Local Self Government is critical to the formation of a healthy democracy. In the urban context, it is the local government that is most able to give the citizens good services. The urban local body – the municipality or the municipal corporation – is allotted a clear mandate to be the anchor institution for 18 functions. This mandate was created under the 74th amendment, and since then some major strides have been made in the establishment of institutions and structures to administer cities.

However, there are still significant differences between how different cities and states implement this mandate for decentralization. The implementation mechanisms affect everything from water supply to housing.  For an urban professional, it is extremely important to understand what acts affect municipal functioning, and how to interpret their impacts. This course will build that exact knowledge. The case study centric approach of the course will articulate the evolution of urban spaces and the approaches to governing them.