Local-Government-in-urban-Areas : Class 6 : SST
SUMMARY
Urban local governments handle governance in towns and cities. They manage essential services like water, drainage, roads, schools, street lighting, and sanitation.
Types of Urban Local Bodies
Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Nigam)
For big cities (population 10+ lakh).
Head: Mayor (ceremonial) & Municipal Commissioner (administrative head, usually an IAS officer).
Members: Corporators elected by city residents.
Municipality (Nagar Palika)
For medium towns and small cities.
Head: Chairperson / President.
Notified Area Committee (NAC) & Town Area Committee (TAC)
For small towns or areas under development.
Members usually nominated, not elected.
Cantonment Board
For areas under military control (like cantonments).
Works under Defence Ministry.
Functions of Urban Local Bodies
Civic Amenities: Drinking water, streetlights, roads, sanitation.
Education & Health: Primary schools, dispensaries, hospitals.
Urban Planning: Housing, parks, drainage, markets.
Welfare: Support for poor, women, children, and weaker sections.
Revenue Collection: Property tax, water tax, trade licenses.
SHORT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: What is the local government in big cities called?
A: Municipal Corporation.
Q: Who is the elected head of a Municipal Corporation?
A: Mayor.
Q: Who is the administrative head of a Municipal Corporation?
A: Municipal Commissioner.
Q: What is the local body in small towns called?
A: Municipality (Nagar Palika).
Q: Who heads a Municipality?
A: Chairperson/President.
Q: Which urban body governs cantonment areas?
A: Cantonment Board.
Q: Who elects the members of a Municipal Corporation?
A: Citizens of the city.
Q: What is the tenure of urban local body members?
A: 5 years.
Q: Name two sources of income for Municipalities.
A: Property tax, water tax.
Q: Which urban local body manages parks and playgrounds?
A: Municipality/Corporation.
Q: What service is provided by urban local bodies for health?
A: Hospitals and dispensaries.
Q: Who collects trade licenses in urban areas?
A: Municipality.
Q: Who looks after urban drainage system?
A: Municipal Corporation/Municipality.
Q: What is the role of the Mayor?
A: Presiding over meetings of Corporation.
Q: Which urban body governs newly developing towns?
A: Notified Area Committee (NAC).
Q: Which ministry controls Cantonment Boards?
A: Ministry of Defence.
Q: Who ensures streetlights in urban areas?
A: Municipality/Corporation.
Q: Which tax is the main income of urban local bodies?
A: Property tax.
Q: Who maintains birth and death records in cities?
A: Municipal Corporation.
Q: What is the minimum age to vote in municipal elections?
A: 18 years.
LONG QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Explain the structure of Municipal Corporation.
A: Includes Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, and Corporators. Mayor is ceremonial, Commissioner is executive head.
Q: What are the functions of Municipalities?
A: Provide water, sanitation, health, education, parks, streetlights, markets.
Q: Differentiate between Municipal Corporation and Municipality.
A: Corporation = large cities, Mayor as head. Municipality = smaller towns, Chairperson as head.
Q: What are the sources of revenue of Municipal Corporations?
A: Property tax, water tax, trade license fees, grants from state government.
Q: What is the role of the Municipal Commissioner?
A: Chief executive officer, looks after daily administration.
Q: Write 3 functions of Cantonment Boards.
A: Sanitation, drainage, streetlights in military areas.
Q: How are members of a Municipal Corporation elected?
A: Directly by residents of the city through voting.
Q: Why are urban local governments necessary?
A: To solve local city problems quickly and involve citizens in governance.
Q: Write about Notified Area Committees.
A: Formed for newly developing urban areas; members are nominated, not elected.
Q: What role does the Mayor play in city governance?
A: Presides over meetings, represents the city, but does not handle daily administration.
Q: How do Municipalities help in education?
A: They run primary schools and libraries.
Q: What welfare measures are taken by urban bodies?
A: Support for slum dwellers, women, children, handicapped.
Q: Explain how urban local bodies manage health care.
A: Running dispensaries, maternity centres, hospitals.
Q: Write about the role of Corporators.
A: Elected representatives who bring people’s problems to the Corporation.
Q: How do urban local bodies help in urban planning?
A: By approving building plans, creating parks, roads, and housing colonies.
Q: Why is property tax important?
A: It is the main source of income for urban local governments.
Q: How are urban local bodies linked with state governments?
A: They work under state laws, receive grants, and are monitored by state government.
Q: What challenges are faced by urban governments?
A: Overpopulation, lack of funds, corruption, poor infrastructure.
Q: Give examples of services provided by Municipal Corporations in metros.
A: Metro transport, flyovers, hospitals, water supply.
Q: How do citizens participate in urban local governance?
A: By voting, attending meetings, paying taxes, reporting issues.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Local government of a large city is called:
a) Municipality
b) Municipal Corporation ✅
c) Gram Sabha
d) Panchayat
Who is the ceremonial head of a Municipal Corporation?
a) Governor
b) Mayor ✅
c) Chief Minister
d) Collector
Who is the executive head of a Municipal Corporation?
a) Corporator
b) Municipal Commissioner ✅
c) MLA
d) Sarpanch
Nagar Palika is also called:
a) Municipality ✅
b) Panchayat Samiti
c) Zila Parishad
d) Gram Panchayat
Head of Municipality is:
a) Collector
b) Chairperson ✅
c) Mayor
d) Commissioner
Cantonment Board works under:
a) State Government
b) Defence Ministry ✅
c) Finance Ministry
d) Panchayati Raj
Tenure of urban local bodies is:
a) 3 years
b) 5 years ✅
c) 6 years
d) 10 years
Members of Municipal Corporation are called:
a) Panchs
b) Corporators ✅
c) MLAs
d) MPs
Main source of income for urban local bodies is:
a) Property tax ✅
b) Income tax
c) GST
d) Sales tax
Which body maintains birth & death records?
a) Zila Parishad
b) Municipal Corporation ✅
c) Gram Sabha
d) Panchayat
Who elects Municipal Councillors?
a) MPs
b) Citizens ✅
c) MLAs
d) Governor
Which body governs small towns?
a) Zila Parishad
b) Municipality ✅
c) Corporation
d) Panchayat
Mayor is elected by:
a) State government
b) Elected Councillors ✅
c) Citizens directly
d) Commissioner
Notified Area Committee members are:
a) Elected
b) Nominated ✅
c) Selected by lottery
d) Appointed by Corporator
Who looks after sanitation in cities?
a) Panchayat
b) Municipality/Corporation ✅
c) MLA
d) Collector
Which urban body is found in military areas?
a) NAC
b) Cantonment Board ✅
c) Municipality
d) Panchayat
Urban local governments ensure:
a) Defence
b) Civic amenities ✅
c) Foreign trade
d) Agriculture
Who approves building plans in cities?
a) Collector
b) Municipality ✅
c) Zila Parishad
d) Governor
What do Corporators represent?
a) Villages
b) Wards ✅
c) States
d) Blocks
Municipalities help in:
a) Railways
b) Primary education ✅
c) International trade
d) National highways
