Cities are important. They are at the forefront of our economy, they provide education and employment opportunities, and they act as hubs of new ideas. The lives of urban Indians are enmeshed with the cities they live in, and yet, we are so under-informed when it comes to the governing structures that ensure their smooth functioning.

The Nagrika Governance Series looks at how our cities are managed through the lens of city governments. They are part of the three-tier system of governance and form the tier closest to the citizens. They are accessible enough to listen to citizens’ complaints and suggestions and are hopefully empowered enough to take action based on them.

In this article, we look at cities more specifically. This includes looking at how cities are defined in both global and national contexts. We also look at the reasons why city governments are important. The reasons range from service provision to accountability to being grounded in local realities.