Devolution
Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"
Meaning
Devolution means handing power from a higher level of government to a lower one, so the lower level can decide things on its own. In India it mostly means states passing the "3Fs" (funds, functions and functionaries, meaning staff) to panchayats and municipalities. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave local bodies constitutional status, making them the third tier of government. However, how much power states actually hand over is left largely to them.
Example
A state may give its panchayats the job of running village water supply, along with the money and staff to do it. That is real devolution. In practice it is uneven across states, and gram sabhas (meetings of all village voters) meet irregularly.
Don't confuse with
- Delegation under Art. 258: there the Union gives some of its own functions to states to carry out on its behalf. Devolution gives the lower level its own power to decide.