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NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Civics Chapter 7 — Urban Administration

Q: What is the difference between a Municipality and a Municipal Corporation?

A Municipal Corporation governs large cities with a population above 10 lakh, while a Municipality (or Municipal Council) governs smaller towns and cities. Both provide civic services but differ in scale and structure.

How to Use This Page

This page provides complete NCERT exercise solutions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Civics Chapter 7: Urban Administration. Work through each section in order:

1. Key Concepts — Quickly revise the important terms you must know. 2. Intext Questions — Answers to questions that appear inside the chapter. 3. Chapter-End Exercise Questions — Detailed, exam-ready answers to the textbook exercises. 4. MCQ Practice — Test yourself with multiple-choice questions modeled on recent CBSE patterns. 5. Common Mistakes to Avoid — Spot the errors students frequently make. 6. Exam Checklist — Tick off topics you have mastered before the exam.

Key Concepts

Term	Meaning
Municipal Corporation	The urban local body that governs large cities with a population above 10 lakh. Headed by a Mayor. Examples: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai.
Municipality / Municipal Council	The urban local body that governs smaller towns and cities (population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh). Headed by a Chairperson or President.
Nagar Panchayat	An urban local body for a transitional area — a settlement that is changing from rural to urban (population below 1 lakh).
Ward	A smaller division of a city or town. Each ward elects one representative called a councillor.
Councillor	An elected representative of a ward. Councillors meet in committees to make decisions about civic services.
Mayor	The head of a Municipal Corporation, elected by the councillors from among themselves. Presides over meetings and represents the city.
Municipal Commissioner	The administrative head of a Municipal Corporation. Appointed by the state government. Oversees the day-to-day functioning and implementation of decisions.
Property Tax	A tax levied on the owner of a house or building based on the value of the property. A major source of revenue for urban local bodies.
Water Supply	One of the essential civic services provided by urban local bodies — ensuring clean and safe drinking water reaches households.
Sanitation	The system for maintaining public health through garbage collection, sewerage, drain cleaning, and public toilet maintenance.
Contractor	A person or company hired by the Municipal Corporation to carry out specific tasks such as garbage collection, road repair, or construction of public facilities.
Gang-plot	A community garden or vacant plot maintained by residents of a neighbourhood, as described in the NCERT chapter through the story of Yamalnagar.

Intext Questions

Q1. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house?

AnswerThe children — Rehana, Anwar, Shivam, and others — were playing on the street near a broken tap. Water was flowing wastefully from the tap, and they wanted to get it repaired. They did not know who was responsible for fixing such problems in their neighbourhood. Yasmin Khala was an elderly and respected member of their community who had worked in the Municipal Corporation, so the children went to her house to seek advice on whom to approach for getting the tap repaired.

Q2. Who is responsible for replacing the broken streetlight?

AnswerThe Municipal Corporation (or Municipality in smaller towns) is responsible for replacing broken streetlights. Within the Municipal Corporation, the ward councillor represents the area and can raise the issue in the ward committee or the corporation meeting. The administrative staff, under the Municipal Commissioner, then arranges for the repair or replacement. If a contractor has been hired for maintenance, the contractor carries out the actual work.

Q3. What did Yasmin Khala tell the children about the Municipal Corporation?

AnswerYasmin Khala explained to the children that the Municipal Corporation is the body that looks after the civic needs of the people living in a city. She told them that:

The city is divided into wards, and each ward elects a councillor.
The councillors are the people's representatives and they take decisions about civic services.
The Municipal Corporation has a Mayor who presides over meetings and a Commissioner who handles the administrative work.
The Corporation provides services like water supply, sanitation, street lighting, roads, parks, and garbage disposal.
People pay taxes such as property tax and water tax, which are the main sources of revenue for the Corporation.

She also mentioned that if residents have a problem, they should first contact their ward councillor, who can then take up the matter with the Municipal Corporation.

