The book Local Government in India by S.R.Maheshwari (Former Professor of Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi) discusses both the rural and the urban arms of local government in India. After tracing the history of local government, it attempts to discuss the structure, personnel, finance and functioning of rural as well as urban local government and finally to suggest ways and means of improving the system of local government in India. In attempting to do so, attention has been focused on local government as an entity operating within the larger system of government in the country. This book will meet the requirements of students of political science and public administration. Also it may be of use to the politicians, to the government officials- particularly to the local government officials- as well as to the general readers. Keeping in view the syllabus prescribed in different Indian Universities a new chapter Public participation in Local Government have been added. For convenience of readers the book has been divided into 4 parts containing 43 chapters.