URBAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN MAHARASHTRA COMPOSITION OF CIVIC STRUCTURE AND THE 74TH AMENDMENT

The 74th Amendment Act has been appreciated by most urban experts in India. It has brought about reforms in the system of civic governance. It has introduced progressive changes in the urban local institutions of the country. It has upgraded the political set up and the fiscal arrangements of the urban local governments. The State of Maharashtra has already implemented the law. The civic bodies are now constituted according to the norms and provisions of the 74th Amendment. There is a need to assess the process of implementation. It is important find out if it has moved in the direction of achieving the objective. It was expected to streamline the financial status of these bodies and upgrade the urban planning norms in the country. It has surely accorded constitutional status and recognition to the urban local bodies. There is a need to see if it has brought about administrative uniformity in the realm of urban governance in the country. It is also important to ensure that the legislation is implemented in its letter and spirit. Keywords: Civic structure, state finance commission, 74th Amendment, urban governance, municipal corporation, Central legislation, fiscal arrangements, urban local bodies, municipal corporation, urban planning, functional domain, District planning committee, civic governance, municipal council, Nagar Panchayats