Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 6 History Civics Chapter 13 Urban Local Self Government

Keywords

1. Metropolitan: is related with a big and important city of a country.
These are huge urban centers like Delhi or Mumbai that have millions of residents. They often serve as the financial and cultural hubs of the nation.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Metro" trains which usually run in these very large cities.
Exam Tip: If asked for examples, always mention Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata.

2. Municipal Corporation: is the local self-governing body in a large city.
This organization is responsible for providing essential services like water and waste management to city dwellers. It ensures that the large population can live comfortably and safely within the urban limits.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "M.C." stands for Municipal Corporation - the city's mini-government.
Exam Tip: Use the word "large" specifically to distinguish it from a Municipality.

3. Aldermen: They are members of the municipal corporations and municipalities who are elected from among the popular and respected citizens of that city.
These individuals are chosen because they have vast experience and a strong reputation in the community. Their role is to provide wisdom and guidance to the elected council.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Elder-men" - respected seniors helping the city.
Exam Tip: Note that they are elected by the council members, not directly by the public.

4. Sanitation: It means keeping an area clean and free from germs and dirt.
This involves cleaning streets, clearing drains, and collecting garbage every day. Good sanitation is the primary way cities prevent the outbreak of dangerous diseases.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Sanitizer" which you use to clean your hands from germs.
Exam Tip: Mention "disease prevention" as the main goal of sanitation work.

5. Crematoria: They are those area where dead bodies are burnt.
These facilities are maintained by the municipal body to ensure proper and hygienic disposal of remains. They are a necessary part of city planning for public health and cultural practices.
Teacher's Tip: It comes from the word "Cremate" which means to burn a body.
Exam Tip: Identify this as a public utility service managed by the urban local body.

6. Property Tax: It is the tax on houses and land. Entertainment Tax:- It is the tax on entertainment activities such as Cinema halls, circuses, etc.
Property tax is the biggest source of income for city governments based on the size of your house. Entertainment tax helps fund public events by taking a small portion from every movie ticket sold.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Property" as the home you own and "Entertainment" as the movies you watch.
Exam Tip: List these as "Sources of Income" if asked how a city earns money.

7. Education tax: It is collected for educational activities.
This money is used to build and run primary schools within the city limits for everyone. It ensures that the city has enough funds to provide basic learning to all children.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as a "School Fund" paid by the citizens to the government.
Exam Tip: Define this specifically as an additional tax or "cess" for public learning.

8. Toll taxes: They are collected for the use of roads and bridges.
When people drive across major infrastructure, they pay a small fee to help pay for its construction. This money is then used by the government to keep the roads and bridges in good condition.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as a "Road Rent" for using special paths built by the city.
Exam Tip: Mention that it is used specifically for the "maintenance" of transportation routes.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in blanks:

Question 1: The local self-governing bodies which look after the needs of big cities is Municipal Corporation.
Answer: Municipal Corporation.
Big cities have millions of people, so they need a larger and more powerful organization than small towns. The Municipal Corporation has more resources to handle these massive urban needs.
Teacher's Tip: Large City = Corporation; Small Town = Municipality.
Exam Tip: Always capitalize the first letters as it is the name of an official body.

Question 2: A mayor holds office for a term varying between 1 year and 5 years.
Answer: 1 year, 5 years.
The length of the term depends on the specific laws of the state where the city is located. Some cities change their mayor every year to give different leaders a chance.
Teacher's Tip: Remember it is a range from "One to Five".
Exam Tip: Be sure to mention both numbers to show the variation across India.

Question 3: The state government supervises the working of municipal corporations.
Answer: state government.
While the corporation is "self-governing," it still must answer to the higher authorities in the state. This ensures that the city's money is spent correctly and laws are followed.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the State Government as the "Principal" and the Corporation as a "Class Monitor".
Exam Tip: Mention "State Government" as the immediate higher authority over urban bodies.

Question 4: Some seats in the municipal corporation are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Answer: reserved.
Reservation is a way to make sure that people from every background have a voice in the city's development. It helps create a fair and equal representation in the local government.
Teacher's Tip: "Reserved" means these seats are "set aside" for specific groups.
Exam Tip: You may also add that seats are reserved for women to show extra knowledge.

Question 5: The municipal corporation establishes and maintain public parks and education centres.
Answer: public parks, education centres.
These facilities provide spaces for recreation and learning for all the citizens of the city. Maintaining them helps improve the overall quality of life for urban families.
Teacher's Tip: Think of things the city provides for free, like the park where you play.
Exam Tip: List both "parks" and "education" to provide a complete answer.

