Class 6 Social Science Chapter 12 Grassroots Democracy — Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas Practice Paper 2

Class: VI Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 12 - Local Government in Urban Areas Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. What type of urban local body is formed in cities and towns with smaller populations (below 1 lakh)?
(a) Municipal Corporation
(b) Municipal Council
(c) Nagar Panchayat
(d) Zila Panchayat

Q2. Which Act gave the Madras Corporation power to levy municipal taxes?
(a) Parliamentary Act of 1792
(b) Charter Act of 1687
(c) Regulating Act of 1773
(d) Indian Councils Act of 1861

Q3. Under which government scheme has Indore been awarded the cleanest city?
(a) Clean India Mission
(b) Swachh Survekshan
(c) Smart City Mission
(d) AMRUT Yojana

Q4. Which of the following is NOT a function of urban local bodies?
(a) Garbage collection
(b) Maintaining burial grounds
(c) Printing currency
(d) Collecting local taxes

Q5. Mahanagar Nigam is another name for:
(a) Nagar Panchayat
(b) Municipal Council
(c) Municipal Corporation
(d) Gram Panchayat

Q6. The rural equivalent of Ward Committee in urban areas is:
(a) Zila Panchayat
(b) Panchayat Samiti
(c) Gram Sabha
(d) District Collector

Q7. Which company issued the charter for creating the Madras Corporation?
(a) Dutch East India Company
(b) British East India Company
(c) French East India Company
(d) Portuguese Trading Company

Q8. What is the main objective of decentralised governance?
(a) To centralise all powers
(b) To give local communities a direct say in governance
(c) To reduce citizen participation
(d) To abolish local elections

Q9. Which of the following is a 'Service on Request' provided by Indore Municipal Corporation?
(a) Property Tax
(b) Water Tanker
(c) Tree Cutting
(d) Business License

Q10. The base of the governance pyramid represents:
(a) Union Government
(b) State Government
(c) Local Government (People)
(d) District Administration

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What is meant by 'participatory democracy'? Give one example from urban governance.

Q12. Name the three types of urban local bodies based on population. Mention the population criteria for any one.

Q13. What is the historical significance of the Madras Corporation in Indian municipal history?

Q14. How can citizens help in better garbage management in their area? Give two ways.

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Compare the Panchayati Raj system with urban local bodies. Mention three similarities and differences.

Q16. What activities do ward committees perform? Explain with three examples.

Q17. "For urban local bodies to work efficiently, citizens must perform their duties." Justify this statement with examples.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. Describe the structure of urban local government in India. Explain how it is connected to the state and national levels of governance.

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Read the following case study and answer the questions: Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the cleanest city in India under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven years in a row. The Indore Municipal Corporation provides numerous services including property tax collection, water supply, solid waste management, fire services, and various licenses. The corporation uses Citizen Relationship Management (CRM) system for services like marriage certificates, grievances, and services on request such as water tanker, septic tanker, and ambulance.

(a) Under which scheme has Indore been awarded the cleanest city? (1 mark)
(b) What does CRM stand for in the context of municipal services? (1 mark)
(c) Name any two 'Services on Request' provided by Indore Municipal Corporation. (1 mark)
(d) What role might Indore citizens have played in this achievement? (1 mark)

Q20. Read the following case study and answer the questions: Anita lives in a big city and visited her grandparents in a village. She noticed that city life is busy and crowded with tall buildings everywhere. People are more independent and often don't even know their neighbours. In contrast, her village is quieter where everyone knows each other and works together in fields, celebrates festivals together, and makes decisions as a community. Despite these differences, both places have local governance systems where elected representatives work for the people.

(a) What differences did Anita notice between city and village life? (1 mark)
(b) What is the similarity in governance between urban and rural areas? (1 mark)
(c) Why is urban governance more complex than rural governance? (1 mark)
(d) What example of community spirit did Anita observe in the city? (1 mark) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 02

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(c) Nagar Panchayat Cities and towns with smaller populations (below 1 lakh) have a Nagar Panchayat as their urban local body. Ans 2.
(a) Parliamentary Act of 1792 A Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave the Madras Corporation power to levy municipal taxes in the city, which is when the municipal administration properly began. Ans 3.
(b) Swachh Survekshan Indore has been awarded the cleanest city in India under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven consecutive years. Ans 4.
(c) Printing currency Printing currency is a function of the Reserve Bank of India (Union Government), not urban local bodies.

Local bodies handle civic functions like garbage collection, maintenance, and tax collection. Ans 5.
(c) Municipal Corporation Municipal Corporation is also called 'Mahanagar Nigam' and governs cities with population above 10 lakhs. Ans 6.
(c) Gram Sabha In the governance pyramid, 'People of the Ward' in urban areas corresponds to 'Gram Sabha' in rural areas - both represent the base level where citizens participate directly. Ans 7.
(b) British East India Company The East India Company (British) issued a charter in 1687 constituting the town of 'Fort St. George' and territories within 16 km into a corporation.

Ans 8.
(b) To give local communities a direct say in governance Decentralised governance means that instead of operating under a central authority, local communities have a direct say on how their areas are managed or the issues they face. Ans 9.
(b) Water Tanker Water Tanker is one of the 'Services on Request' provided by Indore Municipal Corporation, along with septic tanker, auditorium, funeral van, mobile toilet, and ambulance. Ans 10.
(c) Local Government (People) The base of the governance pyramid is the local level, closer to the people (People of the Ward in urban areas, Gram Sabha in rural areas), while the top is the national level.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. Participatory Democracy: Participatory democracy is a concept where good governance aims to empower citizens so they may actively participate in their country's functioning, whether at the rural, regional, urban, state, or national level. Example from Urban Governance: When citizens attend ward committee meetings to discuss local issues, report problems like water leakage or blocked drains to authorities, or participate in campaigns against single-use plastics, they are practicing participatory democracy.

