NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 12 Questions and Answers

The Big Questions, Page 173

Q1. What are urban local bodies and what are their functions?

Ans: Urban local bodies are institutions of local self-government that function in cities and towns. They are formed to manage local administration and provide basic civic facilities to urban residents. These bodies work in a decentralised manner, meaning they allow people at the local level to participate in governance.

Urban local bodies include:

Municipal Corporation (for big cities)
Municipal Council (for medium towns)
Nagar Panchayat (for smaller towns)

Functions of Urban Local Bodies:

Maintenance of Infrastructure
They look after roads, street lights, drainage systems, and public buildings.
Water Supply and Sanitation
They ensure clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal.
Garbage Collection and Waste Management
They collect and dispose of solid waste and promote cleanliness.
Public Health Services
They organise health camps, maintain hospitals and prevent the spread of diseases.
Collection of Local Taxes
They collect property tax, water tax and other local revenues to fund activities.
Implementation of Government Schemes
They ensure central and state schemes are properly implemented at the local level.
Planning for Economic and Social Development
They prepare development plans for the city.

Thus, urban local bodies play a vital role in managing city life efficiently.

Q2. Why are they important in governance and democracy?

Ans: Urban local bodies are important because they bring governance closer to the people. They promote participatory democracy, where citizens actively take part in decision-making.

Importance in governance and democracy:

Decentralisation of Power
Power is distributed from the central government to the local level.
Citizen Participation
People elect their representatives and can raise local issues.
Quick Problem Solving
Local issues like water leakage or garbage disposal can be solved faster.
Accountability
Elected members are directly responsible to the local citizens.
Strengthening Democracy
They give practical experience of democracy at the grassroots level.

Hence, urban local bodies strengthen democratic governance.

LET’S EXPLORE, Page 174

Q1. Why is a city like Kolkata, Chennai or Mumbai more complex and diverse than a village or a town?

Answer: Cities like Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai are more complex because:

They have a large population.
People from different states, languages, religions and cultures live there.
There are various occupations such as business, IT, industries and services.
Urban areas have advanced infrastructure like metros, malls, airports and industries.
Social and economic differences are wider in cities.

Therefore, urban governance becomes more complex compared to villages.

Q2. With your classmates, make a list of diverse communities residing in any city that you are familiar with. How many were you able to list? What else do you observe in the list?

Answer: Taking the example of Delhi, we were able to list around 12–15 different communities.

Communities include:

Religious groups: Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains
Language groups: Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Urdu speakers
Regional groups: People from different states like UP, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, North-East India
Economic groups: Rich, middle-class, poor families
Others: Migrant workers, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and even foreigners

Observations:

Many different communities live together in one city.
One person can belong to multiple communities.
Diversity makes the city culturally rich and vibrant.
Delhi is a cosmopolitan city where people from different backgrounds live together peacefully.

LET’S EXPLORE, Page 175

Q1. In Fig. 12.2 above, what similarities and differences do you notice between the Panchayati Raj system and the urban local government?

Answer: Similarities:

Both are forms of local self-government.
Both have elected representatives.
Both work at the grassroots level.
Both aim at decentralisation of power.

Differences:

Panchayati Raj works in rural areas, urban local bodies work in cities.
Panchayati Raj includes Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Panchayat, while urban local bodies include Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council and Municipal Corporation.
Urban governance is more complex due to larger population and infrastructure needs.

LET’S EXPLORE, Page 177

Q1. Can you think of four or five more actions that responsible citizens might take to help their area of the city?

Answer: Yes, responsible citizens can take many actions to make their city better. Here are a few:

Follow waste segregation rules.
Avoid littering in public places.
Report damaged roads or water leakages.
Pay taxes honestly and on time.
Participate in cleanliness drives.
Save water and electricity.

Such actions help urban local bodies function efficiently.

LET’S EXPLORE, Page 179

Q1: Select a few cities, from your State and from a few neighbouring States. These may include the city you live in or the city nearest to your town or village. How will you find out if they have a Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council or Municipal Corporation? Draw a table with the names of the cities and the type of urban local body each of them has.

