Decentralisation of power is one of the central principles through which democracy is translated from a constitutional ideal into everyday governance. Democracy becomes meaningful when political authority, administrative responsibility, financial resources, and opportunities for participation are distributed beyond higher levels of government and made accessible to citizens at the local level. In India, the constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj Institutions through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into effect in 1993, marked a major institutional step towards strengthening grassroots democracy. This paper examines the role of democracy in decentralising political and administrative power, with particular reference to Karnataka and Mysuru district. It discusses local participation, leadership development, responsiveness, resource distribution, social justice, reservation, administrative efficiency, transparency, accountability, and local planning. The paper also uses recent administrative statistics to illustrate the institutional scale of decentralised governance in Karnataka and Mysuru. As of 2025–26, Karnataka had 5,949 Gram Panchayats and 31 Zilla Panchayats; official e-GramSwaraj data also recorded 5,949 Gram Panchayats onboarded and 5,938 with online-payment functionality in the cited reporting period. Mysuru district administration lists 266 Gram Panchayats, eight taluks and nine municipalities. These figures demonstrate the extensive institutional network through which democratic participation can be organised at the grassroots. [1][2] The paper argues that decentralisation should not be understood merely as administrative delegation. Effective decentralisation requires democratic participation, functional autonomy, adequate financial resources, institutional capacity, transparency, accountability, and meaningful inclusion of women and historically disadvantaged communities. The study concludes that strengthening local democracy is essential for realising the ideals of participatory governance and for transforming citizens from passive beneficiaries into active participants in development.

Madhu H. G, Dr. Ishwarya R, "The Role of Democracy in Decentralisation of Power" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(5): Page(934-939) September - October 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.