What do you understand by local self-government in India? Mention any two merits and any two demerits of this government.
Local self-government refers to the system of governance in which local bodies such as municipalities, panchayats, and zila parishads are empowered to manage and govern the affairs of their localities. These local bodies are responsible for managing public services, infrastructure, and welfare programs at the grassroots level. In India, the concept of local self-government was institutionalized by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992, which provided for rural and urban local bodies, respectively.