Municipalities & 74th Amendment — Set 8

Correct Answer: A. Superintendence, direction, and control of preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections to municipalities

The State Election Commission (SEC) is a constitutional body under Article 243K (for panchayats) and Article 243ZA (for municipalities) responsible for the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of all elections to panchayats and municipalities. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor and cannot be removed except through a process akin to removal of a High Court judge. The SEC plays a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections to urban local bodies.

Correct Answer: A. Devolving powers, functions, and finances to urban local bodies for better local governance

Urban decentralization involves transferring powers, functions, and finances from state governments to urban local bodies so that decisions are made closer to the people they affect. The 74th Amendment created the constitutional framework for urban decentralization in India. Benefits include more responsive and accountable local governance, better matching of services to local needs, and increased citizen participation. However, decentralization in India remains incomplete as many states have not fully devolved the 18 functions listed in the 12th Schedule to their municipalities.

Correct Answer: A. The principle that all urban residents have equal rights to access and shape city resources and governance

The 'Right to the City' is a concept coined by French philosopher Henri Lefebvre that has become important in urban policy discourse. It advocates that all urban residents, including the marginalized and poor, have the right to participate in and benefit from the city's resources, spaces, services, and governance. In practice, it means ensuring inclusive urban development, equitable access to urban services, participation of all groups in urban planning decisions, and protection of urban poor from evictions. Various urban policies in India aim to realize this concept.

Correct Answer: A. Flooding of urban areas due to heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage systems, managed through stormwater systems

Urban flooding occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the drainage capacity of urban areas, leading to inundation of streets, buildings, and infrastructure. Contributing factors include inadequate stormwater drainage, encroachment on natural drainage channels, reduced permeable surfaces due to paving, and inadequate maintenance. Municipalities manage urban flooding through integrated stormwater management systems, desilting of drains, urban forestry, rainwater harvesting mandates, flood plains mapping, and early warning systems. Many Indian cities face increasing flood risk due to rapid urbanization and climate change.

Correct Answer: A. A premier research institute that advises on urban development policies and builds urban planning capacity in India

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India's premier national research and training institute in the field of urban planning and development. Established in 1976 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, NIUA conducts research on urban issues, provides advisory services to state and local governments, and organizes training programs for urban planners and administrators. It has been actively supporting the Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, and other national urban development programs through knowledge management and capacity building.

Correct Answer: A. Managing sanitation, preventing epidemics, maintaining public health infrastructure, and regulating food safety

Public Health is one of the core functions of urban local bodies, encompassing sanitation, solid waste management, prevention and control of communicable diseases, maintenance of public health infrastructure like dispensaries and health posts, food safety regulation (preventing adulteration), and vector control (mosquitoes, rodents). During public health emergencies like disease outbreaks, municipalities coordinate with health departments for containment measures. The 12th Schedule to the Constitution includes public health, sanitation, conservancy, and solid waste management as municipal functions.

Correct Answer: A. A measure of the concentration and clustering of economic activities in urban areas

Urban Agglomeration refers to the economic benefits (economies of scale and scope) that arise from the concentration of people and firms in cities and urban areas. Agglomeration economies include labor market pooling, specialized supplier networks, and knowledge spillovers among firms in proximity. These benefits make cities attractive for economic activity and drive urbanization. Understanding agglomeration is important for urban planning and economic development policy in India as cities become increasingly important engines of national economic growth.

Correct Answer: A. The transitional zone at the fringe of an urban area that has mixed urban and rural characteristics

Peri-urban areas are the transitional zones at the edge of cities where urban and rural land uses intermingle. These areas experience rapid change as urban expansion takes place, with agricultural land being converted to residential, commercial, and industrial uses. Peri-urban areas often have weaker governance as they may fall between the jurisdictions of urban local bodies and rural panchayats. Planning challenges include infrastructure provision, land use conflicts, and managing the transition from rural to urban status. Extending urban planning to peri-urban areas is increasingly important.

Correct Answer: A. An integrated mission to accomplish effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga

Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission launched in 2014 with a budget of Rs 20,000 crore to achieve effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river. Major activities include sewage treatment infrastructure, industrial effluent treatment, riverfront development, biodiversity conservation, river surface cleaning, and afforestation. The programme involves multiple ministries, state governments, and urban local bodies in the Ganga basin. Urban local bodies along the Ganga are key stakeholders in building sewage treatment capacity.

Correct Answer: A. The gradual transition from urban to rural areas without a sharp boundary, with places having both urban and rural characteristics

The Urban-Rural Continuum concept recognizes that rather than a sharp divide, there is a gradual transition from dense urban areas to less dense suburban areas to peri-urban zones to rural areas. Places along this continuum have varying mixes of urban and rural characteristics in terms of population density, economic activities, land use, and access to services. This concept is important for planning because it challenges traditional binary classifications and calls for more nuanced policies that address the needs of different types of settlements along the continuum.