12. Grassroots Democracy – Part 3

Local Government in Urban Areas

✅ A. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs) – 30

(Each question has one correct answer)

1.   Grassroots democracy means
A. Rule by kings
B. People’s participation at local level
C. Rule by officials
D. Centralised power
Answer: B

2.   Urban local bodies work in
A. Villages
B. Forests
C. Cities and towns
D. Mountains
Answer: C

3.   Cities are divided into smaller units called
A. Blocks
B. Zones
C. Wards
D. Panchayats
Answer: C

4.   Which body exists in cities with population above 10 lakh?
A. Nagar Panchayat
B. Municipal Council
C. Municipal Corporation
D. Gram Sabha
Answer: C

5.   Municipal Corporation is also called
A. Nagar Palika
B. Zila Parishad
C. Mahanagar Nigam
D. Panchayat Samiti
Answer: C

6.   Which is the oldest municipal corporation in India?
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. Chennai
D. Delhi
Answer: C

7.   Urban local bodies follow which principle?
A. Centralisation
B. Decentralisation
C. Monarchy
D. Military rule
Answer: B

8.   Who elects members of urban local bodies?
A. President
B. Governor
C. Citizens
D. Judges
Answer: C

9.   Which of the following is a function of urban local bodies?
A. Defence
B. Foreign policy
C. Garbage collection
D. Railways
Answer: C

10.               Ward committees mainly look after
A. National issues
B. Local area problems
C. International trade
D. Defence matters
Answer: B

11.               Which service is provided by municipal bodies?
A. Passport
B. Marriage certificate
C. Army training
D. Election to Parliament
Answer: B

12.               Nagar Panchayat is for
A. Big cities
B. Capital cities
C. Small towns
D. Villages
Answer: C

13.               Which city has been ranked cleanest for seven years?
A. Bhopal
B. Indore
C. Raipur
D. Jaipur
Answer: B

14.               Urban local bodies collect money through
A. Income tax
B. Property tax
C. GST only
D. Customs duty
Answer: B

15.               Who benefits most from urban local bodies?
A. Only officials
B. Only rich people
C. Citizens
D. Foreigners
Answer: C

16.               Which of the following is NOT an urban local body?
A. Municipal Council
B. Nagar Panchayat
C. Gram Sabha
D. Municipal Corporation
Answer: C

17.               Citizens should help urban local bodies by
A. Ignoring problems
B. Wasting water
C. Reporting leaks
D. Littering
Answer: C

18.               Waste segregation helps in
A. Pollution
B. Cleanliness
C. Water shortage
D. Noise
Answer: B

19.               Urban governance is more complex because cities are
A. Small
B. Empty
C. Diverse
D. Silent
Answer: C

20.               Who keeps watch on blocked drains?
A. Army
B. Police
C. Ward committee
D. Parliament
Answer: C

21.               CRM in municipal services means
A. City Resource Model
B. Citizen Relationship Management
C. Central Revenue Method
D. Civil Rights Management
Answer: B

22.               Which is a paid service?
A. Voting
B. Water tanker
C. Gram Sabha meeting
D. Election
Answer: B

23.               Municipal bodies help in
A. Economic and social planning
B. Defence planning
C. Space research
D. Nuclear policy
Answer: A

24.               Cities between 1–10 lakh population have
A. Nagar Panchayat
B. Municipal Council
C. Municipal Corporation
D. Zila Panchayat
Answer: B

25.               Local government works closest to
A. Central government
B. People
C. Courts
D. Army
Answer: B

26.               Democracy means
A. Rule of king
B. Rule of people
C. Rule of officials
D. Rule of judges
Answer: B

27.               Burial grounds are maintained by
A. State government
B. Central government
C. Urban local bodies
D. Courts
Answer: C

28.               Reporting a water leak shows
A. Carelessness
B. Responsibility
C. Laziness
D. Fear
Answer: B

29.               Urban local bodies exist at which level?
A. National
B. International
C. Local
D. Global
Answer: C

30.               Participatory democracy means
A. No citizen role
B. Only leaders decide
C. People actively participate
D. Military rule
Answer: C

✍️ B. SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS – 20

(Answer in 2–4 sentences)

1.   What is an urban local body?
Answer: Urban local bodies are local governments in cities and towns that manage local administration and services.