Q4. Why do you think local bodies like the Municipal Corporation are needed?

AnswerLocal bodies like the Municipal Corporation are needed because:

1. Proximity to problems: They are closest to the people and understand local needs better than the state or central government. 2. Day-to-day services: Essential civic services like water, sanitation, roads, streetlights, and garbage disposal need continuous local management. 3. Democratic representation: They allow citizens to participate in governance through elected representatives (councillors) at the ward level. 4. Efficient administration: A large city needs a dedicated body to plan, coordinate, and monitor civic infrastructure and services on a daily basis. 5. Accountability: Councillors are answerable to the people of their ward, which ensures that local problems receive attention.

Without such bodies, it would be impossible for a distant state government to handle the everyday civic needs of every city and town.

Q5. How does the Municipal Corporation get its money?

AnswerThe Municipal Corporation gets its money from several sources:

1. Property Tax: The biggest source. Every house or building owner pays a tax based on the value of the property. 2. Water Tax: Charged for the supply of clean water to households. 3. Octroi / Entry Tax: A tax on goods entering the city (now replaced by GST in many states, but some corporations still levy similar duties). 4. Entertainment Tax: Collected from cinemas, amusement parks, and other entertainment venues. 5. Professional Tax: A small tax on salaried individuals and professionals. 6. Grants from State Government: The state government also provides financial assistance for specific projects and general administration. 7. Rents and Fees: Income from renting out municipal properties such as community halls, markets, and shops, and fees for licences and permissions.

Chapter-End Exercise Questions

Q1. List four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city dweller.

AnswerThe Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city dweller in countless ways. Four key ways are:

1. Water Supply: The Corporation ensures that clean and safe drinking water reaches every household through pipelines, taps, and community water points. Without this service, daily life would be severely disrupted.

2. Sanitation and Garbage Disposal: The Corporation arranges for regular garbage collection, cleaning of drains, and maintenance of public toilets. This keeps the city clean and prevents the spread of diseases.

3. Roads and Street Lights: The Corporation constructs and maintains roads, footpaths, and street lights. Well-maintained roads allow people to commute safely, and street lights ensure safety at night.

4. Public Health and Hospitals: The Corporation runs government hospitals, dispensaries, and health centres. It also takes measures to prevent epidemics and ensure vaccination drives, directly impacting the health of city residents.

Other important services include maintaining parks and playgrounds, running schools, regulating constructions, and organising vaccination camps.

Q2. Who is a Municipal Councillor?

AnswerA Municipal Councillor is an elected representative of a ward in a city or town. Key points about a councillor:

The city is divided into several wards for administrative convenience, and the people of each ward elect one councillor through direct election.
The councillor represents the interests and concerns of the people in their ward.
Councillors attend ward committee meetings and corporation meetings where decisions about civic services are made.
They act as a link between the citizens and the Municipal Corporation — people approach their councillor with problems like broken roads, water shortages, or garbage accumulation.
The councillors, in turn, elect the Mayor from among themselves.
A councillor's responsibilities also include supervising the work done by the Corporation in their ward and ensuring that funds allocated for the ward are properly utilised.

Q3. What are the sources of revenue for a Municipal Corporation?

AnswerA Municipal Corporation earns money from the following sources:

1. Property Tax: This is the largest source of revenue. It is a tax levied on the owner of any house, building, or land based on the property's value. The larger and more expensive the property, the higher the tax.

2. Water Tax: Residents pay a tax for the water supplied to their homes by the Corporation.

3. Octroi / Entry Tax: This is a tax collected on goods entering the city limits. (Note: After the introduction of GST, octroi has been abolished in many states, but some form of local duty may still exist.)

4. Entertainment Tax: Collected from cinema halls, theatres, amusement parks, and other entertainment businesses operating within the city.

5. Professional Tax: A small tax deducted from the salaries of employed individuals and levied on professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and shopkeepers.