B. Match the following:

Question : Match the items in Column A with Column B.
Column A
1. Municipal corporation
2. Mayor
3. Aldermen
4. Organizing fairs
5. Municipality
Column B
(a) respected citizens
(b) optional function of municipal corporation
(c) large cities
(d) towns
(e) head of municipal corporation
Answer:
1. Municipal corporation - (c) large cities
2. Mayor - (e) head of municipal corporation
3. Aldermen - (a) respected citizens
4. Organizing fairs - (b) optional function of municipal corporation
5. Municipality - (d) towns
Matching these terms helps us understand the structure and hierarchy of urban government. For example, knowing that a Mayor is the head helps us identify the leader of our local city council.
Teacher's Tip: Match the "Head" (Mayor) and the "Place" (Town/Large City) first to make it easy.
Exam Tip: Always re-write the full correct pair side-by-side in your final answer paper.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: Big cities like Delhi and Mumbai have town area committees/municipalities/municipal corporations.
Answer: Big cities like Delhi and Mumbai have municipal Corporations.
Because these cities have massive populations over 10 lakhs, they require the most advanced level of local government. Smaller towns only have municipalities or committees.
Teacher's Tip: Delhi and Mumbai are "Mega Cities," so they need "Corporations".
Exam Tip: Associate the word "Corporation" with cities having more than 10 lakh people.

Question 2: The mayor/municipal commissioner/alderman presides over the meetings of the municipal corporation.
Answer: The mayor presides over the meetings of the municipal, corporation.
The Mayor acts as the chairman and leads the discussions during all official city council sessions. They ensure that every member gets a chance to speak about their ward's problems.
Teacher's Tip: "Presides" is just a fancy word for "Leading a meeting".
Exam Tip: Don't confuse the Mayor (political head) with the Commissioner (administrative head).

Question 3: The chief executive officer of a municipal corporation is known as the mayor/municipal commissioner/sarpanch.
Answer: The chief executive officer of a municipal corporation is known as the municipal commissioner.
This officer is a high-ranking government official who actually implements the decisions made by the council. While the Mayor is elected by the people, the Commissioner is appointed by the State Government.
Teacher's Tip: The Mayor makes the rules; the Commissioner does the actual work.
Exam Tip: Remember "Commissioner" is the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the city.

Question 4: The total number of members of a municipal corporation of a city depends on the population of the city/state/ country.
Answer: The total number of members of a municipal corporation of a city depends on the population of the city.
More people in a city means there are more areas (wards) to look after, so more members are needed. This ensures that every citizen's voice is represented fairly in the government.
Teacher's Tip: Bigger City = More People = More Members.
Exam Tip: Always select "city" population as the determining factor for member count.

Question 5: A municipal corporation is elected for a period of 2/10/ 5 years.
Answer: A municipal corporation is elected for a period of 5 years.
This five-year term is standard for most democratic bodies in India, from the national Parliament to local city councils. It gives the elected members enough time to plan and complete long-term projects.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as a "High School Term" - a steady five years of work.
Exam Tip: 5 years is the golden rule for most election terms in India.

E. State whether the following are true or false.

Question 1: Port trust is an urban local self-governing body.
Answer: True.
Port trusts are specialized bodies that manage the development and sanitation of port areas in coastal cities. They are considered a unique type of local urban government specifically for trade hubs.
Teacher's Tip: "Port" means a place for ships, and these cities need special rules.
Exam Tip: List Port Trust alongside Municipalities if asked for types of urban bodies.

Question 2: The members of the municipal corporation are directly elected by the adult citizens of the city.
Answer: True.
Every citizen who is 18 years or older gets a vote to choose their local representative, known as a Councillor. This makes the city government directly responsible to the people living there.
Teacher's Tip: "Directly elected" means people vote with their own hands.
Exam Tip: If the statement says "directly elected by adults," it is almost always True.

Question 3: Some seats are reserved for women in municipal corporations.
Answer: True.
By law, a certain percentage of seats (usually one-third) must be filled by female candidates. This ensures that the specific needs of women and children in the city are addressed by the government.
Teacher's Tip: Reservation helps make the government "Full and Fair" for everyone.
Exam Tip: Remember that 1/3 is the typical fraction reserved for women.

Question 4: The municipal corporation is not responsible for the supply of safe drinking water.
Answer: False.
Correct: The municipal corporation is responsible for the supply of safe drinking water.
Providing clean water is actually one of the most important compulsory duties of the corporation. They maintain pipelines and water treatment plants to keep the citizens healthy.
Teacher's Tip: Think of who provides the water in your taps - it's the city government!
Exam Tip: Whenever a statement says the government is "not responsible" for a basic need, it is False.

