How much salary does the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Mayor receive, and how are their increments determined?

The BMC elections are currently a hot topic. Elections for the BMC and 29 other municipal corporations are scheduled for January 15th. Let's find out how much the BMC Mayor earns.

The political atmosphere in Maharashtra is about to heat up again. Elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with 29 other municipal corporations in the state, are scheduled for January 15th. The results will be declared the very next day. As always, the BMC elections are generating the most discussion. The reason is clear: the BMC is considered the richest municipal corporation in the country. The words power, money, and influence are automatically associated with it.

The BMC's budget is said to be larger than that of several states. Therefore, it's natural for ordinary people to wonder how much salary the BMC Mayor receives and how much power they wield. Let's understand the answers to these questions in simple terms.

How is the BMC Mayor elected?

The BMC Mayor is not directly elected by the public. The people of Mumbai elect corporators, who then elect the Mayor from among themselves. Usually, the party with the most corporators has the highest chance of having its candidate elected as Mayor.

The term of office for both the Mayor and the corporators is two and a half years. It's also important to note that the Mayor and corporators do not have administrative power. Their powers are primarily legislative; that is, they play a key role in policies, proposals, and discussions, while the administrative work remains in the hands of the commissioner and other officials.

How much salary does the BMC Mayor receive?

People often assume that the BMC Mayor receives a very high salary, but the reality is somewhat different. According to reports, the BMC Mayor does not receive a regular salary but rather an honorarium.

The Mayor's basic honorarium is approximately Rs. 6,000 per month. However, after adding various allowances and benefits, their average monthly income reaches around 50,000 to 55,000 rupees. This means the BMC Mayor's annual income is approximately 6 to 6.5 lakh rupees. While the salary itself may not be very high, the Mayor receives several special perks. They are provided with a Mayor's House (official residence), a government vehicle, a driver, and staff. In addition, they receive various allowances for meetings, events, and official tours.

What are the powers of the BMC Mayor?

The BMC Mayor is considered the 'First Citizen' of Mumbai. They represent the city and act as the voice of Mumbai on many important occasions. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the BMC House. One of the Mayor's key responsibilities is to advance the municipal corporation's agenda and maintain order in the House. Bringing up and discussing issues related to the public is also the Mayor's responsibility.

Is there an annual increment?

According to reports, the Mayor's income is not tied to a fixed salary, so there is no rule for annual increments. The honorarium and allowances received by the Mayor are determined according to the rules of the state government and the municipal corporation. An increase only occurs if the government or the BMC House makes changes to the honorarium or allowances.