Answer: To find out the type of urban local body of a city, we can:

Check Official State Government Websites
Visit the Urban Development or Municipal Affairs Department website of the state. These websites usually provide official classifications of cities.
Visit the City’s Official Municipal Website
Most cities have their own website clearly mentioning whether they are a Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat.
Refer to Government Documents
Census reports, government gazette notifications and urban local body lists mention the administrative status of towns and cities.
Contact the Local Municipal Office
One can directly visit or call the local municipal office to confirm the city’s official status.

Example Table (Different Levels of Urban Local Bodies):

City	State	Type of Urban Local Body
Delhi	Delhi (UT)	Municipal Corporation
Mumbai	Maharashtra	Municipal Corporation
Jaipur	Rajasthan	Municipal Corporation
Dehradun	Uttarakhand	Municipal Corporation
Hapur	Uttar Pradesh	Municipal Council
Alwar	Rajasthan	Municipal Council
Nainital	Uttarakhand	Municipal Council
Pilkhuwa	Uttar Pradesh	Nagar Panchayat
Mussoorie	Uttarakhand	Nagar Panchayat
Gangtok	Sikkim	Nagar Panchayat

Q2. How do urban local bodies fund their activities? Are some of them paid services?

Answer: Urban local bodies require funds to maintain infrastructure, provide civic services and run development programmes. They collect money from multiple sources:

Main Sources of Funds:

Local Taxes: Property tax, water tax, advertisement tax and profession tax collected from residents and businesses.
Fees and Licences: Trade licences, shop registration fees, parking fees and building permission charges.
Fines and Penalties: Collected for rule violations such as illegal construction or littering.
Rent and Municipal Properties: Income from renting markets, shops, community halls and municipal buildings.
Government Grants: Financial assistance from State and Central Governments for specific schemes like sanitation, roads and health programmes.
Loans and Bonds (for major projects): Urban bodies may borrow funds for large infrastructure projects.

Yes, many services provided by urban local bodies are paid services, such as:

Water tanker supply
Septic tank cleaning
Debris removal
Mobile toilets
Auditorium or community hall booking
Trade licences and certificates

These paid services help generate revenue while ensuring proper city management.

Questions, Activities and Projects, Page 181–182

Q1. On your way to school, you and your friends notice that a water pipe is leaking. A lot of water is being wasted on account of the leak. What would you and your friends do in such a situation?

Answer: If we notice a leaking water pipe, we would immediately inform the municipal authorities or call the local helpline number. We would also inform a ward member or nearby responsible adult so that the issue is reported quickly.

We would not try to repair it ourselves, as it may be unsafe. Reporting the problem promptly would help prevent further wastage of water and show responsible citizenship.

Q2. Invite a member of an urban local body near you to your class. Discuss with them their role and responsibilities. Prepare a set of questions to ask them so that the meeting is fruitful.

Answer: If we invite a member of an urban local body, we can ask the following questions to make the discussion meaningful:

What are your main roles and responsibilities?
How are decisions taken in the municipal body?
How do you solve public complaints?
How are funds collected and used?
What challenges do you face while serving the community?
How can students contribute to the development of our city?

These questions would help us understand how urban local bodies function and how citizens can participate in local governance.

Q3. Discuss with adult members of your family and neighbourhood, and make a list of their expectations from the urban local bodies.

Answer: After discussing with adults, the common expectations from urban local bodies are:

Regular and clean water supply
Proper garbage collection and waste management
Well-maintained roads and drainage systems
Good street lighting for safety
Quick response to complaints
Clean public parks and public spaces
Effective control of pollution

People expect urban local bodies to work efficiently and honestly for the welfare of citizens.

Q4. Make a list of characteristics of a good urban local body.

Answer: A good urban local body should have the following characteristics:

Transparency in decision-making
Accountability to citizens
Efficient service delivery
Quick response to public complaints
Proper financial management
Active public participation
Commitment to cleanliness and development

Such qualities help in building trust between citizens and local authorities.

Q5. What are the similarities and differences between the Panchayati Raj system in rural areas and the urban local bodies?