UPSC GS Paper I: Indian Society, Urbanisation Challenges, Slums, Smart Cities

Must?Know (20–25 detailed bullets)

• Urbanisation in India – 31.14% of population lived in urban areas as per Census 2011; projected to reach 35% by 2036 according to National Urbanisation Commission projections.
• Slum population in India – 65.5 million in 2011 (Census 2011), with Maharashtra (11.8 million) having the highest number of slum dwellers.
• Definition of slum by Census 2011 – residential area with inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding (room occupancy), and unauthorized or dilapidated structures.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) – launched in 2015, aims to provide "Housing for All" by 2022 (extended timeline due to delays); includes slum rehabilitation, affordable housing, and credit-linked subsidy.
• Smart Cities Mission – launched in 2015, 100 cities selected through Smart City Challenge; focuses on area-based development and pan-city initiatives using ICT.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) – launched 2015, targets water supply, sewerage, urban transport, and green spaces in 500+ cities.
• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat – component of National Action Plan on Climate Change; promotes energy efficiency in buildings, urban waste management, and public transport.
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) – launched 2005, restructured into AMRUT, Smart Cities, and PMAY(U) in 2015.
• Census 2011 definition of statutory town – places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board, or notified town area committee.
• Census 2011 definition of census town – population ?5,000, density ?400/km², and at least 75% male working population engaged in non-agriculture.
• Conurbation – merged urban agglomerations; example: National Capital Region (NCR) comprising Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Sonipat.
• Urban Agglomeration (UA) – continuous urban spread across statutory and census towns; example: Greater Mumbai UA includes Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, and surrounding census towns.
• Smart Cities Mission funding – central government provides ?48,000 crore (?480 crore per city on average); matched by state/ULB contributions.
• Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – legal entity created under Companies Act for each Smart City; responsible for implementation, with CEO appointed for project execution.
• Slum Rehabilitation Schemes – require private developers to provide free housing to eligible slum dwellers in exchange for development rights (FAR/FSI incentives).
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 – applies to land acquisition in urban areas; mandates consent and R&R for displaced populations, including slum dwellers.
• Supreme Court in Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) – held that right to livelihood is integral to Article 21 (Right to Life); eviction from pavements/slums must consider rehabilitation.
• National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) – rebranded as Aajeevika – launched 2013, focuses on self-employment, skill development, and shelter for urban poor.
• Unplanned urbanisation – leads to urban heat islands; Delhi’s temperature is 2–3°C higher than surrounding rural areas due to concrete density and reduced green cover.
• 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 – mandates constitution of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), devolution of powers, and District Planning Committees (DPCs) for integrated planning.
• Metropolitan Planning Committees (MPCs) – established under Article 243ZE; responsible for preparing draft development plans for metropolitan areas.
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Mission – precursor to JnNURM; focused on infrastructure upgradation in mid-2000s but lacked decentralized governance framework.
• Smart Cities use ICT tools like GIS, IoT, and data analytics; Surat and Bhopal have deployed integrated command and control centers (ICCCs) for real-time monitoring.
• India’s urban population grew from 286 million (2001) to 377 million (2011) – increase of 91 million; growth driven by migration and reclassification of census towns.
• National Urban Sanitation Policy (2008) – first policy to emphasize city-wide sanitation planning; later subsumed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), launched 2014.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires integration of data, policy schemes, constitutional provisions, and judicial pronouncements; frequent multi-concept questions in UPSC.

Common UPSC Traps (3–5 factual traps)

Trap: Smart Cities Mission covers all urban areas in India – Fact: Only 100 cities were selected through a competitive challenge; not universal coverage (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Smart Cities Mission Guidelines).
Trap: Slums are defined solely by lack of sanitation – Fact: Census 2011 uses three criteria: population density, occupation, and infrastructure (Census of India 2011 – Houselisting and Housing Census).
Trap: 74th Amendment gave constitutional status to Smart Cities – Fact: 74th Amendment (1992) mandates Urban Local Bodies; Smart Cities Mission is a central scheme launched in 2015, not constitutionally mandated.
Trap: AMRUT replaced JnNURM entirely – Fact: JnNURM was restructured into AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, PMAY(U), and NULM; not a one-to-one replacement.

