Municipal corporation (India)
| India portal |
| Local government in urban areas | |
| Formation | 1688 (first in Madras) |
|---|---|
| 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. |
A municipal corporation is a type of local 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 the state government.
The municipal corporation carries out its function through divisions or departments. For example, water supply and sewage disposal Undertaking, Housing Board, Education Department and Electricity Department.
The 74th Amendment Act defined the formations of urban local governments and their activities.