6. Grants from the State and Central Government: The Corporation receives financial grants from higher levels of government for specific development projects and general administration.

7. Rents and Fees: The Corporation earns money by renting out municipal properties like community halls, markets, and shops. It also collects fees for issuing trade licences, building permissions, and birth/death certificates.

Q4. How does the Municipal Corporation earn money through taxes?

AnswerThe Municipal Corporation earns money through taxes in the following manner:

Property Tax: Every owner of a house, flat, or building in the city must pay property tax to the Corporation. The amount is calculated based on the size, location, and value of the property. This is the single largest source of income for the Corporation. Property tax is usually paid annually or semi-annually.

Water Tax: Residents who receive piped water supply from the Corporation pay a water tax or water charge. This is calculated based on the volume of water consumed or as a fixed rate.

Entertainment Tax: When people buy tickets for movies or visit amusement parks, a portion of the ticket price goes to the Corporation as entertainment tax.

Professional Tax: People who earn a salary or run a profession pay a small professional tax. Employers often deduct this from salaries and deposit it with the Corporation.

Other Taxes and Fees: The Corporation also collects taxes on advertisements, toll taxes on certain roads or bridges, and fees for services like issuing birth certificates, death certificates, and trade licences.

All these taxes are collected by the Corporation's revenue department. If someone fails to pay, the Corporation can impose penalties or take legal action.

Q5. What has been done to address the problem of waste disposal in your city/town? (Activity-based — sample answer)

Answer(Note: This is an activity-based question. Below is a sample answer that students can adapt based on their own city/town.)

In many cities, the following steps have been taken to address the problem of waste disposal:

1. Door-to-door garbage collection: The Municipal Corporation has hired sanitation workers or contractors who collect garbage from every household daily using garbage trucks or pushcarts.

2. Dustbins at public places: The Corporation has placed dustbins at regular intervals on roads, in markets, and at bus stops so that people do not throw garbage on the streets.

3. Segregation of waste: Citizens are encouraged to separate wet waste (kitchen waste) from dry waste (plastic, paper, glass). Separate bins — often green for wet and blue for dry — are provided in many localities.

4. Waste processing plants: Many cities have set up composting plants and recycling units to process waste instead of simply dumping it in landfills.

5. Awareness campaigns: The Corporation runs campaigns to educate citizens about keeping the city clean, avoiding plastic bags, and using dustbins.

6. Penalties for littering: People who are found littering or dumping waste in public places can be fined by the Corporation.

Q6. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house? (Repeated from intext — extended answer)

AnswerThe children were concerned about a broken tap on their street from which water was continuously flowing and being wasted. They wanted to get the tap repaired but did not know which authority was responsible for such work. Yasmin Khala, a respected and knowledgeable elder in their neighbourhood, had previously worked in the Municipal Corporation office. The children knew she would be able to guide them about whom to contact and how to get civic problems addressed. Yasmin Khala explained to them the role of the ward councillor and the Municipal Corporation in maintaining civic amenities.

MCQ Practice (Exam-Oriented)

Choose the correct option for each question.

MCQ 1

The urban local body that governs a large city with a population above 10 lakh is called:

(A) Nagar Panchayat
(B) Municipal Council
(C) Municipal Corporation
(D) Panchayat Samiti

Answer(C) Municipal Corporation

ExplanationA Municipal Corporation is the governing body of large cities with a population above 10 lakh (one million). Examples include the Municipal Corporations of Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. A Municipal Council governs smaller towns, and a Nagar Panchayat governs transitional areas.

MCQ 2

Who is the administrative head of a Municipal Corporation?

(A) Mayor
(B) Governor
(C) Municipal Commissioner
(D) Ward Councillor

Answer(C) Municipal Commissioner

ExplanationThe Municipal Commissioner is the administrative head appointed by the state government. The Commissioner is responsible for implementing the decisions taken by the councillors and overseeing the day-to-day functioning of the Corporation. The Mayor is the elected head who presides over meetings but is not the administrative head.

