GS Paper II · Federalism
Panchayats & Municipalities Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)
From the syllabus: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
Why it matters: Examiners assess the devolution of funds and functional autonomy granted to grassroots institutions to measure the success of decentralized grassroots democracy.
In the news
October 2026
12 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
GVMC Mayor post reserved for women ahead of direct electionsThe Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Mayor position has been officially reserved for women as the city prepares for its first direct mayoral election in 26 years. Officials highlighted that upgrading civic amenities and water supply...
10 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
NDA Alliance to Reserve 34% Seats for BCs in AP Local PollsThe NDA coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has decided to provide 34% representation for Backward Classes (BCs) in the upcoming local body elections. Since the Rajiv Ranjan Mishra Commission reported an average reservation of...
08 Oct 2026
Structural Reforms Vital for Municipal Property TaxationIndia's cumulative property tax collections remain low at just 0.15 to 0.20 percent of GDP, pointing to an urgent need for structural reforms in municipal bodies. Municipalities struggle with outdated valuation systems, low tax...
08 Oct 2026
Odisha Forms Panel on SEBC BackwardnessThe Odisha government has constituted a committee to study the political backwardness of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). This decision is significant ahead of the upcoming panchayat and urban local body elections....
08 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Prepares SC Legal Fight for BC QuotaThe ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh has backed a 34 percent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections and is preparing for a legal defense in the Supreme Court. The state government is gathering empirical data to...
04 Oct 2026Telangana
Telangana Proposes New CURE Law to Restructure Municipal GovernanceThe Telangana state government has introduced the CURE law concept to reform urban governance across the Hyderabad metropolitan region. The legislative framework aims to streamline municipal administration, clarify jurisdiction, and...
04 Oct 2026
State election machinery prepares for reorganized local body pollsFollowing extensive delimitation and reorganization of rural local bodies, State Election Commissions across multiple states have announced multi-phase panchayat elections covering Zila Parishads and village panchayats. The exercise...
04 Oct 2026Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh challenges local body reservation ceiling in Supreme CourtThe Andhra Pradesh government filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against a High Court ruling that struck down government orders providing backward classes reservation in local body elections. The High Court had cited...
September 2026
19 Sep 2026
Ward Delimitation and Local Body Elections in OdishaThe Odisha state government has revised its schedule for ward delimitation and seat reservation in preparation for upcoming urban local body polls. Citizens can file appeals regarding the provisional notifications through a designated...
16 Sep 2026
Strict Enforcement Against Plaster of Paris IdolsEnvironmental authorities and municipal bodies in Bengaluru launched a joint enforcement drive to intercept non-biodegradable Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols during festive immersions. Authorities seized thousands of illegal idols to...
13 Sep 2026
Empowering Gram Sabhas to Protect Tribal Land RightsRecent policy debates on tribal governance highlight the vital necessity of respecting Gram Sabha authority in decisions concerning land acquisition and resource management. Strict adherence to consent requirements under statutory...
11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court and Ministry Highlight Gram Sabha Consent Under Forest Rights ActRecent discussions surrounding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, have brought attention back to the authority of local Gram Sabhas. Debates centered on whether Gram Sabha consent is mandatory before forest land...
05 Sep 2026
Operation Toofan: Community-Based Anti-Narcotics StrategyKerala has initiated the second phase of 'Operation Toofan', roping in Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) alongside the Home Department to counter narcotics distribution. The initiative bridges grassroots surveillance with...
August 2026
20 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Urges Household Engagement for Solid Waste ManagementThe Supreme Court of India stated that solid waste management cannot be treated as the sole responsibility of municipal sanitation workers. The apex court urged local authorities and District Collectors to engage households and...
July 2026
26 Jul 2026
West Bengal curtails Panchayat financial powersThe West Bengal Assembly has passed a Bill that deprives panchayat pradhans (village council chiefs) of their financial powers. The Bill was passed with 169 votes in favour and 13 against, while 32 MLAs abstained. This legislative move...
19 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Scrutinizes Two-Child Norm in Local PollsThe Supreme Court has raised questions about the constitutional and social validity of the two-child rule enforced by several states for contesting panchayat and local body elections. The bench indicated a need to examine if such...
05 Jul 2026
Erosion of Grassroots Democracy: The Case for Empowering Gram SabhasAcademic debates and editorials have drawn attention to the systematic erosion of India's grassroots democracy, stressing the constitutional significance of Gram Sabhas. Experts argue that central and state-level developmental policies...
04 Jul 2026
The Rising Policy Dispute Over Erosion of Gram Sabha ConsentPolicy analysts have flagged the growing dilution of the statutory requirement of Gram Sabha (village council) consent for infrastructure and industrial projects. Activists argue that bypassing community clearance weakens local...
03 Jul 2026
Autonomy and Consent Rights of Gram Sabhas at the Grassroots LevelAn editorial analysis emphasizes the rising friction within India's grassroots democracy, arguing that the legislative and executive powers of Gram Sabhas must not be diluted. It stresses that local bodies must retain the right to give...
Practise Panchayats & Municipalities
10 of our latest questions on this topic (out of 12).
Question 1 of 10
According to recent estimates of India's municipal finances, India's cumulative property tax collection stands at approximately what percentage of its GDP?
Mains practice
Ensuring sustainable development in India requires balancing technological innovation, strong institutional governance, and community empowerment. Discuss how strengthening grassroots democratic bodies and upgrading public infrastructure can address modern socio-economic challenges.
15 marks
Effective governance in contemporary India requires harmonizing regulatory mechanisms, environmental resilience, and grassroots empowerment with socio-economic development. Examine this statement in light of recent developments in judicial accountability, public health, local self-governance, and environmental management.
15 marks
The devolution of financial powers is crucial for the effective functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). In light of recent legislative measures curtailing the fiscal autonomy of local bodies, critically analyze the challenges in the fiscal federalism of grassroots governance in India.
15 marks
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.