Grassroots Democracy — Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas

Local governments in towns and cities (Municipalities, Municipal Corporations) — structure, functions and their role in urban development
(NCERT & CBSE Class 6 Social Science — exam-focused, student-friendly)

Introduction — why urban local government matters

India is home to thousands of towns and many big cities. People living in towns and cities need clean water, good roads, schools, hospitals, street lights, parks and safe markets. Managing these everyday services for large, crowded places is the job of urban local governments. These local bodies—Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats—bring democracy to the city level and help make towns liveable, safe and healthy.

This chapter tells you:

• what urban local governments are,
• how they are organised,
• what they do, and
• how they help towns and cities develop — in simple, exam-friendly language with tables and examples.

Historical background and the 74th Amendment

After independence, India gradually built urban local bodies to manage city life. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) gave a clear, long-term shape to urban local governments by:

• recognizing urban local bodies in the Constitution,
• recommending regular elections, and
• suggesting a list of functions for urban local bodies so they could work for city development.

This made urban local governments more democratic and accountable.

Types of urban local bodies (ULBs)

Urban local governments are of three main types depending on the size and population of the urban area:

Quick note for exams: Learn which body fits which urban area — Corporations are for big cities, Municipalities for towns, Nagar Panchayats for places becoming urban.

Structure of urban local governments

Although names and small details vary from state to state, the basic structure is similar:

• Elected councillors/ward members: The city is divided into wards. People of a ward elect a councillor who represents them.
• Mayor / Chairperson: The political representative elected by councillors (or directly by people in some cities). The Mayor presides over the council meetings and represents the city at official functions.
• Municipal Commissioner / Chief Executive Officer: A trained administrator (usually an officer of the state service) who runs day-to-day administration and implements the council’s decisions.
• Standing committees / Ward committees: Smaller groups that focus on specific sectors like health, education, tax, public works. Ward committees bring governance nearer to residents.

Key functions of urban local governments

Urban local bodies are responsible for many services that affect daily life. The list below is classroom-friendly and useful for examinations.

Civic services and infrastructure

• Water supply — provide and maintain pipelines, storage tanks, and pumps.
• Sanitation — build toilets, arrange sewage systems and manage drains.
• Solid waste management — collect, transport, treat and dispose of garbage.
• Roads and street lighting — build and repair streets, footpaths and install street lights.
• Public markets and bazaars — manage marketplaces and market licensing.

Health, education and social welfare

• Primary health centres and clinics — organise immunisation and local health camps.
• Primary schools and anganwadis — support basic education and child care programmes.
• Welfare schemes — deliver services like old-age pension, support for the poor and disabled.

Planning, regulation and development

• Town planning — prepare plans for the future growth of the city (zoning, land use).
• Building permissions and regulation — approve building plans and enforce safety rules.
• Parks and recreation — maintain playgrounds and public gardens.

Revenue, records and enforcement

• Local taxation — collect property tax, user fees, market fees and trade licence fees.
• Issuance of local certificates and licenses — trade licenses, building permits.
• Enforcement — ensure rules are followed (sanitation, fire safety, building codes).

How urban local governments help develop towns and cities

Urban local bodies play a central role in urban development. Here are the main contributions explained with examples students can remember:

1. Providing basic services that raise quality of life

Access to clean water, toilets and garbage collection reduces disease and improves daily life. For example, building a new municipal water tank or repairing pipelines ensures better drinking water supply.

2. Building and maintaining urban infrastructure

Paved roads, street lights, drains, parks and community centres make towns functional and attractive for residents and businesses.

3. Health and sanitation improvements

Local health campaigns (vaccination drives, cleanliness campaigns) and toilet construction reduce illness and improve public health.

4. Supporting education and children’s welfare

By maintaining schools and anganwadis, municipalities ensure children receive early education and mid-day meals, supporting better learning.

5. Local job creation and livelihoods

Public works schemes (like repairs, park development) create short-term jobs. Municipalities can also support small vendors and markets, helping local economies.

6. Urban planning and safe construction

By approving safe building plans and enforcing rules, municipalities prevent unsafe construction and congested growth.