MCQ 3

Which of the following is the biggest source of revenue for a Municipal Corporation?

(A) Entertainment tax
(B) Property tax
(C) Toll tax
(D) Professional tax

Answer(B) Property tax

ExplanationProperty tax is the largest and most important source of revenue for a Municipal Corporation. It is levied on the owner of any house, building, or land based on the property's value. It accounts for a significant portion of the Corporation's total income.

MCQ 4

A ward is:

(A) A hospital in the city
(B) A division of the city for administrative purposes
(C) A type of tax collected by the Corporation
(D) A committee of the state government

Answer(B) A division of the city for administrative purposes

ExplanationA ward is a smaller administrative division of a city or town. Each ward elects one councillor who represents the people of that ward. The city is divided into multiple wards to ensure that every locality has a representative in the Municipal Corporation.

MCQ 5

Who elects the Mayor of a Municipal Corporation?

(A) The people of the city directly
(B) The councillors from among themselves
(C) The state government
(D) The Municipal Commissioner

Answer(B) The councillors from among themselves

ExplanationThe Mayor is not elected directly by the people. Instead, the councillors — who are elected by the people of each ward — choose one from among themselves to serve as the Mayor. The Mayor presides over the meetings of the Municipal Corporation and represents the city at official functions.

MCQ 6

A Nagar Panchayat is set up for:

(A) A large city with a population above 10 lakh
(B) A small town with a population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh
(C) A transitional area that is changing from rural to urban
(D) A village with a population below 5,000

Answer(C) A transitional area that is changing from rural to urban

ExplanationA Nagar Panchayat is established for a transitional area — a settlement that is in the process of changing from rural to urban, typically with a population below 1 lakh. Municipal Corporations govern large cities, and Municipal Councils govern smaller towns.

MCQ 7

Which of the following is NOT a function of the Municipal Corporation?

(A) Supplying clean drinking water
(B) Running schools and hospitals
(C) Conducting Lok Sabha elections
(D) Maintaining public parks and street lights

Answer(C) Conducting Lok Sabha elections

ExplanationConducting Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) elections is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India, not the Municipal Corporation. The Corporation handles civic services such as water supply, sanitation, roads, street lights, parks, schools, hospitals, and garbage disposal.

MCQ 8

If a resident of a ward has a complaint about a broken road, whom should they first approach?

(A) The Prime Minister
(B) The Chief Minister
(C) Their ward councillor
(D) The Governor

Answer(C) Their ward councillor

ExplanationThe ward councillor is the elected representative of the locality. Citizens should first approach their councillor with civic problems. The councillor then raises the issue in ward committee meetings or Corporation meetings and ensures that the appropriate department takes action.

MCQ 9

The head of a Municipality (Municipal Council) is called:

(A) Mayor
(B) Chairperson / President
(C) Commissioner
(D) Sarpanch

Answer(B) Chairperson / President

ExplanationWhile a Municipal Corporation is headed by a Mayor, a Municipality or Municipal Council is headed by a Chairperson or President. A Sarpanch is the head of a Gram Panchayat (rural local body), and the Commissioner is the administrative head of a Municipal Corporation.

MCQ 10

Which tax is paid by owners of houses and buildings to the Municipal Corporation?

(A) Income tax
(B) Sales tax
(C) Property tax
(D) Service tax

Answer(C) Property tax

ExplanationProperty tax is levied on the owner of any house, building, or land within the city limits. It is calculated based on the size, location, and value of the property. Income tax is paid to the central government, sales tax has been replaced by GST, and service tax is also a central government tax.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing Mayor and Commissioner: The Mayor is the elected head who presides over meetings and represents the city. The Municipal Commissioner is the administrative head, appointed by the state government, who implements the decisions. Do not mix up their roles. The Mayor is a political leader; the Commissioner is a bureaucrat.

