Urban Local Bodies (74th) (Local Government).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Indian Polity and Governance; Mains GS2
Urbanisation for UPSC: statutory and census towns, Census 2011 data, causes, slums, urban floods, 74th Amendment, Smart Cities, AMRUT, PMAY-U and way…
The National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Institute of Urban Affairs have completed Urban River Management Plans for 13 cities. Phase-I covers 27 cities and Phase-II 33 more, taking overall coverage to 60 Ganga basin cities under Namami Gange. The long-term aim is all 97 cities on the main stem of the Ganga.
UPSC angle: Mains: urban rivers and planning.
24 Jun 2026
NITI Aayog released "Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million-Plus Cities" on 25 April 2026. It recommends a directly elected mayor with fixed tenure, an empowered Mayor-in-Council, integrated city services, stronger own revenues and State Finance Commission transfers, and oversight of parastatals by city governments.
UPSC angle: Mains: urban governance reforms.
25 Apr 2026
This shifts cities from grants to market finance; read with the municipal bond incentive in the Budget.
UPSC angle: Prelims: UCF share.
14 Feb 2026
Urban land records are the weakest link in property tax and title disputes.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NAKSHA expansion. · Mains: land records and urban finance.
1 Jun 2025