Ans 12. Three Types of Urban Local Bodies:

1. Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Nigam)

2. Municipal Council (Nagar Palika)

3. Nagar Panchayat Population Criteria: Municipal Corporation - Population above 10 lakhs (OR Municipal Council - Population between 1-10 lakhs) (OR Nagar Panchayat - Population below 1 lakh) Ans 13. Historical Significance of Madras Corporation:

1. It is the oldest municipal institution in India, established on 29 September 1688.

2. It was created by a charter from the East India Company in 1687.

3. The Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave it power to levy municipal taxes, marking the proper beginning of municipal administration in India. Ans 14. Two Ways Citizens Can Help in Garbage Management:

1. Waste Segregation: Citizens should carefully follow instructions regarding waste segregation (separating wet waste, dry waste, and hazardous waste). This makes garbage collection and processing much easier for municipal workers.

2. Timely Disposal: Citizens should dispose of garbage only at designated times and places, avoiding littering on roads and public spaces. They can also participate in cleanliness drives organized by ward committees.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. Comparison between Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies: Similarities:

1. Both have elected representatives who represent local citizens

2. Both are part of the local government structure under the State Government

3. Both aim to ensure citizen participation in governance (participatory democracy) Differences:

1. Panchayati Raj operates in rural areas while Urban Local Bodies operate in urban areas

2. Rural has Gram Sabha at base level; Urban has People of the Ward

3. Rural has three tiers (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Panchayat) while Urban has different types based on population (Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation) Ans 16. Activities of Ward Committees:

1. Health Camps: Ward committees facilitate conducting health camps for residents of the ward, organizing medical check-ups and awareness programs.

2. Environmental Campaigns: They organize campaigns against environmental issues like single-use plastics. They spread awareness and encourage residents to adopt eco-friendly practices.

3. Monitoring and Reporting: They keep an eye on anything that might go wrong in the ward — water leaks, blocked drains, damaged roads, fallen trees, etc. — and report such problems to the municipal authorities for quick action. Ans 17. Justification of the Statement: For urban local bodies to perform their functions efficiently, people living in the city must show care and concern for their area. This is because democracy is participatory in nature. Examples:

1. Waste Management: If people carefully follow instructions regarding waste segregation, garbage collection becomes easier. Without citizen cooperation, even the best waste management system will fail.

2. Water Conservation: If citizens notice a water leakage in a street and report it promptly, it prevents further wastage of precious water. The municipality cannot monitor every street constantly.

3. Civic Responsibility: Citizens should pay taxes on time, follow building regulations, not encroach on public spaces, and participate in local meetings. Without this, governance becomes difficult.

4. Indore Example: Indore became India's cleanest city because its citizens actively participated in cleanliness drives and followed waste segregation rules.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18. Structure of Urban Local Government in India: Urban local government operates through various urban local bodies based on the population of the city/town:

1. Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Nigam): • For cities with population above 10 lakhs • Headed by Mayor (elected) and Municipal Commissioner (appointed) • Examples: Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata

2. Municipal Council (Nagar Palika): • For cities with population between 1 and 10 lakhs • Headed by Chairperson/President • Handles similar functions on a smaller scale

3. Nagar Panchayat: • For towns with smaller populations (below 1 lakh) • For areas transitioning from rural to urban • Smallest form of urban local body

4. Ward Committees: • Cities divided into wards • Each ward has elected councillors • Ward committees handle local issues Connection to State and National Levels: • Hierarchy: Union Government → State Government → Local Government (Urban Local Bodies) → Ward Committees → People of the Ward • State Control: Urban local bodies work under the State Government. States make laws governing their formation, powers, and functions. • 74th Amendment: The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act gave constitutional status to urban local bodies, ensuring their mandatory formation.

• Coordination: Local bodies implement central and state government schemes at the local level, collect certain taxes, and coordinate with higher authorities for major projects.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) Scheme Name: Indore has been awarded the cleanest city under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven consecutive years.
(b) CRM Full Form: CRM stands for Citizen Relationship Management. It is a system used by municipal corporations to manage various citizen services efficiently.
(c) Two Services on Request: Water Tanker and Ambulance (Other acceptable answers: Septic Tanker, Auditorium, Funeral Van, Mobile Toilet)
(d) Role of Indore Citizens: Indore citizens played a crucial role by actively participating in cleanliness drives, following waste segregation rules, reporting sanitation issues promptly, and maintaining clean surroundings in their homes and neighborhoods. Their cooperation with the Municipal Corporation's initiatives made this achievement possible.

Ans 20.
(a) Differences between City and Village Life: City: Busy and crowded, tall buildings everywhere, noisy, people are more independent and often don't know their neighbours. Village: Quieter, everyone knows each other, people work together and celebrate festivals together.
(b) Similarity in Governance: Both urban and rural areas have local governance systems with elected representatives who represent the local citizens and work for their interests. Both allow people to participate and discuss issues.

(c) Why Urban Governance is More Complex: Urban governance is more complex because cities are generally more crowded and diverse than villages. They have larger populations, more infrastructure needs, and people from diverse backgrounds. Managing services for millions of people who don't know each other requires more sophisticated systems.
(d) Example of Community Spirit in City: Anita observed that following heavy rains, when a house collapsed two streets away, dozens of people gathered from all over the place to help clear the rubble and make sure no one was trapped inside. This showed that despite the anonymity, community spirit still exists in cities during emergencies.