Why do we need three tiers of government?
We need three tiers of government—local, State, and national—because different matters require different levels of attention and management.
Local issues like a faulty street light or neighbourhood problems can be handled best by local authorities who are closer to the people.
State-level issues like floods affecting several towns, law and order, agriculture, and public health require coordination across districts and are managed by State governments.
National issues like defence, foreign affairs, currency, and interstate commerce need to be handled at the Central level.
This three-tier system ensures that problems are addressed at the appropriate level, making governance more efficient and responsive to citizens' needs.
For example, a minor flood may be handled locally, a larger flood by the State, and a massive disaster by the Central government with army support.
Explanation
The chapter explains on pages 7-8 that 'Any government operates at two levels at the least—local and national. In many countries, including India, it functions at three levels or tiers—local, state or regional, and national. Each level deals with different matters.' The flood example illustrates how different tiers handle problems of varying scale.
Solution Steps
Three tiers of government—local, State, and national—exist to handle different matters at appropriate levels
Local issues are best handled by local authorities who are closer to the people
State-level issues like floods, law and order, agriculture, and public health require coordination across districts
National issues like defence, foreign affairs, currency, and interstate commerce need Central-level handling
The three-tier system ensures efficient and responsive governance by addressing problems at the appropriate level