2.   What is decentralisation?
Answer: Decentralisation means sharing power with local governments so people can participate in decision-making.

3.   Name the three types of urban local bodies.
Answer: Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, and Nagar Panchayat.

4.   What is a ward?
Answer: A ward is a small administrative division of a city.

5.   Who looks after ward-level problems?
Answer: Ward committees.

6.   Why are cities more complex than villages?
Answer: Cities have large populations, diversity, and complex infrastructure.

7.   Mention two functions of urban local bodies.
Answer: Garbage collection and water supply.

8.   What is participatory democracy?
Answer: It is a system where people actively take part in governance.

9.   Who elects urban local body members?
Answer: Local citizens.

10.               What is a Municipal Corporation?
Answer: It is an urban local body for large cities with population above 10 lakh.

11.               What is Nagar Panchayat?
Answer: It governs small towns.

12.               Name one paid municipal service.
Answer: Water tanker service.

13.               How do citizens help local bodies?
Answer: By keeping surroundings clean and reporting problems.

14.               What is property tax?
Answer: Tax collected on buildings and land.

15.               Why is waste segregation important?
Answer: It helps in proper garbage disposal.

16.               Name one responsibility of citizens.
Answer: Saving water.

17.               Which city is known as the cleanest city?
Answer: Indore.

18.               What certificate is issued by municipal bodies?
Answer: Marriage certificate.

19.               What does CRM stand for?
Answer: Citizen Relationship Management.

20.               Why are urban local bodies important?
Answer: They improve local governance and daily life of citizens.

📝 C. LONG TYPE QUESTIONS – 25

(Answer in 8–10 sentences)

1.   Explain grassroots democracy in urban areas.
Answer:
Grassroots democracy means people participate in decision-making at the local level. In urban areas, this is done through urban local bodies. These bodies allow citizens to understand administration and governance. Members are elected by people. Local problems like sanitation and water supply are addressed. It strengthens democracy. It brings governance closer to citizens. It promotes responsibility and awareness.

2.   Describe the types of urban local bodies.
Answer:
Urban local bodies are of three types. Municipal Corporations govern large cities with more than 10 lakh population. Municipal Councils manage medium towns with population between 1 and 10 lakh. Nagar Panchayats work in small towns. Each body has elected members. Their functions depend on city size. They provide essential services.

3.   Explain the functions of urban local bodies.
Answer:
Urban local bodies manage daily services in cities. They collect garbage and maintain cleanliness. They supply water and maintain roads. They issue certificates like birth and marriage certificates. They maintain burial grounds. They collect local taxes. They also help in social and economic planning.

4.   What is the role of ward committees?
Answer:
Ward committees work at the ward level. They monitor cleanliness and drainage. They report water leaks and damaged roads. They organise health camps. They help solve local issues quickly. They connect citizens with authorities.

5.   Why are urban local bodies important in democracy?
Answer:
They promote people’s participation. They ensure decentralisation of power. They make governance efficient. They solve local problems. They strengthen democratic values. They make citizens responsible.

6.   Explain decentralised governance in cities.
Answer:
Decentralised governance means power is shared with local governments. Urban local bodies take decisions for their areas. Citizens have a direct role. This improves administration. It makes governance transparent. It reduces burden on higher governments.

7.   Describe the role of citizens in urban governance.
Answer:
Citizens must follow rules. They should segregate waste. They should save water. They should report local problems. They should pay taxes on time. Responsible citizens make cities better.

8.   How does Indore show successful urban governance?
Answer:
Indore is India’s cleanest city. Citizens cooperated with the municipal body. Waste segregation was followed. Cleanliness campaigns were supported. Services were efficiently managed. Public participation made success possible.

9.   Compare urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj.
Answer:
Both are local governments. Both have elected members. Panchayati Raj works in rural areas. Urban local bodies work in cities. Urban governance is more complex. Both promote democracy.

10.               Explain Municipal Corporation in detail.
Answer:
Municipal Corporation governs big cities. It manages large population needs. It provides essential services. It collects taxes. It plans city development. Members are elected. It ensures urban welfare.