Question 5: The municipality is the local self-governing body for smaller cities and towns.
Answer: True.
Municipalities, also called Municipal Committees, look after areas with smaller populations compared to mega-cities. They perform similar duties but on a much smaller scale.
Teacher's Tip: Small population = Municipality; Huge population = Corporation.
Exam Tip: Use the word "towns" to associate with the term Municipality.

F. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: Name the local self-governing bodies that look after the urban areas.
Answer: The local self-governing bodies which look after the urban area are as follows:
1. Municipal Corporations
2. Municipalities
3. Town area committees
4. Cantonment boards
5. Improvement trusts
6. Port trusts
These different organizations are tailored to the specific needs of different types of urban spaces. For example, Cantonment boards are specifically for areas where the military is stationed.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Corp, Muni, Town, Cantt, Trust, Port.
Exam Tip: List all six if the question asks for "the bodies" in general.

Question 2: Who is mayor?
Answer: Mayor is the head of the municipal corporation.
The Mayor is often called the "First Citizen" of the city and represents it at formal events. He is the political leader who works to solve the problems of all the city's residents.
Teacher's Tip: Mayor = The Big Boss of the City.
Exam Tip: Mention that he is the "head" to provide a concise definition.

Question 3: What is the functions of the mayor?
Answer: He presides over the meeting and looks after the work of the corporation with the help of the executives officers like Municipal commissioner, chief medical officer etc.
The Mayor acts as a bridge between the elected representatives and the professional government officers. His job is to lead the planning process and make sure the city's budget is used effectively.
Teacher's Tip: The Mayor is the "Chairman" who leads the city's "Team".
Exam Tip: Mention "presiding over meetings" as his primary functional duty.

Question 4: Who are aldermen?
Answer: They are members of the municipal corporation and municipalities who are elected from among the popular and respected citizens of that city. They are generally experienced.
These individuals are not directly voted in by the public but are chosen by the already elected councilors. Their experience helps the corporation make smarter decisions based on years of wisdom.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Aldermen as the "Wise Elders" of the city council.
Exam Tip: Use the words "popular" and "respected" to describe who can become an Alderman.

Question 5: What are municipalities?
Answer: Smaller cities and towns with population ranging between 20,000-5,00,000 have municipalities as the local self-governing body.
These bodies handle the needs of towns that are growing but are not yet massive enough for a corporation. They manage essential services like lighting, water, and local schools for the townspeople.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a Municipality as a "Junior Version" of a Corporation.
Exam Tip: Be sure to include the population range (20,000 to 5,00,000) for a precise answer.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: How is a municipal corporation composed? Who are its members?
Answer: A municipal corporation is composed in following manner.
1. The Mayor is the head of the municipal corporation. The mayor and deputy mayor are elected by the members of the municipal corporation from among themselves.
2. The corporation sets up a number of committee to look after the day to day work.
3. There is a chief executive officer or municipal commissioner, who is appointed by the state government.
4. There are also number of members called aldermen. They are elected from among the popular and respected citizens of that city.
5. MPs and MLA also form part of the corporation.
6. Some seats are reserved for the scheduled caste, scheduled Tribes and women. A municipal corporation is elected for a period of 5 years.
The corporation is a diverse group that includes directly elected leaders, appointed government experts, and experienced citizens. This mixture ensures that the city is run by both people who understand the public and professionals who know administration.
Teacher's Tip: It is a mix of "Elected" (Mayor/Councillors) and "Appointed" (Commissioner).
Exam Tip: List at least four of these components to give a "brief" but complete answer.

Question 2: Mention five functions of the municipal corporation related to public health and sanitation.
Answer: The main five functions performed by municipal corporation are following.
1. Caring for health of citizens, provide treatment facilities, opening hospital, appointment of doctors etc.
2. Repair and construction of roads, street, providing electric facilities etc.
3. Provision for education by opening and looking after primary school.
4. To save people from disaster of fire and fire brigades are maintained.
5. Organizing cultural events like sports, exhibitions, fairs etc.
These functions keep the city safe and healthy by preventing accidents and treating illnesses. By providing schools and cultural events, the corporation also helps the minds and social lives of the citizens grow.
Teacher's Tip: Think of everything that keeps a city "Safe and Smart" - health, roads, and schools.
Exam Tip: Number your points from 1 to 5 to show you have fulfilled the question's requirement.

