Grassroots Democracy Part 3 - Local Government in Urban Areas Class 6 Soial science Chapter 12 CBSE Notes 2025-26

Grassroots democracy plays an essential role in governing both rural and urban areas, helping citizens participate directly in the workings of local government and administration.

In cities and towns, this system operates through urban local bodies, which are decentralised and allow local people to decide how their areas should be managed. This chapter takes a closer look at the role, structure, and functions of these urban local bodies and compares them with rural governance, such as Panchayati Raj.

Understanding Urban Local Bodies Urban local bodies refer to the administrative units or institutions that look after the needs and developments of urban areas such as cities and towns. These bodies help manage local matters through a decentralised set-up, meaning the power is spread out so that the local population has a say in decision-making.

Every city or town is divided into smaller sections known as ‘wards’. Each ward has its own committee, which keeps an eye on local issues like reporting a water leak, blocked drain, or damaged road. These urban bodies form the base of the governance pyramid, with state and central governments above.

Types and Structure of Urban Local Bodies The kind of urban local body present in any city depends on its population. Large cities with over 10 lakh people have a Municipal Corporation (also called Mahanagar Nigam) as the top body. Towns with a population between 1–10 lakh have a Municipal Council or Nagar Palika.

In smaller towns, a Nagar Panchayat works as the main urban local institution. Within these, smaller units called wards organise projects and respond to local issues. Each urban local body consists of representatives who are elected by residents. Their key role is to represent people’s needs and bring about improvement.

Main Functions of Urban Local Bodies Urban local bodies are responsible for a wide range of functions and services that touch every aspect of urban life. Essential duties include maintaining roads, water supply, waste collection and treatment, sanitation, and looking after public spaces such as parks and burial grounds. They handle the implementation of government schemes, collect local taxes and fines, and often take up projects for the area’s economic and social development.

Other activities involve checking on infrastructure problems, planning new facilities, licensing businesses, and providing certificates like marriage or trade licences. For example, the Indore Municipal Corporation lists property tax, water charges, waste management, tree cutting and transportation, grants for grievances, and several services (like water tankers or ambulances) under its responsibility.

A special focus on cleanliness helped Indore win “cleanest city” awards several years in a row, thanks to both the Municipal Corporation and an active, responsible citizenry.

Citizens’ Role and Participatory Democracy While urban local bodies play a central role in maintaining the urban area, they cannot work in isolation. Residents are expected to cooperate by reporting issues like water leaks, following rules for waste segregation, and behaving responsibly in public spaces.

Actions such as keeping surroundings clean, separating recyclable waste, paying taxes on time, and avoiding wastage of resources make the system more effective. In turn, these practices support a system called participatory democracy, where everyone’s involvement strengthens local administration.

Governance Structure from Local to National Level The structure of governance in India can be visualised as a pyramid, with the Union Government at the top, followed by State Governments, and then local governments at the base. Locally, there is a distinction between rural and urban administration.

In urban areas, the local structure includes: Municipal Corporation (for big cities) or Municipal Council/Nagar Panchayat (for smaller towns), followed by Ward Committees, and finally the people of each ward. In rural areas, it is: Zila Panchayat > Panchayat Samiti > Gram Panchayat > Gram Sabha. Both arms work towards involving people in local governance but have distinct mechanisms based on area needs.

Comparing Rural and Urban Local Bodies While both rural and urban local government bodies have elected representatives, some differences exist. In villages, people tend to know each other, making collective decision-making easier. The Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha meetings, for example, are well-attended and even children sometimes get their voices heard.

In cities, due to larger population and diverse backgrounds, the local administration is more complex, but the essential idea that ‘everyone’s voice matters’ is the same. Citizens in both areas play an important role—raising issues, participating in campaigns, and holding their local bodies accountable.

Funding and Services Local urban bodies raise funds through the collection of property taxes, water charges, fees for trade and business licenses, and charges for specific services like water tankers or funeral vans. Some of these are paid services, and the revenue generated goes towards maintaining infrastructure and running the daily functions of the city. Government grants and support from the state or central government also form an important source of funding.

• Municipal Corporations are present in cities with populations above 10 lakhs; Municipal Councils in places with 1-10 lakh; Nagar Panchayats in smaller towns.
• Urban local bodies organise waste management, road maintenance, and health and sanitation services.
• Ward committees play a vital part in identifying and solving day-to-day problems within their areas.
• Citizens help by reporting issues, taking part in local events, and following civic guidelines.
• Members of urban local bodies are chosen through elections, making them answerable to the people they serve.
• Mumbai and Chennai have some of the oldest municipal corporations in India, showing the long history of urban self-governance.

Key Differences and Similarities with Panchayati Raj Both Panchayats (rural) and urban local bodies have decentralised power structures and ensure representation for every locality. The processes for resolving issues, planning, and development are similar, but the scope and complexity often differ due to the varied size and population of cities versus villages. Both systems require active participation from the people, regular elections, and often work in partnership with state governments for larger projects.

Important Qualities of a Good Urban Local Body Students should remember the traits of an effective urban local body: transparency in decisions, proper handling of funds, regular meetings with citizens, effective grievance handling, inclusivity in planning, and quick response to public issues. Engaging youth and ensuring that all local communities’ voices are heard are also important characteristics.

The chapter ends by suggesting students think of actions they can take to help their own cities, meet local representatives to understand their duties, and always stay alert to how urban issues are solved. When everyone—authorities and citizens—works together, local democracy becomes stronger.

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 12 Notes – Grassroots Democracy – Part 3: Structured HTML Revision Guide

These comprehensive notes on CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 12 – Grassroots Democracy Part 3 cover all major facts about urban local bodies, their structure, and duties. They follow the NCERT Books content and are concise, easily understood, and perfect for last-minute revision.

Using these Class 6 Grassroots Democracy NCERT notes will strengthen your concepts for exams, homework, or projects. Review every key point and function of local governments in cities and towns with clear, student-friendly explanations.