Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) is the municipal corporation of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, and is the chief nodal agency for the administration of the city. Municipal Corporation mechanism in India was introduced during British Rule with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1762.[1] Shimla Municipal Corporation is headed by the Mayor of city and governed by a Commissioner. Shimla Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.
Shimla Municipal Corporation | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
.jpg){kind=spacer} Municipal Corporation Building illuminated at night | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | December 1851 |
| Leadership | |
Surinder Chauhan (INC) | |
Uma Kaushal (INC) | |
Bhupinder Attri | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 34 |
 | |
Political groups | Government (24)
Opposition (10) |
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 2 May 2023 |
Next election | 2028 |
| Motto | |
| Work is Worship | |
| Meeting place | |
| Town Hall, Shimla | |
| Website | |
| shimlamc | |
Overview
editEstablished in 1851, the Shimla Municipal Corporation is an elected body comprising 41 councillors, five of whom are nominated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh.[2] The number of wards increased from 28 to 34 in 2017 and then in 2022, 7 more wards were proposed to be added.[3][4] The nominations are based on prominence in the fields of social service, academics and other activities. Fifty per cent of seats are reserved for women. The elections take place every five years and the mayor and deputy mayor are elected by and amongst the councillors themselves. Surinder Chauhan and Uma Kaushal of INC are the present Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively. The two major political parties are the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress. Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been nearing extinction with just 1 member in current corporation.[5] The administrative head of the corporation is the Municipal Commissioner who is appointed by the state government. Raipur Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.
Revenue sources
editThe following are the Income sources for the corporation from the Central and State Government.[6][7][8]
Revenue from taxes
editFollowing is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
- Property tax.
- Profession tax.
- Entertainment tax.
- Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax.
- Advertisement tax.
Revenue from non-tax sources
editFollowing is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
- Water usage charges.
- Fees from Documentation services.
- Rent received from municipal property.
- Funds from municipal bonds.
List of wards and Elected Councillors
editIn 2022, a delimitation exercise initially proposed expanding the Shimla Municipal Corporation to 41 wards. However, an ordinance passed in January 2023 reverted the number of wards back to 34 ahead of the May 2023 municipal elections.[9]
The corporation currently comprises 34 elected councillors and 5 councillors nominated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. In the 2023 elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) secured a majority by winning 24 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 9 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 1 seat.[10]
| Ward No. | Ward Name | Assembly Constituency | Councillor Name | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bharari | Shimla Urban | Smt. Meena Chauhan | BJP |
| 02 | Ruldu Bhatta | Shimla Urban | Smt. Saroj Thakur | BJP |
| 03 | Kaithu | Shimla Urban | Smt. Kanta Suyal | INC |
| 04 | Annadale | Shimla Urban | Smt. Urmila Kashyap | INC |
| 05 | Summer Hill | Shimla Rural | Sh. Virender Thakur | CPI(M) |
| 06 | Totu | Shimla Rural | Smt. Monika Bhardwaj | INC |
| 07 | Majhat | Shimla Rural | Smt. Anita Sharma | INC |
| 08 | Boileauganj | Shimla Rural | Sh. Daleep Thapa | INC |
| 09 | Kachighati | Shimla Urban | Smt. Kiran Sharma | INC |
| 10 | Tutikandi | Shimla Urban | Smt. Uma Kaushal | INC |
| 11 | Nabha | Shimla Urban | Smt. Simi Nanda | INC |
| 12 | Phagli | Shimla Urban | Sh. Kalyan Dhiman | BJP |
| 13 | Krishna Nagar | Shimla Urban | Sh. Bittu Kumar | BJP |
| 14 | Ram Bazar Ganj | Shimla Urban | Smt. Sushma Kuthiala | INC |
| 15 | Lower Bazaar | Shimla Urban | Smt. Umang Banga | INC |
| 16 | Jakhu | Shimla Urban | Sh. Atul Gautam | INC |
| 17 | Benmore | Shimla Urban | K. Sheenam Kataria | INC |
| 18 | Engine Ghar | Shimla Urban | Sh. Ankush Verma | INC |
| 19 | Sanjauli Chowk | Shimla Urban | Smt. Mamta Chandel | INC |
| 20 | Upper Dhalli | Kasumpti | Smt. Kamlesh Mehta | BJP |
| 21 | Lower Dhalli | Kasumpti | Smt. Vishakha Modi | INC |
| 22 | Shanti Vihar | Kasumpti | Sh. Vineet Sharma | INC |
| 23 | Bhattakufar | Kasumpti | Sh. Narinder Thakur | INC |
| 24 | Sangti | Kasumpti | Sh. Kuldeep Thakur | INC |
| 25 | Malyana | Kasumpti | Smt. Shanta Verma | INC |
| 26 | Panthaghati | Kasumpti | Smt. Kushum Thakur | BJP |
| 27 | Kasumpati | Kasumpti | Smt Rachana Sharma | BJP |
| 28 | Chotta Shimla | Kasumpti | Sh. Surinder Chauhan (Mayor) | INC |
| 29 | Vikasnagar | Kasumpti | Smt. Rachana Bhardwaj | INC |
| 30 | Kangnadhar | Kasumpti | Sh. Ram Rattan | INC |
| 31 | Pateog | Kasumpti | Smt. Asha Sharma | INC |
| 32 | New Shimla | Kasumpti | Smt. Nisha Thakur | BJP |
| 33 | Khalini | Kasumpti | Sh. Chaman Prakash | INC |
| 34 | Kanlog | Kasumpti | Sh. Alok Pathania | BJP |
Nominated Councillors
editThe Government of Himachal Pradesh nominates 5 councillors to the corporation based on their prominence in fields like social service and academics.
- Sh. Ashwani Kumar Sood
- Sh. Gopal Sharma
- Smt. Gitanjali Bhagra
- Sh. Vinod Kumar Bhatia
- Sh. Raj Kumar Sharma
Corporation elections
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Gupta, Anupam. "City Mayors: Indian Mayors". citymayors.com. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ "Shimla Municipal Corporation". Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ↑ "LIST OF WARDS OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHIMLA" (PDF).
- ↑ "Delimitation of Shimla MC wards: DC issues draft proposal; 7 wards added". Himachal Scape. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ↑ "Shimla MC election results: BJP defeats Congress, creates history by winning maximum seats". Zee News.
- ↑ Jadhav, Radheshyam (3 December 2020). "Why civic bodies in India need municipal bonds". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ↑ "Municipal corporations under severe strain as revenues sink: RBI Report". Business Today. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ↑ "If cities are to deliver better quality life, need to have business models which are sustainable". Financialexpress. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ↑ "Shimla Municipal Corporation to have 34 wards again". The Tribune. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Congress sweeps Shimla municipal polls, wins 24 of 34 wards". The Hindu. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2026.