Urban Administration: CBSE Class 6 Social Science (Civics) Chapter 7 Notes

Key Terms in Urban Administration

Municipal Corporation

The local governing body for a large city (usually with a population of over one million). It is also known as Nagar Nigam.

Municipality

The local governing body for a smaller town or city. It is also known as Nagar Palika.

Ward

A smaller administrative division of a city or town, created for the purpose of elections.

Ward Councillor

An elected representative from a specific ward who is a member of the Municipal Council. Also called a Municipal Councillor.

Commissioner

The chief executive officer of the Municipal Corporation, appointed by the state government to implement decisions.

Property Tax

A tax levied on properties (land and buildings) which is a major source of income for the municipal corporation.

Sub-contracting

The practice of hiring private contractors to perform tasks that were previously done by government departments, such as garbage collection.

Mayor

The head of the Municipal Corporation, who is usually elected by the councillors. The Mayor's role is largely ceremonial.

Structure of Urban Local Government

The governance of a city is a complex system involving both elected representatives and appointed officials. A city is divided into several wards, and the voters in each ward elect a Ward Councillor. These councillors form the Municipal Council. The Councillors meet to make decisions for the entire city. They form various committees to look after specific areas like water, garbage collection, and road construction. These committees are responsible for debating issues and deciding on the work to be done. While the councillors make the budget and policies, the actual implementation is carried out by the administrative staff. The head of the administration is the Commissioner, who is appointed by the state government, not elected. The Commissioner and their team of officials (like engineers, health officers, etc.) are responsible for executing the decisions made by the Councillors' committees. This creates a balance: the people's representatives (Councillors) decide what needs to be done, and the government's experts (Commissioner and staff) figure out how to do it efficiently.

Municipal Corporation vs. Municipality

Major Functions of the Municipal Corporation

Must Remember

• {"point":"Urban local bodies are divided into Nagar Panchayats (for transitional areas), Municipalities (for smaller urban areas), and Municipal Corporations (for large urban areas)."}
• {"point":"Ward Councillors are elected by the people for a term of five years."}
• {"point":"The main source of income for a municipal body is Property Tax, which is a tax on houses and land."}
• {"point":"Other sources of income include water tax, entertainment tax, tolls, and grants from the state government."}
• {"point":"The Commissioner and the administrative staff are appointed by the government and are responsible for implementing decisions."}
• {"point":"The Ward Councillor is the link between the people of the ward and the Municipal Corporation."}
• {"point":"Citizens can protest or use petitions if they are not satisfied with the services provided by the corporation."}
• {"point":"Some municipal jobs, like garbage collection, are now sub-contracted to private companies to save money."}

Exam Tip: Councillor vs. Commissioner

A very common question asks for the difference between a Ward Councillor and a Commissioner. Remember this simple trick: Councillor is Elected, Commissioner is Appointed. Councillors represent the people and make decisions (policy). Commissioners are government officers who implement those decisions (action). In your answer, use a table to show the difference based on: 1. How they get their post (Election vs. Appointment), 2. Their main role (Decision-making vs. Implementation), and 3. Whom they report to (The people/council vs. The State Government).

Quick Revision Check

• Who is the elected head of a Municipal Corporation? The Mayor is the elected head of a Municipal Corporation, but the role is mostly ceremonial.
• What is the main source of income for the Municipality? The main source of income is property tax, collected from the owners of houses, shops, and land.
• How can citizens get their problems solved by the Municipal Corporation? Citizens can contact their Ward Councillor, who then raises the issue in the Municipal Council. They can also directly approach the municipal office or organize peaceful protests.
• Why is a city divided into wards? A city is divided into several wards to ensure better administration and to allow people to elect a local representative (Ward Councillor) who can address the specific problems of their area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions