Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is the municipal corporation that governs most of Delhi, India. The MCD is among the largest municipal bodies in the world providing civic services to a population of about 20 million citizens in the capital city Delhi.[1] It is headed by the Mayor of Delhi, who presides over elected councillors from 250 wards. The municipal corporation covers an area of 1,397.3 km² (539.5 mi²).[1] The annual budget of the corporation is above ₹16,000 crore (~US$1.95 billion).[2]
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic centre – Headquarters of Municipal Corporation of Delhi
MCD came into existence on 7 April 1958 under an Act of Parliament. Prior to that DMC (Delhi Municipal Committee) was the principal civic body of Delhi. Guru Radha Kishan served for the longest consecutive period as a councilor of the MCD (initially Delhi Municipal Committee).[3] Pt. Trilok Chand Sharma served as the first elected Mayor of Delhi. Since then, the Municipal Body has always been alive in its constitution and functioning to the growing needs of citizens. The 1993 amendment of the Act brought about fundamental changes in composition, functions, governance and administration of the corporation.
In March 2022, the state Election Commission indefinitely deferred the municipal elections that were scheduled to be held in April 2022.[4] On 22 March, the Union Government approved the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill to merge the 3 municipal corporations back to a single body.[5] The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 30 March 2022,[6] while it was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 5 April 2022.[7] The unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi formally came into existence on 22 May 2022 with IAS officers Ashwani Kumar and Gyanesh Bharti taking charge as Special Officer and Commissioner, respectively.[8] Election was held on 4 December 2022, with Aam Aadmi Party winning the majority of seats.[9]
Municipal Zones in Delhi
The entire MCD area is divided into 12 zones:[1][10]
Central
City–SP
Civil Lines
Karol Bagh
Keshav Puram
Najafgarh
Narela
North Shahdara
Rohini
South Shahdara
South
West
Ward Committees of Delhi MCD
Each Zone has a ward committee, which consists of all the councillors elected from that ward. These ward committees are structures meant to decentralise administrative powers, and provide local solutions for local problems.[11]
The Standing Committee is the highest decision making executive body of MCD and consists of 18 members. It manages the corporation with financial functions, approval to projects, discussing, finalising and implementing the policies for the capital city etc. It also has powers to appoint sub-committees on issues such as education, environment, parking etc and form regulations.[16]
While 6 of the Committee members are elected directly by the house, the remaining 12 are chosen by ward committees. The committee also has a chairperson and a deputy chairperson, who are elected from among the members. The political party which has majority in the Standing Committee has control over policy and financial decisions of the House.[17]
As of 2011[update] India census,[19] Delhi Municipal Corporation had a population of 11,007,835. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Delhi Municipal Corporation has an average literacy rate of 87.6%, higher than the national average of 74.0%: male literacy is 91.44% and, female literacy is 83.20%. In Delhi Municipal Corporation, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
