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Human geography

Urbanization in India: Trends, Dynamics, & the Smart Cities Mission

December 5, 2023 4251 0

Human geography

Rapid Urbanization in India

Urbanization in India refers to the rapid growth and expansion of urban areas within the country. This phenomenon, observed in Urbanization in India, is characterized by the increasing migration of people from rural to urban regions in search of better economic opportunities, improved standards of living, and access to amenities and services.

  • Census 2011 : Level of urbanization in India was 31.16% which is low when compared to developed countries.
  • 20th Century Trend: The urban population grew eleven-fold. 
    • Factors contributing were enlargement of urban centers and emergence of new towns.
  • Recent Trend: The growth rate of urbanization has slowed in the last two decades. (Refer to Figure)

Trends of Urbanisation 1901-2011

Trends of Urbanisation 1901-2011 

Urbanization in India: Different Types of Cities and How They Work

Urbanization in India: On the basis of dominant or specialized functions, Indian cities and towns can be broadly classified as follows,

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Type Description & Examples
Administrative Towns hosting higher-order administrative headquarters. E.g., Chandigarh, New Delhi, Bhopal.
Industrial Dominated by industries. E.g., Mumbai, Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Salem, Coimbatore, Modinagar, Hugli, etc.
Transport
  • Some of these are major of India ports in Urbanization in India,  primarily engaged in export and import activities, E.g., Kandla (port), Kozhikode, Visakhapatnam,
  • Some cities are hubs of inland transport such as Agra, Dhulia, Mughalsarai, Itarsi, Katni, etc.
Commercial
  • Specialize in trade and commerce. E.g., Kolkata, Saharanpur, Satna etc.
Mining
  • Developed in mineral-rich areas. E.g., Raniganj, Jharia, Digboi, Ankaleshwar, Singrauli etc.
Garrison Cantonment
  • Emerged as garrison towns. E.g., Ambala, Jalandhar, Mhow, Babina, Udhampur, etc.
Educational
  • Centers of education or major campus towns. E.g., Roorkee, Allahabad, Aligarh, Pilani etc.
Religious and Cultural
  • Known for their religious/cultural significance. E.g., Varanasi, Amritsar, Madurai, Puri, Ajmer, Pushkar, Tirupati, Kurukshetra,

Haridwar, Ujjain etc.
Tourist
  • Developed as Popular tourist destinations. E.g., Nainital, Shimla, Jodhpur, Mussoorie, Pachmarhi,

Jaisalmer, Udagamandalam (Ooty), Mount Abu etc.
  • Table: The functional classification of towns

Note: Cities, especially the larger ones, tend to be multifunctional. They often evolve and might not fit into a single category due to intertwined functions.

Nurturing Urbanization in India, Progress through the Smart Cities Mission

  • Urbanization in India: The objective of Smart Cities Mission launched on 25 June, 2015, is aimed at providing core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
    • 100 cities selected through a two-stage competition to be developed as Smart Cities are showing satisfying progress.
  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the context of Urbanization in India regularly interacts with the States / Smart Cities through video conferences, review meetings, field visits, regional workshops, etc. at various levels to assess the performance of cities and to handhold them for improvement.
  • Features:
    • Applying smart solutions to enhance infrastructure and services.
    • Making areas disaster-resistant.
    • Using fewer resources and offering economical services.
    • Emphasis on sustainable and inclusive development.
    • Focus on compact areas to create replicable models for other cities.

Conclusion

  • From India’s evolving demographic fabric, it becomes clear that geography profoundly influences population dynamics, much like the rest of the world. 
  • India stands at the crossroads of rapid urbanization and socio-economic transitions. 
  • The intricate interplay of gender roles, work participation, and the emergence of smart cities underlines the country’s journey towards achieving balanced and inclusive growth. 
  • As Urbanization in India unfolds, and the nation grapples with the challenges and opportunities of a growing population, policies like the National Population Policy 2000 and initiatives focusing on gender equality come to the forefront. 
  • Moving forward, understanding these shifts and patterns becomes paramount for policymakers, researchers, and students alike.

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Glossary:

  • Urbanization in India: The shift of population from rural to urban areas and the expansion of urban areas.
  • Census: Official enumeration of the population, with details related to demographic, social, and economic aspects.
  • Sex Ratio: Number of females per 1000 males.
  • Demography: The statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and trends.
  • UNDP: United Nations Development Programme, an organization focusing on sustainable development.
  • Sectoral Shift: Transition of the primary working force from one sector of the economy to another.
  • Work Participation Rate: Percentage of the working population to the total population.
  • Human Settlement: A cluster of dwellings of any type or size where human beings live.
  • Rural Settlement: Settlements predominant in rural areas, primarily engaged in primary activities.
  • Urbanization in India: Urban Settlement large and compact settlements engaged primarily in secondary and tertiary activities.
  • Smart Cities Mission: An initiative to develop cities with core infrastructure, sustainable environment, and high quality of life.
  • Administrative Towns: Towns primarily hosting administrative headquarters.
  • Industrial Towns: Towns that are dominated by industries.
  • Transport Towns: Centers that emerged as ports or crucial transport hubs.
  • Population Density: Number of individuals living per unit area.
  • Birth Rate: Number of live births per thousand people in a year.
  • Death Rate: Number of deaths per thousand people in a year.
  • Migration: Movement of people from one region to another.
  • Adolescent Population: Segment of the population aged between 10 and 19 years.
  • Primary Sector: Economic activities related to extraction and production of natural resources.
  • Secondary Sector: Economic activities related to processing and manufacturing.
  • Tertiary Sector: Services-based economic activities.
  • Functional Classification: Categorization of towns based on their predominant function.
  • Garrison Cantonment: Towns developed around military establishments.
  • Mining Towns: Towns emerging in areas rich in minerals.
  • Religious Towns: Towns known for their religious significance.
  • Tourist Towns: Centers known for their tourist attractions.
  • Natural Increase: The difference between the birth rate and the death rate, indicating the growth of the population.

Also Read: Primary Activities: A Comprehensive Insight into Hunting, Gathering and Commercial Livestock Rearing

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