25 of 28 states had constituted State Finance Commissions by 2025, and delayed elections leave bodies under officials.

**Conclusion**

Decentralisation has largely changed the face of grassroots governance but only partially its substance. Devolving functions, funds and functionaries together, as the Mani Shankar Aiyar Committee (2013) urged, would make it genuine self-government.

To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralisation of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?

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Devolution — Panchayati Raj6 questions

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