Unpacking governance dilemmas in India’s local service delivery system

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In 1992, India enacted constitutional amendments to establish local bodies in rural areas, accompanied by affirmative action for historically disadvantaged caste groups and women. Elected representatives are now tasked with providing essential rural services like drinking water, roads, and sanitation. The theoretical argument for decentralized governance suggests that local representatives can efficiently align services with individual preferences. However, systematic reviews and empirical evidence from Andhra Pradesh reveal a significant gap between the intended and actual governance of these institutions. This research aims to explain the mixed outcomes in inclusive service delivery in rural India, despite substantial local governance reforms. It adopts a pragmatist approach, updating mainstream public choice theories with an extended institutional perspective. This includes rational choice institutionalism and emphasizes ideational aspects and symbolic meanings of institutions. Additionally, insights from cognitive and social psychology are utilized to understand actor motivations and address governance dilemmas in local service delivery. Ultimately, the research concludes that further policy measures and sanctioning mechanisms are essential for the effective implementation of decentralization reforms.