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Better Governance

Public institutions should work for the people.

Government that is fast, fair and easy to deal with.

AI-generated illustration

What good looks like

Government that is fast, fair and easy to deal with, with clear targets, published progress and local bodies that have the power and money to fix local problems.

Services you can use online or in person, without running around
Clear targets, published progress, and someone responsible
Local bodies with the power and money to fix local problems

Current problems

City governments depend heavily on grants and have limited power over their own finances.

Evidence and data

0.6%

Revenue receipts of municipal corporations as a share of GDP, 2023-24

The RBI's report says own tax revenue made up about 31% to 34% of municipal corporations' revenue, and described urban local bodies as among the weakest globally in fiscal autonomy.

Source: RBI: Report on Municipal Finances (2024) · 2023-24 · checked 13 November 2026

Figures from public reports; we are checking them against the latest releases.

Why this matters

Most daily problems, from waste to water to roads, are local. Local bodies need the money and the power to fix them.

Possible solutions

1
Give local bodies money and power
More own revenue and more say over local spending.
2
Publish targets and progress
Clear targets, regular reports and a named person responsible.
3
Make complaints trackable
Every complaint gets a reference number and an answer.

Positive Indian examples

We are collecting verified examples for this pillar. We publish an example only when it has a source.

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