Question 3: The municipal corporation is responsible for the maintenance of public works and services in the city. Give any five examples to explain this.
Answer: The municipal corporation is responsible for these public works and services:
1. Construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, public buildings, markets, crematoria and graveyards.
2. Construction and maintenance of water supply system.
3. Arrangements for street lighting.
4. Maintenance of fire brigade.
5. Demolition of dangerous or illegal buildings.
6. Maintaining records of births and deaths.
Public works are the physical structures and essential daily services that allow a city to function like a machine. From the street light that keeps you safe at night to the water in your shower, the corporation manages it all.
Teacher's Tip: Public works are the "Bones" of the city - the bridges, buildings, and roads.
Exam Tip: Use the term "compulsory functions" to describe these essential public works.

Question 4: List the optional functions of the municipal corporation.
Answer: Optional functions of the municipal corporation are following:
1. Establishment and maintenance of public parks, gardens, zoos, theaters, picnic resorts, libraries, museums.
2. Construction and maintenance of old-age homes, orphanages, night shelters, rest houses.
- Supply of cooking gas and milk.
- Organizing cultural events like sports, exhibitions, fairs, etc.
- Maintenance of a cheap public transport system.
Optional functions are those that the city does to make life "extra" comfortable and cultured for its people. While not strictly required for survival like water, these services make a city a wonderful place to live.
Teacher's Tip: Compulsory = "Need to have"; Optional = "Nice to have".
Exam Tip: Name "public parks" or "libraries" as they are the most common optional functions.

G. Picture study:

Question 1: Who is the head of the municipal corporation? Hon is he or she elected?
Answer: The Mayor is the head of the municipal corporation. He/she is elected by members of the municipal corporation from among themselves.
The people vote for Councillors first, and then those Councillors meet to vote for the Mayor. This ensures that the leader of the city has the support of the majority of the city council.
Teacher's Tip: Mayor = President of the City Council.
Exam Tip: Mention that the election is done "from among themselves" to show the indirect process.

Question 2: For which categories of community’ are seats of the corporation reserved?
Answer: Seats are reserved for following categories.
1. Scheduled castes
2. Scheduled Tribes
3. A few seats are reserved for women.
This system ensures that marginalized groups are not left out of the decision-making process for their city. It helps build a government that truly looks like and understands all its people.
Teacher's Tip: Reservation = Fair play for everyone.
Exam Tip: List all three categories (SC, ST, and Women) for a complete score.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1: In what ways is a Municipality different from a Municipal Corporation ?
Answer: The difference between a municipal Corporation and Municipality are as follows:
1. Municipal corporation are made in big cities where population is 10 lakh or more whereas Municipal committees are made in the cities where population is less than 10 Lakh.
2. Municipalities are under the control of district authorities whereas corporation are under the direct control of government corporations have functions more than Municipalities to do. So they have more facilities than the municipalities have.
The main difference is size and power; Corporations handle the world-class needs of mega-cities, while Municipalities manage the local needs of towns. Corporations also have more freedom and more money to build big projects like flyovers and hospitals.
Teacher's Tip: Corporation = Big City/Big Power; Municipality = Town/Small Power.
Exam Tip: Use the "10 Lakh" population figure as the key separator between the two.

Question 2: Distinguish between: (1) Councillor and An Alderman (2) The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
Answer:
1. Councillor and An Alderman- A Councillor is elected by all members of a town whereas an alderman is elected by councillors.
2. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor- The Mayor is elected by all members of a corporation and so is the Deputy Mayor. In the absence of the Mayor, his all duties are performed by Deputy Mayor.
A Councillor represents a specific neighborhood, while an Alderman provides expert advice to the whole city. The Deputy Mayor is the "backup leader" who ensures city work never stops even if the Mayor is busy or away.
Teacher's Tip: Councillor = Directly elected; Alderman = Indirectly elected.
Exam Tip: Mention the "absence of the Mayor" to explain the specific role of the Deputy Mayor.

Question 3: What are some of the sources of income of municipalities and municipal corporations?
Answer: The sources of income of municipalities and municipal corporation are taxes on property, houses, shops, stands, vehicles, charge of water and electricity, education. Tax is collected for educational activities, Toll tax and the municipality’ also gets grants from the state government.
Cities need a constant flow of money to pay for cleaning streets and paying doctors in government hospitals. Most of this money comes from the people who live in the city through various small taxes on the things they own and use.
Teacher's Tip: Income = Taxes (Property/Toll) + Grants from the Big Government.
Exam Tip: List "State Government grants" as a major source alongside local taxes.