NITI Aayog Pitches Direct Election of Mayors

Hyderabad: NITI Aayog has recommended direct election of city mayors by all voters, with a five‑year term coterminous with the city council, to strengthen urban governance. It said a direct mandate would make the mayor clearly responsible for city performance and proposed that the mayor be formally recognised as the head of the city government with defined executive powers, while the municipal commissioner would work under the mayor’s supervision.

The panel urged states to update municipal laws and asked the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs to revise its model municipal law so cities can plan and run services with clear political and administrative responsibility. The proposals draw on the 74th Constitutional Amendment and international examples of effective city leadership.

To speed up decisions, NITI suggested replacing standing committees with a mayor‑in‑council system — a small executive team led by the mayor and a few councillors, each handling departments such as water, roads or health. Subject committees for finance, planning and services, along with mandatory zonal and ward‑level meetings, were also recommended to bring governance closer to neighbourhoods.

The report noted that key services including water supply, buses, sanitation, solid waste management and fire services are still managed by state agencies, creating fragmented responsibilities. It said these agencies should be made answerable to municipal governments, with separate city units reporting locally and funds allocated directly to cities.

It also called for stronger State Finance Commissions to ensure predictable funding. SFCs should be appointed earlier, follow fixed timelines, publish city‑wise grant allocations and disclose past releases and spending.

The measures, NITI said, aim to give cities clearer leadership, faster decisions, predictable funding and stronger accountability.