Three tiers of government
Also called: Three levels of government · Topic: State, Government and Governance: Organs, Levels and the Citizen · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 10 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance"; Class 6, Ch 12 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas"; Class 7, Ch 10 "The Constitution of India: An Introduction"; Class 7, Ch 6 "The State, the Government, and You"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"
Meaning
The three tiers of government are India's division of government into the Union (central), state and local levels. Each level handles matters that suit its size. The Constitution first had only two levels. Local government was a State List subject, and Art. 40, a Directive Principle, only asked states to organise village panchayats. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) made local bodies the constitutional third tier. Part IX (panchayats) came into force on 24 April 1993, and Part IXA (municipalities) on 1 June 1993.
Example
The Union looks after defence and foreign affairs. States handle police and public health. Panchayats and municipalities work on local subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects) and the Twelfth Schedule (18 subjects).
Don't confuse with
- Three organs of government: the legislature, executive and judiciary divide government by function (making laws, carrying them out, judging). The three tiers divide government by level (Union, state, local).