The much promised decentralized governance completed its three decade exclusively in India which propelled the citizen’s participation in making choices by identifying decisions, developmental growth, governance progression, and accountability at the sub-national level. The wave of decentralization in India began in early 1990s, amid rhetoric of democratic renewal, deepening of democracy, active engagement of local government undergone through major reforms, by the uprights of the twin Constitutional Amendment Acts of 73rd and 74th. The reforms of decentralization facilitated the springboard, and refashioned the operation of local government and substantiated the role of local agencies as planners and decision makers within the local fringe. This fundamental shift has withdrawn the power from centre to periphery fostering the ability and role of local coagents. Regardless, longstanding rhetorical commitment to decentralization, the sub national authorities in India remain constrained in their capacity to deliver developmental goods and services to the citizens. But in a moment, significant concerns are booming on the possible slowdown on decentralization reforms, as it seems to be more showy than real. Against this background, this chapter entails assorted design with three objectives, mainly focusing on urban governance. Firstly, it argues as how decentralization has progressed in light of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act and the government’s initiatives to devolve local government. Secondly, it converse as how recentralization of authority by the state government is a significant retreat from its long established policy of democratic decentralization in India. Thirdly, it examines on binding constraints that hinder deepening decentralization in India. The results of the study showed that implementation of the reforms has been partial and decentralization reforms have been accompanied by centralization of power by the state, unbridled lack of accountability, widespread rent seeking by elites, and inadequate resources at the local level. We argue that although India’s decentralization was propagated on championing citizen participation in governance and development, devolution of responsibilities and resources at the subnational level, but in reality citizen remain voiceless, powerless and devolution remains still incomplete. Hence, the study recommends a revisit of the design of decentralization for proper implementation and reforms.