Which of the following is/are true regarding Urban Local Bodies in India ?
- 1. The Constitution 74th Amendment Act envisages three types of urban local bodies, namely Municipal Corporation, Municipality and City Council
- 2. Municipal Corporations are established in cities with population greater than 1 million
- 3. Bombay and Calcutta Corporations were the first Municipal Corporations that were established during British time
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2014
– Statement 1: 74th Amendment envisages three types (Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation). If “City Council” is a typo for “Municipal Council”, then 1 is true.
– Statement 2: Municipal Corporations for large cities. 1 million is a benchmark for ‘large’. Generally true in spirit, even if not a strict rule.
– Statement 3: Bombay and Calcutta were early corporations. True. Madras was earlier, but they were significant early ones.
Let’s assume the question intended 1, 2, and 3 to be true in a general sense, despite minor inaccuracies in phrasing. In that case, option D would be correct. However, based on strict accuracy:
– 1 is false (“City Council”).
– 2 is false (not *only* > 1 million).
– 3 is false (Madras was first).
This would mean none of the options are correct. Let’s check reliable sources for common interpretations or potential errors in past papers.
Let’s reconsider the possibility that statement 1 is true, by accepting “City Council” as an alternative term sometimes used for “Municipal Council”. If 1 is true, then options A, C, D are possible.
Statement 3 is arguably true in the sense that Bombay and Calcutta were among the *earliest* corporations, even if not the absolute first. If 3 is true, then options A, C, D are possible.
Statement 2, that corporations are *only* in cities > 1 million, is quite clearly false.
If 1 and 3 are true, and 2 is false, then option C (1 and 3 only) is the answer. This seems the most plausible interpretation given the options, despite the imprecise phrasing of statements 1 and 3.
– Statement 2: Municipal Corporations are typically established for larger urban areas, but the criterion is not strictly defined as having a population greater than 1 million in the Constitution. This is more of a general guideline or a criterion used in some state laws. Thus, the statement is not universally true.
– Statement 3: The Madras Municipal Corporation was established in 1688, making it the first in India. Bombay and Calcutta Municipal Corporations were established later (1726). So, Bombay and Calcutta were among the early corporations during British rule, but not the absolute first.
– Given the options, if we interpret “City Council” in Statement 1 as “Municipal Council” and accept Statement 3 as meaning “among the first established”, then statements 1 and 3 are arguably true in spirit, while statement 2 is clearly not a strict requirement.