Mayor (India)

In India, a mayor is the ceremonial head of a city's municipal corporation and is often referred to as the first citizen of the city. The mayor's role is primarily ceremonial and lacks executive powers, with the municipal commissioner serving as the executive head of a municipal corporation. The method of electing mayors—whether directly or indirectly—depends on state legislation.^[1]

Municipal corporation mechanisms in India was introduced during British Raj with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1726.^[2] However the process of introduction for an elected president in the municipalities was made in Lord Mayo's Resolution of 1870. Since then the current form and structure of municipal bodies followed is similar to Lord Ripon's Resolution adopted in 1882 on local self-governance. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 was introduced providing for the transfer of 18 different powers to urban local bodies, including the election of a mayor and to recognise them which included municipal corporations, Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils.^[3]