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Grassroots Democracy — Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas – Class 6 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Social Science, chapter 12. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Towns and cities are governed by urban local bodies: municipal corporations in big cities, municipal councils in smaller towns and nagar panchayats in areas changing from rural to urban. Elected councillors, ward committees and officials provide civic services, and citizens can participate in decisions.

Urban local bodies

Municipal corporations govern large cities, municipal councils (municipalities) govern smaller towns, and nagar panchayats serve transitional areas.
A city is divided into wards; each ward elects a councillor. The mayor (or chairperson) heads the elected body, and a commissioner, an appointed officer, runs the administration.
The 74th Constitutional Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to urban local bodies.

Functions and funds

Water supply, sewage and drainage, garbage collection, street lights, roads, parks, markets, fire services and public health.
Registration of births and deaths, building approvals and running some schools and hospitals.
Funds come from property tax, water charges, fees and grants from the state and union governments.

Participation in urban areas

Ward committees bring together councillors and residents to discuss local problems.
Citizens can attend ward meetings, complain through helplines and apps, and work through resident welfare associations.
The Madras (now Chennai) Corporation, set up in 1688, is the oldest municipal corporation in India.

Key terms

Municipal corporation: the urban local body that governs a large city
Ward: a small area of a city that elects a councillor
Councillor: the elected representative of a ward
Commissioner: the appointed officer who heads the administration of a municipal corporation

Important questions with answers

What is a ward committee?2 marks

A ward committee brings together the elected councillor and residents of a ward to discuss local problems such as water, garbage and roads, plan improvements and monitor the work of the municipal body in that area.

What are the main functions of a municipal corporation?3 marks

It supplies clean drinking water and manages sewage and drainage. It collects and disposes of garbage, maintains roads, street lights, parks and markets, and provides fire services. It registers births and deaths, approves building plans and runs some schools, dispensaries and hospitals.

Describe the structure of urban local government and how citizens can participate in it.5 marks

Urban local bodies are of three types: municipal corporations for large cities, municipal councils for smaller towns and nagar panchayats for areas changing from rural to urban. They received constitutional status through the 74th Amendment in 1992. A city is divided into wards, and the voters of each ward elect a councillor. The councillors together form the council, headed by a mayor or chairperson, which makes decisions and approves the budget. The day-to-day administration is run by a commissioner, an officer appointed by the state government, with departments for water, health, roads and other services. Funds come from property tax, water and other charges, fees and government grants. Citizens can participate by voting in local elections, attending ward committee meetings, raising complaints through helplines and apps, joining resident welfare associations, paying taxes on time and keeping their surroundings clean. Such participation makes urban democracy work better.

Quick revision

Three types of urban local bodies.
Wards elect councillors; mayor heads; commissioner administers.
74th Amendment 1992.
Madras Corporation 1688, the oldest.

Exam tips

Match each body with its area: corporation (big city), council (smaller town), nagar panchayat (transitional area).
Remember the difference: the mayor is elected, the commissioner is appointed.

Practice MCQs

A large city is governed by a
1. municipal corporation
2. gram panchayat
3. zila parishad
4. nagar panchayat
Show answer
Answer: (a) municipal corporation. Big cities have municipal corporations.
The elected representative of a ward is the
1. councillor
2. collector
3. sarpanch
4. governor
Show answer
Answer: (a) councillor. Each ward elects one councillor.
Garbage collection in a city is the work of the
1. union government
2. Election Commission
3. Supreme Court
4. municipal body
Show answer
Answer: (d) municipal body. It is a civic service.
The urban local bodies got constitutional status through the
1. 74th Amendment
2. 73rd Amendment
3. 42nd Amendment
4. 61st Amendment
Show answer
Answer: (a) 74th Amendment. It was passed in 1992.
The officer appointed to head the administration of a municipal corporation is the
1. mayor
2. councillor
3. commissioner
4. sarpanch
Show answer
Answer: (c) commissioner. The mayor is elected; the commissioner is appointed.
The main source of income of a municipal body is
1. income tax
2. GST only
3. customs duty
4. property tax
Show answer
Answer: (d) property tax. Owners of buildings pay property tax.
The oldest municipal corporation in India is
1. Mumbai
2. Kolkata
3. Madras (Chennai)
4. Delhi
Show answer
Answer: (c) Madras (Chennai). It was set up in 1688.
Which body serves an area that is changing from rural to urban
1. nagar panchayat
2. municipal corporation
3. zila parishad
4. gram sabha
Show answer
Answer: (a) nagar panchayat. It manages transitional areas.

All chapters of Class 6 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.