Get notes, summary, questions and answers, MCQs, extras, and PDFs of Chapter 6 “Local Self-Government—Urban” which is part of ICSE Class 9 Civics (Morning Star) workbook answers. However, the notes should only be treated as references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
Chapter 6 discusses the concept and functions of local self-government in urban areas, focusing on Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees. An urban area, as defined, is a town or city with a population of at least 5,000, where 75% of the population is engaged in non-agricultural activities. Larger urban areas are classified as cities, and cities with populations over 40 lakh are known as metropolitan cities.
The chapter highlights the importance of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992, which strengthened urban local bodies. It provided constitutional status to these bodies, ensured direct elections, prescribed a five-year tenure, and mandated that 33% of seats be reserved for women, especially in SC/ST/Backward Classes. Urban areas were divided into three types: Municipal Corporations for large cities, Municipal Councils for smaller ones, and Nagar Panchayats for areas transitioning from rural to urban.
The Municipal Corporation is responsible for handling essential services like water supply, health services, and education in big cities. Its structure includes a General Council, Mayor, Standing Committees, and a Municipal Commissioner. The Mayor, elected by the councillors, is the ceremonial head of the city and presides over meetings, represents the city at events, and maintains links with the state government.
The Municipal Corporation’s compulsory functions include providing electricity, water, sewage disposal, public health services, and maintaining birth and death records. It also handles public safety through fire departments and disaster management. Optional functions depend on the availability of funds and include maintaining parks, libraries, and public welfare schemes. Municipal Committees, found in smaller towns, perform similar functions but on a smaller scale. The chapter also discusses the relationship between local self-government and district administration, with the Deputy Commissioner playing a key role in district governance.
Video tutorial
Textbook solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which of the following statements correctly describe an urban area?
(a) It has a minimum population of 10,000.
(b) At least 75 per cent of its population is engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
(c) At least 50 per cent of its population is literate.
(d) All of the above.
Answer: B. At least 75 per cent of its population is engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
2. The Councillors together with ______ elect from amongst themselves the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
(a) Chief Minister
(b) Minister
(c) Alderman
(d) Collectors
Answer: C. Alderman.
3. Legislative Assemblies: Constituencies :: Municipal Corporation : ______
(a) Sabha
(b) Wards
(c) Ballots
(d) Boards
Answer: B. Wards.
4. Which of the following is NOT correct?
(a) Panchayat: small urban area
(b) Nagar Panchayat: Areas in transition between rural and urban
(c) Municipal Council: smaller urban areas
(d) Municipal Corporation: large urban areas
Answer: A. Panchayat: small urban area.
5. What is the tenure of a Municipal Corporation?
(a) 6 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 1 year
(d) 3 years
Answer: B. 5 years.
6. Which of the following is NOT a part of Municipal Corporation?
(a) The Mayor
(b) Standing Committees
(c) General Council
(d) Municipal Board
Answer: D. Municipal Board.
7. Which of the following is NOT a part of compulsory function of a Municipal Corporation?
(a) Provision of public health services
(b) Provision of electricity, water, sewage disposal
(c) Undertaking of public safety and security
(d) Provision of housing for all
Answer: D. Provision of housing for all.
8. The Deputy Commissioner of a Municipal Committee belongs to which cadre?
(a) IPS
(b) IAS
(c) IFS
(d) IRS
Answer: B. IAS.
9. Which of the following deals with the State government directly?
(a) Municipal Committee
(b) Gram Panchayat
(c) Municipal Corporation
(d) Zila Parishad
Answer: C. Municipal Corporation.
10. The members of the Municipal Corporation are elected in the same way as members of the
(a) Legislative Council
(b) Legislative Assembly
(c) Lok Sabha
(d) Rajya Sabha
Answer: B. Legislative Assembly.
11. Who is known as the ‘First Citizen’, and represents the City at various ceremonies?
(a) The Alderman
(b) The Mayor
(c) The President
(d) The Commissioner
Answer: B. The Mayor.
