Part of: Uttarakhand Polity Notes · See also: Uttarakhand GK
Quick answer
The Uttarakhand Nagar Nigam list has 11 Municipal Corporations (2025-26). Also, they are Dehradun, Haridwar, Haldwani, Roorkee, Kashipur, Rudrapur, Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Srinagar, Almora and Pithoragarh. First, Dehradun, from 1998, was the earliest Nagar Nigam. Later, Srinagar, from 2021, became the first in a wholly hill area. In addition, the State has 46 Nagar Palika Parishads and 51 Nagar Panchayats, as on 29 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
- Nagar Nigams: 11 (2025-26)
- Total urban local bodies: 108 — 11 Nagar Nigams, 46 Nagar Palika Parishads, 51 Nagar Panchayats
- Cantonment boards: 9
- First Nagar Nigam: Dehradun (1998)
- First in a wholly hill area: Srinagar (2021)
- Newest: Almora and Pithoragarh (2024)
- Last polls: polling 23 January 2025, counting 25 January 2025, for 100 ULBs
Uttarakhand Nagar Nigam list (with Mayors)
The table below gives each Nagar Nigam, its year of creation and its Mayor. Also, voters chose all these Mayors in January 2025.
| No. | Nagar Nigam | Year | Mayor elected Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dehradun | 1998 (first) | Saurabh Thapliyal |
| 2 | Haridwar | 2011 | Kiran Jaisal |
| 3 | Haldwani | 2011 | Gajraj Singh Bisht |
| 4 | Roorkee | 2013 | Anita Agrawal |
| 5 | Kashipur | 2013 | Deepak Bali |
| 6 | Rudrapur | 2013 | Vikas Sharma |
| 7 | Rishikesh | 2017 | Shambhu Paswan |
| 8 | Kotdwar | 2017 | Shailendra Singh Rawat |
| 9 | Srinagar | 2021 — first in a wholly hill area | Arti Bhandari (Independent) — first Mayor |
| 10 | Almora | 2024 | Ajay Verma — first Mayor |
| 11 | Pithoragarh | 2024 | Kalpana Devlal — first Mayor |
However, the order of Rishikesh and Kotdwar in 2017 is not settled. So the serial numbers 7 and 8 are only a listing order.
Thus, the State had one Nagar Nigam in 2001 and has 11 now. Moreover, three of them, Srinagar, Almora and Pithoragarh, got their first Mayors only recently.
How the list grew
First, Dehradun stood alone as a Nagar Nigam from 1998. Then Haridwar and Haldwani joined in 2011. Next, Roorkee, Kashipur and Rudrapur followed in 2013.
After that, Rishikesh and Kotdwar joined in 2017. Srinagar came in 2021, and finally Almora and Pithoragarh in 2024. As a result, the Uttarakhand Nagar Nigam list now has 11 names (October 2026).
Growth of urban local bodies since 2001
| Body | 2001 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Nagar Nigams | 1 | 11 |
| Nagar Palika Parishads | 31 | 46 |
| Nagar Panchayats | 31 | 51 |
| Total | 63 | 108 |
| Cantonment boards | 9 | 9 |
Therefore, the total grew from 63 in 2001 to 108 in 2025-26. Also, the number of cantonment boards stayed at nine throughout.
Constitutional base: the 74th Amendment
Meanwhile, the 74th Amendment of 1992 gave urban bodies constitutional status. Thus, it added Part IXA (Articles 243P to 243ZG). In addition, it added the Twelfth Schedule with 18 subjects.
Further, Article 243Q sets out three types of urban body:
- Nagar Panchayat — for a transitional area, moving from rural to urban.
- Nagar Palika Parishad — for a smaller urban area.
- Nagar Nigam — for a larger urban area.
Uttarakhand also inherited two laws from UP. These are the Municipalities Act, 1916 and the Municipal Corporations Act, 1959.
Rural bodies follow Part IX instead. For that side, therefore, see Panchayati Raj in Uttarakhand.
How Mayors and councillors are chosen
In Uttarakhand, people directly elect the Mayor for five years. Similarly, voters directly elect the councillors. The councillors, however, elect the Deputy Mayor.
Likewise, each Nagar Palika Parishad has a directly elected Adhyaksha. In all, the State has 46 such Parishads.