2. Confusing Municipal Corporation and Municipality: A Municipal Corporation governs large cities (population above 10 lakh). A Municipality or Municipal Council governs smaller towns (population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh). They are not the same thing — they differ in scale, structure, and the title of their head.

3. Thinking the Mayor is directly elected by the people: The Mayor is NOT elected directly by the citizens. The councillors are elected by the people of each ward, and the councillors then elect the Mayor from among themselves.

4. Forgetting Nagar Panchayat: Many students only remember Municipal Corporation and Municipality. Do not forget the third type of urban local body — the Nagar Panchayat, which is for transitional areas that are changing from rural to urban.

5. Confusing urban and rural local bodies: A Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishad are rural local bodies. A Municipal Corporation, Municipality, and Nagar Panchayat are urban local bodies. Do not mix them up in your answers.

6. Listing only one source of revenue: When asked about sources of revenue, many students write only "property tax." Always mention at least 3–4 sources: property tax, water tax, entertainment tax, professional tax, grants from the government, and rents/fees.

7. Confusing ward and councillor: A ward is a geographical division of the city. A councillor is the elected representative of that ward. They are not the same thing — one is an area, the other is a person.

8. Writing vague answers about civic services: When listing functions of the Municipal Corporation, be specific. Instead of saying "it helps people," write "it provides water supply, sanitation, roads, street lights, parks, garbage disposal, and public health services."

Exam Checklist

Before your exam, make sure you can confidently answer the following:

[ ] What is a Municipal Corporation? — The governing body of a large city (population above 10 lakh), headed by a Mayor.

[ ] What is a Municipality / Municipal Council? — The governing body of a smaller town (population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh), headed by a Chairperson.

[ ] What is a Nagar Panchayat? — The urban local body for a transitional area (changing from rural to urban), with population below 1 lakh.

[ ] What is a ward? — A smaller division of a city for administrative purposes; each ward elects one councillor.

[ ] Who is a councillor? — An elected representative of a ward who represents the people's interests in the Municipal Corporation.

[ ] Who is the Mayor? — The elected head of a Municipal Corporation, chosen by the councillors from among themselves.

[ ] Who is the Municipal Commissioner? — The administrative head of a Municipal Corporation, appointed by the state government.

[ ] What services does the Municipal Corporation provide? — Water supply, sanitation, roads, street lights, parks, garbage disposal, public health, schools, and hospitals.

[ ] What are the sources of revenue for a Municipal Corporation? — Property tax, water tax, entertainment tax, professional tax, octroi/entry tax, government grants, and rents and fees.

[ ] How are decisions made in a Municipal Corporation? — Councillors discuss issues in ward committees and corporation meetings; decisions are implemented by the Commissioner and administrative staff.

[ ] Why are urban local bodies needed? — They are closest to the people, understand local needs, provide essential day-to-day services, and ensure democratic representation at the local level.

[ ] Can you explain the difference between rural and urban local bodies? — Rural bodies (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad) govern villages; urban bodies (Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Nagar Panchayat) govern cities and towns.

[ ] Can you give real examples? — Municipal Corporation: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai. Municipality: Smaller district towns. Nagar Panchayat: Semi-urban settlements.

[ ] Do you know the story from the chapter? — The children (Rehana, Anwar, Shivam) approached Yasmin Khala to find out who could fix a broken tap. She explained the role of the Municipal Corporation, the ward councillor, and how urban governance works.

Final Tip

In the exam, always support your answers with specific examples from the chapter. For instance, when writing about how a Municipal Corporation works, mention the story of Yasmin Khala and the broken tap — it shows you have read the chapter and understand how urban administration functions in real life. Write in clear, complete sentences and avoid one-word answers unless the question specifically asks for a list.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Municipal Corporation is the governing body of a large city (population above 10 lakh). It is headed by a Mayor and is responsible for providing civic services like water supply, sanitation, roads, and street lights.

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Civics Chapter 7 Urban Administration | KalviGavani