Kerala has claimed the number one spot in the Urban Governance Index (UGI) 2024, emerging as a leader in urban administration. The ranking is based on a detailed two-year study by the Praja Foundation, which evaluated Indian states across 42 indicators covering governance reforms, fiscal policies, and legislative structure.
With an overall score of 59.31%, Kerala has made a notable leap from its 2020 ranking, where it was fourth with a score of 48.77%. The improvement is largely attributed to the inclusion of more cities in the evaluation and the implementation of critical governance reforms.
Kerala excelled particularly in Empowered City Elected Representatives and Legislative Structure (18.63/30) and Fiscal Empowerment (23.22/30). Notably, Kerala is one of the few states that mandates councillors to participate in at least one deliberative committee, ensuring comprehensive involvement in decision-making processes. Moreover, Kerala, along with eight other states and Delhi, has granted local governments the autonomy to introduce new taxes and revise existing charges, boosting fiscal independence.
Another standout feature of Kerala’s governance model is the authorization given to mayors to write the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) for the Commissioner, a move that enhances executive accountability. However, the study highlighted that there is room for further autonomy in city-level governance despite these achievements.
While the national average UGI score stood at 39.70%, Kerala’s leadership underscores its commitment to transparent and participatory urban governance. Other top states included Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, whereas Nagaland, Manipur, and Punjab ranked the lowest.
