India was a police State and the local bodies were subservient to the purpose of smooth running of the
British Administration in India. They were not provided with any powers but were merely administrative
agencies in character. Today it is the general opinion that the relationship between Municipal
Corporations and State should be one of partnership and mutual co-operation and the Municipal
Corporation should enjoy full autonomy subject to the guidance of the State Government. The Local Self
Government is a symbol of democratic life. It plays a vital part in the social and cultural life of nation. In
India, the Local Government is the third level of Government apart from the State and Central
Governments. There are various types of Local Government units which may be categorized in the three
Urban Local Government i.e. Municipal Corporation, Municipal Board and Cantonment Board; Semi-
Urban Local Government. I.e. Town Area and Notified Area; Rural Local Government i.e. Zilha Parishad,
Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayats. Municipal Corporations are the most important for their in-depth
study because, first they are the oldest institutions; secondly, they are at the
Apex of the Urban Local Government: thirdly, they are the most autonomous