Asian Journal of Academic Research (AJAR) ISSN-e: 2790-9379 Vol. 3, No. 1, (2022, Summer), 1-10. A Comparative Study of the Constitutional Base of the Local Governments in India and Pakistan Kamran Naseem, 1 Manzoor Ahmad Naazer, 2 & Najam us Saqib 3 Abstract: The central government of each state of the present age has to perform extensive functions. Now decentralization is the most common trend and states devolve powers to Local Governments (LGs). However, Pakistan’s past history shows that the institution of LG was not strengthened and empowered. The 18 th amendment Act 2010 addressed LG and Clause A was inserted in article 140. In India, article 243 of the Indian Constitution was revised under the 73 rd and the 74 th constitutional amendments. This study endeavors to investigate the constitutional base of local governments in India and Pakistan. Content analysis of the constitutions of both the countries has been conducted as a qualitative study within constructivist paradigm. The details of the 73 rd and the 74 th amendments in the Indian Constitution and the 18 th amendment in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan are given in this study. It is concluded that a comprehensive plan of LG is mentioned under the 73 rd and 74 th amendments in India. There is need to revise the article 140 to strengthen the institution of LG in Pakistan. Keywords: Pakistan, India, 73 rd and the 74 th amendments, PESA Act 1996, the 18 th amendment, panchayats, Local Government INTRODUCTION Local government is a public institution that deals with local issues within a particular territory. In the contemporary world, functions of each state have been increased extensively. Local government plays very effective role to manage the local affairs. Mood of the voters can be easily judged in local 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Govt. Gordon College Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Email: kamrann43@gmail.com 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan. Email: manzoor.ahmad@iiu.edu.pk 3 PhD Scholar (Political Science), Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad. Email: write2najamussaqib@gmail.com