NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 12
Grassroots Democracy — Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas
This chapter examines the structure and functions of urban local bodies established by the 74th Constitutional Amendment in 1992, including Municipal Corporations for large cities, Municipal Councils for smaller towns, and Nagar Panchayats for transitional areas. Students learn how elected representatives in cities manage civic services and how Ward Committees and Mohalla Sabhas enable citizen participation. The chapter helps students understand how urban governance directly impacts city residents' daily lives.
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Key Terms
- Municipal Corporation
- The local governing body of a large city, headed by a Mayor, responsible for providing civic amenities like water, roads, sanitation, and managing urban development.
- Ward
- A subdivision of a city or town for the purpose of local elections and administration, each represented by an elected councillor in the municipal body.
- Mayor
- The elected head of a Municipal Corporation, who chairs the meetings of the corporation and serves as the chief representative of the city's residents.
- 74th Constitutional Amendment
- The 1992 amendment to the Indian Constitution that gave constitutional status to urban local bodies (municipalities) and mandated their regular elections and reserved seats for women and marginalized groups.
- Municipal Council
- The local governing body for medium-sized towns and cities, smaller than a Municipal Corporation, responsible for local civic services and development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of urban local bodies in India?▾
Urban local bodies are classified based on city size: Municipal Corporations for large cities with population above 1 million, Municipal Councils (or Municipalities) for medium towns, and Nagar Panchayats for areas transitioning from rural to urban. All are governed by the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
What services does a Municipal Corporation provide?▾
Municipal Corporations provide essential city services including supply of drinking water, maintenance of roads and drains, solid waste management, street lighting, parks and public spaces, fire services, public health facilities, maintaining birth and death records, and regulating construction in the city.
Who is a Mayor and how is the Mayor elected?▾
The Mayor is the head of the Municipal Corporation. In some cities the Mayor is directly elected by all voters, while in others the Mayor is elected by the elected councillors of the corporation. The Mayor chairs corporation meetings and represents the city in official functions.
What is the 74th Constitutional Amendment?▾
The 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 gave constitutional recognition to urban local bodies, made regular elections mandatory, reserved seats for women (one-third), Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, and created the State Finance Commission to ensure adequate funds for municipalities.
How can citizens participate in urban governance?▾
Citizens can participate in urban governance by voting in municipal elections, attending Ward Committee meetings, filing complaints about civic issues through municipality portals or helplines, joining resident welfare associations, participating in public hearings for development plans, and paying municipal taxes.
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