Practice MCQs (5–7 questions)

Question: Which of the following are components of the Smart Cities Mission?

1. Area-based development

2. Pan-city initiatives using ICT

3. Mandatory inclusion of rural areas in city plans

4. 100% central funding
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 2 and 3 only
C) 3 and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Smart Cities Mission includes area-based development and pan-city ICT initiatives; rural inclusion and 100% central funding are not mandated.
Why others fail: Option D is tempting due to assumption of full central support, but funding is shared with states/ULBs.

Question: The Supreme Court in Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) linked the right to livelihood with:
A) Article 14
B) Article 19
C) Article 21
D) Article 23
Answer: C
Explanation: The judgment expanded Article 21 (Right to Life) to include the right to livelihood, especially for pavement dwellers.
Why others fail: Option B is tempting as Article 19(1)(g) relates to occupation, but the Court anchored livelihood under Article 21.

Question: Which of the following is NOT a criterion for a census town as per Census 2011?
A) Minimum population of 5,000
B) At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities
C) Presence of a municipal corporation
D) Population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre
Answer: C
Explanation: Presence of a municipal corporation defines a statutory town, not a census town.
Why others fail: Option C is often confused as all urban areas are assumed to have formal governance bodies.

Question: The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Smart Cities Mission is registered under which Act?
A) Municipal Corporations Act
B) Companies Act
C) Societies Registration Act
D) Urban Development Act
Answer: B
Explanation: SPVs are registered under the Companies Act to ensure financial autonomy and project efficiency.
Why others fail: Option A is tempting as SPVs relate to urban bodies, but legal structure is under Companies Act.

Question: Which mission among the following focuses on water supply, sewerage, and urban transport in cities with population over 1 lakh?
A) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)
B) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
C) Smart Cities Mission
D) National Urban Livelihoods Mission
Answer: B
Explanation: AMRUT targets infrastructure in cities with population >1 lakh, focusing on water, sewerage, and transport.
Why others fail: Option C is tempting due to broader urban focus, but AMRUT specifically targets core infrastructure.

Last?Minute Revision (20–25 one?liners)

• Census 2011: 65.5 million slum dwellers in urban India.
• Smart Cities Mission: 100 cities selected via competition; launched 2015.
• Olga Tellis case (1985): Right to livelihood under Article 21.
• 74th Constitutional Amendment: 1992; mandates ULBs, DPCs, MPCs.
• AMRUT: Replaced JnNURM component; 500+ cities; focus on water and sewage.
• PMAY(U): Launched 2015; four verticals including slum rehabilitation.
• NULM: Rebranded as Aajeevika; urban poverty alleviation.
• Statutory town: Has municipality, corporation, cantonment board.
• Census town: Meets three demographic criteria; no formal governance.
• Conurbation: Merged urban areas; e.g., NCR.
• Urban Agglomeration: Includes core city + outgrowths + census towns.
• SPV: Registered under Companies Act for Smart Cities.
• FAR: Floor Area Ratio; incentivized for slum redevelopment.
• JnNURM: Launched 2005; restructured in 2015.
• Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): Launched 2014; subsumed NUSP.
• National Urban Sanitation Policy: 2008; city-wide planning focus.
• 31.14% urban population in 2011 (Census).
• Maharashtra has highest slum population (11.8 million in 2011).
• Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC): Used in Smart Cities for monitoring.
• Metropolitan Planning Committee: Article 243ZE; prepares metro development plans.
• District Planning Committee: Article 243ZD; integrates rural-urban planning.
• Right to Clean Environment: Part of Article 21 (Vellore Citizens Case, 1996).
• Land acquisition in urban areas: Governed by LARR Act, 2013.
• Unplanned urbanisation: Contributes to urban heat islands (e.g., Delhi).
• verify from standard source: Projected urban population 35% by 2036.