| Local government in urban areas | |
| Formation | 1688 (first inMadras) |
|---|---|
| Founding legislation | 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 and State Municipal Corporation Acts |
| State / Union Territory | Various (India) |
| Country |  India |
| Overview | |
| Level of government | Third tier (local self-government) |
| Jurisdiction | Urban areas (generally population above 1 million, varies by state) |
| Total municipal corporations | 269 (as of 2025) |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature | Municipal Council |
| Presiding officer | Mayor (Elected by Councillors) |
| Deputy Mayor | Elected by councillors |
| Councillors | Directly elected from wards |
| Meeting place | Municipal Corporation Hall |
| Executive branch | |
| Political head | Mayor |
| Main body | Municipal administration |
| Executive head | Municipal Commissioner / Administrator / Secretary |
| Appointed by | Mayor elected by councillors (or directly in some states); Commissioner appointed by state government |
| Headquarters | Varies by city |
| Main organ | Municipal Corporation |
| Departments | Urban planning, public health, sanitation, water supply, education, transport, etc. |
Amunicipal corporation is a type oflocal government in India which administers an urban area having a population of one million or more. The growing population and urbanization of various Indian cities highlighted the need for a type of local governing body that could provide services such as healthcare, education, housing and transport by collecting property taxes and administering grants from thestate government.
The municipal corporation carries out its function through well organized divisions or departments. For example, water supply and sewage disposal Undertaking, Housing Board, Education Department and Electricity Department. Each of these departments are looked after by experienced and qualified persons.[citation needed]
The74th Amendment Act defined the formations of urban local governments and their activities.[1]
Municipal corporations are referred to by different names in different states (due to regional language variations), all of which are translated to "municipal corporation" in English. These names includeNagar Nigam (inDelhi,Himachal Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand,Bihar,Jharkhand,Rajasthan, andHaryana),Nagara Nigama (inPunjab),Mahanagar Palika (inGoa andMaharashtra),Mahanagara Palike (inKarnataka),Mahanagar Seva Sadan (inGujarat),Pouro Nigom (inAssam),Mahānagara Nigama (inOdisha),Pouro Nigam (inWest Bengal),Pur Porishod (inTripura),Nagar Palika Nigam (inChhattisgarh andMadhya Pradesh),Nagara Paalaka Samstha orMahaanagara Paalaka Samstha (inAndhra Pradesh andTelangana),Nagara Sabha (inKerala) andMaanagaraatchi (inTamil Nadu).[citation needed]
TheVadodara Municipal Corporation of the city ofVadodara inGujarat is typically called by the name "Vadodara Mahanagar Seva Sadan", theMysuru City Corporation of the city ofMysuru inKarnataka is typically called "Mysuru Mahanagara Palike" , theTirunelveli Municipal Corporation of the city ofTirunelveli inTamil Nadu is typically called by the name "Tirunelveli Maanagaraatchi",theKochi Corporation of the city ofKochi inKerala is typically called by the name "Kochi Nagarasabha" The detailed structure of these urban bodies varies from state to state, as per the laws passed by thestate legislatures, but the basic structure and function is almost the same.
The area administered by a municipal corporation is known as a municipal area. Each municipal area is divided into territorial constituencies known as wards. A municipal corporation is made up of awards committee. Each ward has one seat in the wards committee. Members are elected to the wards committee on the basis of adult franchise for a term of five years. These members are known ascouncillors or corporators. The number of wards in a municipal area is determined by the population of the city. Some seats are reserved forscheduled castes,scheduled tribes,backward classes and women.[1]
A state can choose to constitute additional committees to carry functions of urban local governance, in addition to the wards committees. In addition to the councillors elected from the wards, the legislature of a state may also choose to make provisions for the representation of persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, the MPs or MLAs representing the constituencies which comprise wholly or partly the municipal area, and/or the commissioners of additional committees that the state may have constituted. If a state legislature appoints a person from the first category to a wards committee, that individual will not have the right to vote in the meetings of the municipal corporation, while MPs, MLAs and commissioners do have the right to vote in meetings.[1]
There are departments for execution of work related to health, water and sanitation.
The largest corporations are in the ten major metropolitan cities of India, viz.Mumbai,Delhi,Hyderabad,Kolkata,Chennai,Bengaluru,Ahmedabad,Lucknow,Jaipur,Kanpur.
TheBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of the city ofMumbai inMaharashtra is the richest municipal corporation in India.[2][3]Greater Chennai Corporation of the city ofChennai inTamil Nadu is the oldest municipal corporation in India and second oldest municipal corporation in the world only behindCity of London Corporation in United Kingdom.[4]
Municipal Corporations are urban local bodies established in large cities to provide essential civic services. Their functionaries are classified into elected representatives and appointed officials.
These functionaries operate within the framework of the respective State Municipal Corporation Acts and play a vital role in urban governance and service delivery.These administrative officials are appointed by the respective State Government. The respective state Urban Development/Municipal Affairs/Urban Affairs Department look after their matters.
Municipal corporations are typically headed by amayor anddeputy mayor (elected from among the councilors), and comprise electedcouncillors.[5]
The mayor is the head of the municipal corporation, but in moststates and territories of India the role is largely ceremonial as executive powers are vested in themunicipal commissioner. The office of the mayor combines a functional role of chairing the corporation council meetings as well as ceremonial role associated with being the First Citizen of the city. As per the amended Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, a deputy mayor is appointed by the mayor. The tenure of the mayor, deputy mayor and council is five years. However, inHaryana,Bihar,Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand,Madhya Pradesh,Odisha,Uttar Pradesh andUttarakhand, mayors are directly elected by the people and thus hold the executive powers of the municipal corporations.
The administrative machinery is further supported by amunicipal commissioner orsecretary. They functions as the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation. These officials are tasked with the day-to-day operations, implementing policies, and ensuring the efficient delivery of essential services. Executive officers monitor the implementation of all the programs related to planning and development of the corporation with the coordination of mayor and councilors. The municipal corporations consists departments like health, general administration, revenue, engineering, town planning, welfare, education, etc. The officials of these departments, like health inspectors, engineers, and administrative officers, are appointed by the state government.
The Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution lists the subjects that municipal corporations are responsible for. Corporations may be entrusted to perform functions and implement schemes including those in relation to the matters listed in the Twelfth Schedule.[1]
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