Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in

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Federalism

Democratic decentralisation

Administrative delegation

Direct democracy

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2017

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The correct answer is B, stating that local self-government is best explained as an exercise in democratic decentralisation.

Democratic decentralisation is the process of transferring power, authority, and resources from central or state governments to elected local bodies, empowering them to make decisions and manage affairs at the local level. Local self-government bodies like Panchayats and Municipalities in India are prime examples of this principle in practice.

While related to the broader concept of power distribution, federalism typically refers to the division of power between the union and state governments. Administrative delegation involves assigning tasks but not necessarily the autonomy to govern. Direct democracy involves citizens participating directly in decision-making, which is different from the representative structure of local self-government bodies where elected representatives make decisions on behalf of the people. Thus, democratic decentralisation is the most fitting description.

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