Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Urban Local Government
Cities and towns are looked after by urban local bodies:
| Body | Where |
|---|---|
| Municipal Corporation | Big cities (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai) |
| Municipality / Municipal Council | Smaller towns |
How a City is Divided — Wards
- A city is divided into small areas called wards.
- The people of each ward elect one representative, called a corporator (or ward member).
- All corporators together form the Municipal Corporation (or Municipality).
This is local self-government in cities, similar to the Gram Panchayat in villages.
Who Runs the Corporation?
| Role | Type of head | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Elected head | Chairs meetings, represents the city |
| Commissioner | Administrative head (an IAS officer) | Runs the day-to-day work and staff |
| Elected Council | Corporators | Decide plans and budgets |
- The elected wing (Mayor and corporators) decides what to do.
- The administrative wing (Commissioner and staff) actually does it.
Work of the Municipal Corporation
| Service | Example |
|---|---|
| Water | Supply of clean drinking water |
| Electricity | Street lights |
| Roads and drains | Building and repair |
| Sanitation | Garbage collection, public toilets |
| Health | Hospitals, dispensaries |
| Education | Running schools |
| Records | Births and deaths |
| Parks | Gardens and playgrounds |
How the Corporation Gets Money
- Property tax on houses and buildings.
- Water tax and education cess.
- Taxes on shops and entertainment.
- Grants from the state government.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Municipal Corporation | Local body that runs a big city |
| Municipality | Local body that runs a small town |
| Ward | A small division of a city |
| Corporator | The elected representative of a ward |
| Mayor | The elected head of a corporation |
| Commissioner | The administrative (IAS) head |
| Property tax | Tax on houses and buildings |
Exam Tips
- Municipal Corporation = big cities; Municipality/Municipal Council = small towns — know the size distinction.
- A city is split into wards, each electing a corporator — a standard 1-mark question.
- Mayor = elected head; Commissioner = IAS administrative head — don't mix them up.
- Services to list (give 4): water, garbage/drainage, street lights, roads, schools, health, birth/death records.
- Money mainly comes from property tax and other local taxes — a 1-mark point.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Municipal Corporation is the local body that governs a big city. It is found in large cities, while smaller towns have a Municipality or Municipal Council.