Social Science Notes Class 6 English Medium 2026-27

Social Science Chapter 12. Grassroots Democracy-Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas

CBSE Notes New Syllabus: Class 6

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Chapter 12. Grassroots Democracy – Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas

Municipal Corporation

A Municipal Corporation is the highest urban local body in cities with a population above 10 lakh. It is also called a Mahanagar Nigam.

• It functions in large cities.
• It is the highest urban local body in cities with a population above 10 lakh.
• It provides various civic services to the people.
• It looks after local infrastructure and public facilities.
• It is responsible for garbage collection and disposal.
• It helps in maintaining public places and other local facilities.
• It collects local taxes and fines.
• It checks the implementation of government schemes.
• It has a role in planning for economic and social development.

Municipal Council

A Municipal Council, also called a Nagar Palika, is the highest urban local body in cities with a population between 1 and 10 lakh.

• It functions in medium-sized cities and towns.
• It is the highest urban local body for populations between 1 and 10 lakh.
• It provides civic services to local people.
• It looks after local infrastructure.
• It deals with garbage collection and disposal.
• It collects local taxes and fines.
• It participates in local development activities.

Nagar Panchayat

A Nagar Panchayat is an urban local body for smaller cities and towns.

• It functions in smaller urban areas.
• It provides local civic services.
• It deals with the local needs of people.
• It helps in maintaining local infrastructure and public facilities.
• It represents decentralised local governance in smaller urban areas.

Types of Urban Local Bodies According to Population

Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat – Difference

Services of Urban Local Bodies

Urban local bodies provide a wide range of services that affect the everyday lives of citizens.

• Property tax services.
• Water charges.
• Water tanker services.
• Solid waste management.
• Business licences.
• Hoarding licences.
• Trade licences.
• Marriage certificates.
• Fire services.
• Various licences.
• Debris clearance.
• Tree cutting and tree transportation services.
• Citizen grievance services.
• Septic tanker services.
• Auditorium services.
• Funeral van services.
• Mobile toilet services.
• Ambulance services.

Citizen Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM stands for Citizen Relationship Management. It is used for various citizen-related services and grievance-related activities.

• It helps citizens access different local services.
• It can be used for registering grievances.
• It can support services provided on request.
• It helps connect citizens with the urban local body.

How Do Urban Local Bodies Fund Their Activities?

Urban local bodies need financial resources to provide services and perform their functions.

• They collect local taxes.
• Property tax is an important source of local revenue.
• They may collect water charges.
• They may collect fees for licences and other services.
• Fines can also provide revenue.
• Some services offered by urban local bodies are paid services.

Important Sources of Local Revenue

• Property Tax: A tax related to property.
• Water Charges: Charges collected for certain water-related services.
• Licence Fees: Fees associated with licences such as business or trade licences.
• Service Charges: Charges for selected services provided by the local body.
• Fines: Money collected as penalties for certain violations.

Madras Corporation

The Madras Corporation, now known as the Greater Chennai Corporation, is the oldest municipal institution in India.

• It was established on 29 September 1688.
• The East India Company issued a charter in the previous year.
• The charter constituted the town of Fort St. George and territories within 16 km of the Fort into a corporation.
• A Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave the Madras Corporation the power to levy municipal taxes.
• This was when municipal administration properly began there.

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, originally called the Bombay Municipal Corporation, was created in 1865.

• It is one of the important historic municipal institutions in India.
• Its history shows the development of municipal administration in India.
• The institution continues to function as an urban local body for Greater Mumbai.

Indore Municipal Corporation

The Indore Municipal Corporation provides a wide range of services to citizens and is an example of an urban local body performing many civic functions.

• It provides property tax services.
• It provides water-related services.
• It manages solid waste.
• It provides business, hoarding and trade licences.
• It provides marriage certificate services.
• It provides fire services.
• It provides various licences.
• It provides debris clearance services.
• It provides tree cutting and transportation services.
• It provides citizen grievance services.
• It provides services such as water tankers, septic tankers, ambulances and mobile toilets.

Indore and Cleanliness

Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the cleanest city in India under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven years in a row.

• Cleanliness requires the active cooperation of citizens.
• Citizens have an important role in keeping their surroundings clean.
• Proper waste segregation helps garbage collection.
• Responsible citizen behaviour supports the work of urban local bodies.

Urban Life and Rural Life

Urban areas are generally more complex and diverse than rural areas. Therefore, their governance system also needs to deal with greater complexity and diversity.

Urban and Rural Local Government – Similarities

• Both are forms of local government.
• Both bring governance closer to the people.
• Both use elected representatives.
• Both deal with local problems.
• Both encourage people's participation.
• Both are connected with grassroots democracy.
• Citizens have responsibilities in both systems.

Urban and Rural Local Government – Differences

Everyone's Voice Matters

Although urban governance may be more complicated than rural governance, the basic democratic principle remains the same: everyone's voice matters.

• Citizens elect representatives to represent their interests.
• Citizens can raise issues affecting their locality.
• People can report problems to the authorities.
• Citizens can participate in community activities.
• Children can also notice and report problems in their surroundings.
• Cooperation between citizens and local government strengthens democracy.

Example of Citizen Participation

In the chapter, some children notice an electricity wire hanging dangerously low near the roof of a building. They report the problem and explain that the electric post should be shifted. The post is eventually shifted.

• The example shows that even children can contribute to solving local problems.
• It demonstrates the importance of reporting problems to the appropriate authorities.
• It shows that democracy gives people opportunities to make their voices heard.

Important Definitions – Notes 2

Important Facts

• Above 10 lakh population → Municipal Corporation
• 1 to 10 lakh population → Municipal Council
• Smaller cities and towns → Nagar Panchayat
• 29 September 1688 → Madras Corporation established
• 1792 → Madras Corporation received power to levy municipal taxes
• 1865 → Bombay Municipal Corporation created
• Madras Corporation → Now Greater Chennai Corporation
• Bombay Municipal Corporation → Now Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
• CRM → Citizen Relationship Management

Quick Revision – Notes 2

• ✔ Municipal Corporation is for cities with population above 10 lakh.
• ✔ Municipal Corporation is also called Mahanagar Nigam.
• ✔ Municipal Council is for cities with population between 1 and 10 lakh.
• ✔ Municipal Council is also called Nagar Palika.
• ✔ Nagar Panchayat is for smaller cities and towns.
• ✔ Urban local bodies provide many civic services.
• ✔ Property tax, water charges, licence fees and fines can provide local revenue.
• ✔ The Madras Corporation was established on 29 September 1688.
• ✔ The Madras Corporation is now called the Greater Chennai Corporation.
• ✔ The Bombay Municipal Corporation was created in 1865.
• ✔ It is now called the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.
• ✔ Indore provides many citizen-oriented municipal services.
• ✔ Indore has been awarded the cleanest city under Swachh Survekshan for seven years in a row.
• ✔ Citizens must cooperate with urban local bodies.
• ✔ Proper waste segregation makes garbage collection easier.
• ✔ Promptly reporting water leakage helps prevent wastage.
• ✔ Urban and rural local governments both strengthen grassroots democracy.
• ✔ The basic democratic principle is that everyone's voice matters.

Chapter at a Glance