7. Disaster preparedness and local response

Municipalities help coordinate quick relief during floods, fires or storms by organising shelters, local rescue teams and emergency services.

Sources of funds for urban local bodies

To perform these functions, urban local governments need money. Common sources include:

• Property tax — tax on houses and buildings (a major source for many ULBs).
• User charges and fees — water charges, market fees, parking fees, licence fees.
• Grants from State and Central governments — funds for special schemes and development projects.
• Loans and bonds — for large infrastructure projects.
• Fines and penalties — for breaking municipal rules.

Exam tip: Remember three common sources: property tax, user charges, and government grants.

Citizen participation in urban governance

Cities are not run by officials alone — citizens play an important role:

• Ward meetings and ward committees: Residents can discuss local problems with their councillor.
• Public hearings and consultations: Before big projects, municipalities may invite residents to give suggestions.
• Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs): Local groups help coordinate with municipal bodies for cleanliness, security and neighbourhood issues.
• Voting in municipal elections: Electing councillors is the most important way citizens influence decisions.

Active participation makes urban governance more responsive and accountable.

Challenges faced by urban local governments

Although ULBs do important work, they also face many problems:

• Rapid urbanisation: Cities grow faster than planning, causing slums and congestion.
• Shortage of funds: Many municipalities lack enough money for big projects.
• Encroachment and informal settlements: Illegal constructions make planning and service delivery difficult.
• Pollution and waste management: Growing garbage and air pollution are hard to manage.
• Coordination with higher levels: Sometimes city plans need help from state agencies; coordination can be slow.
• Limited citizen awareness: People may not know how to use ward committees or approach the municipality.

Ways to improve urban local governance — solutions & good practices

To make towns better, municipalities can adopt the following measures:

• Better planning and long-term vision — master plans and zoning to manage growth.
• Increase local revenue — improve collection of property tax and user fees.
• E-governance and transparency — publish accounts, maps and project details online; allow e-payments for services.
• Public participation — regular ward meetings, public hearings and involving RWAs.
• Public-private partnerships (PPP) — work with private firms for waste management, water treatment, public transport.
• Capacity building — train municipal staff and councillors in planning and finance.
• Slum upgrading programmes — practical on-site improvements rather than forced evictions.

Quick revision table (important for exams)

Short glossary — useful terms

• Ward: A small area / electoral division of a city represented by a councillor.
• Mayor: Political head of a Municipal Corporation.
• Municipal Commissioner: Administrative head who runs municipal functions.
• Property tax: Tax paid by building/house owners to the municipality.
• Zoning: Rules that decide how land should be used (housing, industry, parks).

Exam tips — how to answer Class 6 questions on this chapter

• Short question (1–3 lines): Give a clear definition and one or two examples.
  • Example: “Name two functions of municipalities.” — Answer: “They provide drinking water and collect garbage.”
• Long question (100–150 words): Use subheadings or bullets — explain structure, functions, and give one example.
• Use examples: Mention everyday services (water tank, street lights, municipal market) to show understanding.
• Learn keywords: Mayor, councillor, municipal commissioner, property tax, 74th Amendment.

A small classroom example (to understand how things work)

Imagine your town needs a new park in Ward 12:

1. Residents raise the issue in a ward meeting and the councillor brings it to the municipal council.
2. The council agrees and the municipal office prepares an estimate.
3. Funds may come from local budgets or a state grant.
4. The Municipality hires contractors and the park is built.
5. The ward committee monitors maintenance and citizens use it for recreation.

This simple process shows planning, funding and citizen involvement working together.

Conclusion

Urban local governments—Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats—are the city-level institutions that make towns and cities work. They provide daily services, build infrastructure, support health and education, collect local revenue and involve citizens in decisions. Understanding how these bodies function helps you see how democracy works close to home and prepares you well for NCERT/CBSE Class 6 Social Science exams.

CBSE Class 6 Study Notes, Urban Local Government Short Questions, Municipalities and Corporations Long Questions, Class 6 Local Government MCQs, Practice Test CBSE Social Science, NCERT Aligned Governance Study Material, Grassroots Democracy Part 3 Notes, CBSE Class 6 Exam Preparation