Nagar Palika Parishads and Nagar Panchayats
Next, Uttarakhand has 51 Nagar Panchayats. However, three of them are seasonal: Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri. As a result, these three do not hold elections.
Also, some well-known towns are not Nagar Nigams. For example, Nainital has no Mayor post, since it is not on the Nagar Nigam list.
Urban body elections of January 2025
The State Election Commission ran the urban polls. Thus, polling took place on 23 January 2025 for 100 ULBs. Then counting followed on 25 January 2025.
As a result, BJP won 10 of the 11 Mayor posts. In contrast, Srinagar went to Independent Arti Bhandari. Thus, she became Srinagar’s first Mayor.
Also, the Commission’s role appears in constitutional and statutory bodies of Uttarakhand. Besides, the district and division map is in the Uttarakhand districts list.
Exam corner: common traps
- First Nagar Nigam is Dehradun (1998); first in a wholly hill area is Srinagar (2021). Do not mix the two.
- Rishikesh vs Kotdwar: both became Nagar Nigams in 2017; which came first is not settled.
- Mayor vs Deputy Mayor: people elect the Mayor directly, but councillors elect the Deputy Mayor.
- Nainital has no Mayor post; it is not a Nagar Nigam.
- Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri are Nagar Panchayats that do not hold elections.
What UKPSC has asked
- The first Municipal Corporation in a purely hilly region of Uttarakhand is? Srinagar (UKPSC Revenue Inspector, 2023)
- In Uttaranchal, the Mayor of a Municipal Corporation is? Elected by the local people (UK PSC UDA/LDA (Pre), 2003)
- Which of these towns does not have the post of Mayor: Nainital, Dehradun, Haldwani or Rishikesh? Nainital (UK PSC DEO Exam, 2023)
- Which of these is not a district of Uttaranchal: Bageshwar, Champawat, Rudraprayag or Rudrapur? Rudrapur (UK PSC (Pre), 2002-03)
Revise in one page
The 74th Amendment (1992) added Part IXA (243P to 243ZG) and the Twelfth Schedule (18 subjects). Article 243Q names three bodies: Nagar Panchayat, Nagar Palika Parishad and Nagar Nigam. Uttarakhand has 108 ULBs (2025-26): 11 Nagar Nigams, 46 Nagar Palikas and 51 Nagar Panchayats. Also, it has 9 cantonment boards. Totals grew from 63 (2001) to 108 (2025-26). Dehradun (1998) was the first Nagar Nigam. Then came Haridwar and Haldwani (2011); Roorkee, Kashipur and Rudrapur (2013); Rishikesh and Kotdwar (2017). Srinagar (2021) was the first wholly hill Nagar Nigam. Finally, Almora and Pithoragarh came in 2024. People elect the Mayor directly. In January 2025, BJP won 10 of 11 Mayor posts.
In the news
- 98 GIS-based master plans for urban development — mapped plans that will guide growth in the State’s towns.
- MDDA Master Plan 2041 for Dehradun — the long-term plan for the State’s first Nagar Nigam city.
- Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026: Dehradun 12th — Dehradun’s air-quality rank among cities of 3 to 10 lakh population.
Practise Uttarakhand Polity
- Daily 25 free practice questions — UKPSC previous-year questions, every morning.
- UKPSC previous year papers — bilingual PDFs of Upper PCS, Lower PCS, RO/ARO and more.
- UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series — full-length tests with detailed solutions.
Preparing for UKPSC Upper PCS, Lower PCS or RO/ARO? Join SAMVEG IAS, Dehradun. For batch details, call or WhatsApp +91 84759 04943.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uttarakhand has 11 Nagar Nigams (2025-26). It also has 46 Nagar Palika Parishads and 51 Nagar Panchayats, for 108 urban local bodies in all.
Dehradun, from 1998, was the first Nagar Nigam. Srinagar, from 2021, was the first in a wholly hill area.
Almora and Pithoragarh are the newest Nagar Nigams, both from 2024. Ajay Verma and Kalpana Devlal became their first Mayors in January 2025.
The Mayor is directly elected by the people for five years. The Deputy Mayor, however, is elected by the councillors.
Arti Bhandari, an Independent, won and became the first Mayor of Srinagar. BJP won the other 10 Mayor posts.
Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri are seasonal Nagar Panchayats. They do not hold elections.
Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.