Short Answer Questions
1. What do you understand by the term urban area?
Answer: An urban area is regarded as a town or city that has a minimum population of 5,000, with at least 75 per cent of its population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
2. Mention any two salient features of the Constitution (74th Amendment Act), 1992.
Answer: (i) The Act gives constitutional status to urban local bodies.
(ii) The Act provides for direct election to all the local self-government bodies.
3. How is a Municipal Corporation set up? What are wards in a Municipal area?
Answer: A Municipal Corporation is set up for larger urban areas. It is composed of elected representatives known as Municipal Councillors, who are elected from Municipal Wards. Wards are divisions within the Municipal area, and elections are held based on Universal Adult Franchise.
4. Who is known as the Mayor? State one of the most important functions of the Mayor.
Answer: The Mayor is elected by the Councillors and Aldermen from amongst themselves. One of the most important functions of the Mayor is to represent the city at various ceremonies and receive foreign guests coming to visit the city.
5. Who is the ‘First Citizen’ of the city? Give reason.
Answer: The Mayor is known as the ‘First Citizen’ of the city because he/she represents the city at various ceremonies and is the official representative in receiving foreign guests.
6. Name one compulsory and one optional function of the Municipal Corporation.
Answer:
Compulsory function: Provision of electricity, water, sewage disposal.
Optional function: Construction and maintenance of public parks, libraries, museums, theatres.
7. What is the tenure or term of office of a Municipal Corporation?
Answer: The tenure or term of office of a Municipal Corporation is five years as provided in the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992.
8. What is known as Municipal Committee? Who is the head of the Municipal Committee?
Answer: A Municipal Committee is a local self-government body set up for smaller towns, also known as Municipal Boards or Municipalities. The head of the Municipal Committee is known as the Chairperson or President.
9. Who is the Chief Executive Officer of a Municipal Committee?
Answer: The Chief Executive Officer of a Municipal Committee is an appointee of the State Government, usually belonging to the State Civil Services.
Structured Questions
1. With reference to Municipal Corporation, answer the following questions:
(a) State its composition.
Answer: A Municipal Corporation comprises the following:
(a) General Council.
(b) The Mayor.
(c) The Standing Committees.
(d) A Municipal Commissioner.
(b) State any three functions of the Mayor.
Answer:
(i) Considered as the ‘First Citizen’, he/she represents the city at various ceremonies and receives foreign guests coming to visit the city. This is considered his/her most important duty.
(ii) He/She presides over the meetings of the Corporation.
(iii) He/She regulates and conducts business of the Corporation.
(c) State any four functions of the Corporation.
Answer:
- Provision of electricity, water, sewage disposal.
- Provision of public health services like provision of hospitals, dispensaries, family welfare centres.
- Provision of public conveniences and utilities like roads, buildings, bus-shelters, demolition of dangerous structures, plantation of trees, provision of public urinals and toilets.
- Provision of educational institutions like primary and secondary schools including organisation of adult literacy classes, organising and undertaking promotion of sports and games and providing necessary facilities.
2. Give the role of each of the following in the Municipal Corporation:
(a) General Council of the Corporation.
Answer: The General Council is formed of elected members known as Municipal Councillors. These members are elected directly on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise through secret ballot. The number of seats in a Corporation depends on the population of the city and is determined by the State government. There are reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The General Council co-opts some members as Aldermen. They are generally eminent persons of the city and are nominated by the Governor. The General Council appoints many other officials except the Municipal Commissioner.
(b) Standing Committees.
Answer: The members of the General Council are represented on Standing Committees through elections. There are different Standing Committees to deal with subjects like finance, health, engineering, taxation, and welfare schemes.
(c) Municipal Commissioner.
Answer: The Municipal Commissioner is appointed by the Governor usually for a term of 5 years. In the case of a Union Territory, he/she is appointed by the Central Government. He/She is the Chief Executive of the Corporation. His/Her functions include the following:
(i) To carry on and control the administration of the Corporation.
(ii) To implement the projects and programmes as laid down by the General Council.
(iii) To maintain and safeguard all municipal properties, records etc.
(iv) To prepare financial budgets and perform other related functions.
(v) To take part in the meetings of the Council but he/she cannot move any resolution or vote in the meetings. He/She also keeps records of the minutes and proceedings of the meetings.
