Grassroots Democracy — Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas — Hard

Q1. Assertion (A): A town of 4 lakh people has a Municipal Council. Reason (R): A Municipal Council, or Nagar Palika, is the highest body for populations between 1 and 10 lakh.

• A. Both A and R are true and R explains A
• B. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A
• C. A is true, R is false
• D. A is false, R is true

Q2. Why does the chapter say municipal administration in Madras 'properly began' only after 1792, though the corporation existed from 1688?

• A. The Fort was destroyed in 1792
• B. A Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave it power to levy municipal taxes
• C. The British left India in 1792
• D. It merged with Bombay in 1792

Q3. Why does the precise functioning of wards differ from one State to another?

• A. The Constitution bans ward committees
• B. It depends on the rules each State makes
• C. All wards are run by the Union government
• D. Wards exist only in villages

Q4. Which statement best captures why decentralised urban governance supports participatory democracy?

• A. It removes elections entirely
• B. It hands all power to the Union
• C. It abolishes wards
• D. Local communities get a direct say on how their areas are managed

Q5. An urban local body collects local taxes and fines. The chapter links this most directly to its ability to

• A. Win national elections
• B. Control the armed forces
• C. Perform its functions and plan area development
• D. Print money

Q6. The chapter says urban local bodies can perform functions efficiently only if citizens also perform their duties. This best illustrates the principle of

• A. Absolute monarchy
• B. Judicial review
• C. Military rule
• D. Participatory democracy

Q7. Arrange the governance levels from base to top as in the pyramid: 1) Union government 2) Local government 3) State government.

• A. 1, 2, 3
• B. 2, 3, 1
• C. 3, 2, 1
• D. 2, 1, 3

Q8. In the pyramid, the urban counterpart placed opposite the rural 'Gram Sabha' at the base is

• A. People of the ward
• B. Municipal Corporation
• C. State government
• D. Zila Panchayat

Q9. Looking at Fig. 12.4, a 'business, hoardings, trade licence' fee best helps a corporation by serving as a source of

• A. Revenue to fund its activities
• B. Election votes
• C. Military strength
• D. Court judgments

Q10. The Madras Corporation is now known by which name?

• A. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
• B. Greater Chennai Corporation
• C. New Delhi Municipal Council
• D. Kolkata Municipal Corporation

Q11. Which of the following is explicitly listed among urban local bodies' responsibilities in the chapter?

• A. Maintaining the burial ground
• B. Conducting Lok Sabha sessions
• C. Running the railways
• D. Setting interest rates

Q12. Four residents act on a leaking street pipe. Whose action best matches the chapter's idea of a responsible citizen?

• A. One who films it for fun
• B. One who ignores it
• C. One who blames neighbours
• D. One who reports it promptly to prevent water wastage

Q13. Why does the chapter call urban local bodies a mechanism for citizens to decide 'what is best for them'?

• A. Because the Union decides everything
• B. Because being closer to people lets communities take local decisions
• C. Because cities have no problems
• D. Because there are no elected members

Q14. The chapter's 'Big Questions' ask why urban local bodies matter for governance and democracy. The best answer is that they

• A. Replace the courts
• B. End all taxation
• C. Bring decision-making close to citizens through participation
• D. Are controlled by the army

Q15. Anita concludes city democracy seems complex but the 'idea is the same'. Which idea does she mean?

• A. Only the rich vote
• B. Everyone's voice matters
• C. The bigger the city, the fewer the rights
• D. Villages have no democracy