11. Explain why urban governance is more complex than rural governance.

Answer:
Urban governance is more complex because cities have a large population. People living in cities belong to different communities, cultures, and occupations. Cities have tall buildings, industries, traffic, and pollution. Many services like water supply, garbage collection, and transport must work smoothly. Managing these services needs proper planning. Urban local bodies must solve problems quickly. Therefore, governance in cities is more complex than in villages.

12. Describe the importance of wards in urban administration.

Answer:
Wards are small administrative units of a city. They help in managing local issues easily. Each ward has a ward committee. The committee looks after cleanliness and drainage. It reports water leaks and broken roads. It helps people communicate with authorities. Wards bring administration closer to citizens. They make governance effective.

13. How do urban local bodies help in maintaining cleanliness in cities?

Answer:
Urban local bodies collect garbage regularly. They manage solid waste disposal. They organise cleanliness drives. They spread awareness about waste segregation. They provide dustbins and waste vehicles. They maintain public toilets. They impose fines for littering. These steps help keep cities clean.

14. Explain the sources of income of urban local bodies.

Answer:
Urban local bodies collect property tax. They charge water and sanitation fees. They collect fines and penalties. They issue licenses for businesses. Some services like water tankers are paid services. Government grants also help them. This money is used for city development.

15. Describe the role of elected representatives in urban local bodies.

Answer:
Elected representatives represent the people of their area. They raise local issues in meetings. They help solve problems of citizens. They ensure government schemes are implemented. They connect people with authorities. They take decisions for development. They strengthen democracy at the local level.

16. Explain participatory democracy with reference to urban areas.

Answer:
Participatory democracy means people take part in governance. In cities, citizens elect local representatives. They attend meetings and raise issues. They report local problems. They cooperate with municipal bodies. Citizens follow rules and duties. This participation makes democracy strong.

17. Describe the responsibilities of citizens in urban areas.

Answer:
Citizens should keep surroundings clean. They should not waste water. They should segregate garbage. They should report leaks and damages. They should pay taxes on time. They should follow rules. Responsible citizens help urban local bodies work better.

18. Explain the role of urban local bodies during emergencies.

Answer:
Urban local bodies act quickly during emergencies. They provide ambulance services. They help fire services. They clear debris after accidents. They ensure safety of people. They coordinate with other departments. They provide relief services. This protects citizens during emergencies.

19. How do urban local bodies contribute to social development?

Answer:
Urban local bodies organise health camps. They support education facilities. They help maintain parks and playgrounds. They provide basic amenities. They help weaker sections. They support government welfare schemes. This improves social development.

20. Explain how urban local bodies strengthen democracy.

Answer:
Urban local bodies bring governance closer to people. They encourage people’s participation. They ensure decentralisation of power. They solve local problems. They make administration transparent. They develop leadership at local level. This strengthens democracy.

21. Describe the role of Municipal Corporation in city development.

Answer:
Municipal Corporation plans city development. It manages infrastructure like roads and water supply. It collects taxes. It provides public services. It maintains cleanliness. It supports economic growth. It ensures better living conditions.

22. Explain the differences between Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council.

Answer:
Municipal Corporation governs large cities. Municipal Council governs medium towns. Corporations handle complex services. Councils handle fewer services. Both have elected members. Both serve citizens. The difference is based on population size.

23. Why is citizen cooperation necessary for urban governance?

Answer:
Urban governance cannot work alone. Citizens must cooperate. They should follow rules. They should report problems. They should maintain cleanliness. Cooperation reduces burden on authorities. It improves service delivery. It creates better cities.

24. Describe the importance of local taxes in urban development.

Answer:
Local taxes provide funds to urban bodies. Property tax supports city services. Water charges help maintain supply. Taxes help build roads. They support cleanliness programs. They fund welfare activities. Taxes help overall development.

25. Explain how urban local bodies help in solving daily life problems of citizens.

Answer:
Urban local bodies fix roads and drains. They ensure water supply. They collect garbage. They issue certificates. They manage emergencies. They respond to complaints. They improve daily life of citizens.




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