Introduction to Human Settlements
The study of human settlements is basic to human geography because the form of settlement in any particular region reflects human relationship with the environment. A human settlement is defined as a place inhabited more or less permanently. It is also referred to as a cluster of dwellings where humans reside, involving grouping of people and allocation of territory for economic support.

The houses may be designed or redesigned, buildings may be altered, functions may change but settlement continues in time and space. There may be some settlements which are temporary and are occupied for short periods, may be a season. Settlements range from hamlets to metropolitan cities. As the size changes, the economic character, social structure, and other factors also shift.

Differences Between Rural and Urban Human Settlements

Types of Rural Human Settlements:

Note: Factors affecting rural settlements include physical features (terrain, altitude, climate, water availability), cultural and ethnic factors (social structure, caste, religion), and security reasons (defence against thefts and robberies).
Human Settlements Type	Characteristics of Human Settlements	Examples/Locations of Human Settlements
Clustered	Compact or closely built up area of houses with a recognizable pattern. Human Settlements: Along with streets present a recognisable pattern or geometric shape found in these settlements like  rectangular, radial, linear, etc.  Clustered Settlements in the North-eastern states	Found in fertile alluvial plains and northeastern states, Bundelkhand region, and areas in Rajasthan for water scarcity reasons.
Semi-Clustered	Results from fragmentation of a large compact village or clustering in a dispersed settlement’s restricted area.  Dominant community occupies the central part.	Semi- Clustered Settlements Found in the Gujarat plain and parts of Rajasthan.
Hamleted	Human Settlements: Fragmented into several units bearing a common name (e.g., panna, para, palli, nagla, dhani). This segmentation is often influenced  by social and ethnic factors.	Found in the middle and lower Ganga plain, Chhattisgarh, and lower valleys of the Himalayas.
Dispersed (Refer to Figure 2.27)	Appears as isolated huts or hamlets in remote areas. Extreme dispersion is often caused by the extremely fragmented nature of the terrain and land resource base of habitable areas. Dispersed settlements in Nagaland	Found in Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala due to the terrain and fragmented land resource base.

Urban Settlements:

• Meaning: These  are large and compact settlements primarily engaged in non-agricultural, economic, and administrative functions.
• Functional Interdependence: Urban settlements are functionally linked with surrounding rural areas, facilitating direct and indirect exchanges of goods and services.
• Criteria for Defining Urban Human Settlements: The census of India,(1991) defines urban settlement  as  places having established municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee and have a
  • Minimum population of 5000 persons,
  • At least 75 percent of male workers are engaged in non-agricultural pursuits and 
  • A density of population of at least 400 persons per square kilometers.

Evolution of Indian Towns: From Ancient Centers to Modern Hubs 

• European Settlement Patterns: The British and other European settlers initially focused on coastal locations.
  • They built towns in their distinctive style, established administrative centers, developed hill-towns as summer resorts, and introduced new civil, administrative, and military areas, profoundly influencing the fabric of Human Settlements in the region.
• Post-Independence Urban Development in India: The nation undertook the task of  growth of new towns for administrative and industrial purposes, as well as the expansion of existing towns,  contributing to the evolving landscape of Human Settlements. 
• Classification of Towns: On the basis of their evolution in different periods, Indian towns may be classified as: 
  • Ancient towns,
  • Medieval towns, and
  • Modern towns.

Table: Evolution of Towns in India

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

Conclusion
India’s towns, spanning ancient cultural centers to modern industrial hubs like Durgapur and Bhilai, showcase the dynamic evolution of human settlements. From historical roots to contemporary needs, each town, including satellite ones like Ghaziabad and Gurugram, contributes to the diverse tapestry of human settlements in India.

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