3. With regard to the working of a Municipal Corporation, answer the following questions:
(a) Giving three examples, state how compulsory functions are distinguished from optional functions.
Answer:
- Provision of electricity, water, sewage disposal – this is a compulsory function.
- Construction and maintenance of public parks, libraries, museums, theatre – this is an optional function.
- Undertaking welfare schemes, organising fairs, functions, melas – this is an optional function.
(b) What organisational system exists for carrying out these functions?
Answer: The Municipal Corporation carries out its functions through well-organised divisions or departments. For example, Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking, Housing Board, Education Department, and Electricity Department. Each of these departments is looked after by experienced and qualified persons.
(c) Who is the Municipal Commissioner? How is he appointed?
Answer: The Municipal Commissioner is the Chief Executive of the Corporation. He/She is appointed by the Governor for a term of 5 years. In the case of Union Territories, he/she is appointed by the Central Government.
4. With regard to the Municipal Corporation:
(a) Distinguish between Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committee.
Answer: Municipal Corporation
- These are meant for big cities.
- The head of the corporation is known as Mayor.
- It has more powers and more sources of revenue.
- It deals with the State government directly.
Municipal Committee
- These are meant for smaller cities.
- The head of a Municipal Committee is known as Chairperson/President.
- It has comparatively less powers and fewer sources of revenue.
- It deals with the State government through the District Administration.
(b) Describe the three wings of the Municipal Committee.
Answer: A Municipal Committee generally has three wings:
(a) General Body.
(b) Chairman/President.
(c) Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.
(c) What is the role of the Deputy Commissioner at the district level?
Answer: The Deputy Commissioner is the chief executive officer of the district. As such, he performs almost every function of local government in the district. These include:
(i) Collection of Revenue.
(ii) Maintenance and Updating of land record.
(iii) Law and Order.
(iv) Supervision and execution of all plans of the Union and State governments.
(v) Provision of civic amenities and execution of public works.
(vi) Implementation of policies and programmes in respect of Panchayati Raj institutions.
(vii) Supersession, dissolution, holding of election, etc., in respect of Panchayati Raj institutions.
Thinking Skills
1. Do you think that the urban local bodies in your city are performing their role? Give examples from your personal experience to support your answer.
Answer: Yes, the urban local bodies in my city are performing their role. For example, the Municipal Corporation ensures regular garbage collection and maintenance of public parks. There are also provisions for street lighting, which has significantly improved public safety. Additionally, the urban body regularly repairs roads and footpaths, ensuring smooth traffic movement.
2. If you are made the Councillor of your area, what steps would you take to ensure the effective working of the Municipality in your area?
Answer: If I am made the Councillor of my area, I would take the following steps:
- Ensure regular maintenance of public utilities like water supply and sewage disposal.
- Promote public health by organizing cleanliness drives and setting up more public health centres.
- Improve the management of waste disposal by introducing recycling schemes and better garbage collection systems.
- Address the grievances of residents promptly and work towards resolving them efficiently.
- Collaborate with other local bodies to improve infrastructure like roads and public transportation.
Extras MCQs
1. What is the minimum population required for an area to be considered urban?
A. 1000
B. 3000
C. 5000
D. 10,000
Answer: C. 5000
33. What is the Deputy Commissioner’s role in Panchayati Raj institutions?
A. Manages elections
B. Represents the Zila Parishad
C. Supervises the Block Development Officer
D. Dissolves local government bodies
Answer: B. Represents the Zila Parishad
Extra Questions and Answers
1. What is the minimum population for an urban area?
Answer: An urban area must have a minimum population of 5,000.
33. What is the role of the Deputy Commissioner in local governance?
Answer: The Deputy Commissioner, also known as the District Collector, plays a key role in local governance by performing several functions:
- Collection of revenue.
- Maintenance and updating of land records.
- Maintenance of law and order.
- Supervision and execution of plans from Union and State governments.
- Provision of civic amenities and execution of public works.
- Implementation of Panchayati Raj policies and programmes.
- Handling matters like the supersession, dissolution, and elections in respect of Panchayati Raj institutions.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects