Includes bibliographical references and index.

Localising governance: theoretical inputs -- Localizing governance: empirical roots -- Localising governance in post-independent India -- Cooperative movement in India -- Panchayati Raj governance -- Urban local governance in India -- Role of information and communication technology in local governance -- District planning committee -- Personnel and financial administration -- Mainstreaming gender -- Panchayati Raj in action -- Urban local governance in action -- Rural well-being and rights-based legislative design -- Politics of governance in localities -- Changing nature of local governance -- Democratisation and local governance: contemporary trends -- Future prospects of local governance.

"This textbook, by drawing on the basic theoretical and practical aspects of localizing governance, will illuminate how local governance unfolds in India. To help comprehend relevant issues contextually, the book focuses on the historical, socio-economic and political milieus and draws extensively on examples and cases from India. By understanding local governance in the wider political scenario, it endeavours to reconceptualise local governance in India as integral to the country's macro politics as well. It also offers a broad analysis of specific programmes (such as MNREGA for rural India and AMRUT for urban India), and thus provides useful conceptual inputs to grasp governance in a policy perspective. Containing varied examples, case studies and literature review, this textbook would be an ideal companion for students of political science, public administration, urban and rural development, sociology, social work and economics"--

English