What are major challenges faced by Indian cities? UPSC;URBANISM;GS-1; SETTLEMENT GEOGRAPHY;NOVEMBER 2024 CURRENT AFFIARES;WINUPSC BY PRIYA GUPTA

 INTRODUCTION/DATA/TRENDS/ REPORT THEME

•     October 31 is observed every year as World Cities Day. 

• The world’s urban population  [ not including rural] as reached an estimated 4.7 billion, or 57.5% of the world’s total population, with  projections to double by 2050.

•  The theme for this year’s World Cities Day is ‘Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalysing Local Action for Urban Sustainability’.

       [ this data is beneficial for upcoming 2025 PT & Mains]

CHALLENGES FACED BY CITIES [WORLD+INDIA]

•   The UN underscores that cities face unprecedented challenges, especially climate change.
• While strides have been made towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urban centres remain plagued by
•  poverty, 
• inequality, and 
•  environmental degradation. 
• In the Global South[ all countries located on southern hemisphere including India], these challenges are intensified by 
•  rapid urbanisation, 
• inadequate infrastructure, and
•  limited resources. 
•  housing shortages, as well as affordability amid rapid real estate appreciation [ seoul, south korea]
•  poor access to clean water and sanitation, and 
• increased vulnerability to climate-related events.
• unplanned urban planning
• example- GURGAON aka GURUGRAM in DELHI-NCR

        

INDIAN URBANISATION    

•    India’s urbanisation trajectory differs from the cities in the Global North[countries located on northern hemisphere]. 
• In Western countries, urbanisation followed industrialisation, which created jobs that absorbed rural labour. 
• Their urbanisation was sustained also because of massive economic transfers from colonies.
•  Economist Utsa Patnaik has highlighted that India alone contributed over $45 trillion to England’s economy during colonial rule. 
• In contrast, India’s urbanisation is largely driven by economic distress, resulting in “poverty-driven urbanisation,” with both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban migration. 
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the strain on urban planning became apparent, as reverse migration trends highlighted gaps in infrastructure.

URBAN  CHALLENGES  IN INDIA 

1.  Without a 2021 Census,  India lacks precise data on its urban population. 
2. World Bank estimates suggest around 40% of India’s population live in urban areas, in around 9,000 statutory and census towns. 
3. The main challenges Indian cities face include 
1.  inadequate spatial planning, 
2. climate change, 
3. massive migration, 
4. growing inequality and 
5. social segregation, [ growing individualism, isolation, nuclear families]
6.  governance limitations. 
4. Urban planning agencies have struggled due to two main issues. 
1. First, spatial and temporal plans are often outdated and fail to accommodate population growth. 
2. Since the 1980s, deindustrialisation has led to job losses in cities like Ahmedabad, Delhi, Surat, and Mumbai. 
3. Many workers displaced by this trend moved to peri-urban areas, where they live in overcrowded conditions.
4.  Currently, 40% of India’s urban population resides in slums. 
5. Second, plans often focus on capital growth rather than people’s needs, 
1. leading to a lack of local ownership and 
2. lack of engagement in the planning process. 
5.  inequality is widening, with exclusive developments catering to the wealthy while millions lack basic housing. 
6. climate change severely impacts Indian cities. 
7. Cities face severe pollution and are increasingly subject to urban flooding and “heat island effects.” 
8. Among the 10 most polluted cities in India, eight are in the NCR region around Delhi. 
9.  Despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment, most Indian cities remain controlled by undemocratic bodies. 
10.  Though cities have elected representatives, they rarely control urban planning, which is often outsourced to parastatals and private entities. 
11. For example,
1. less than three of the 18 functions outlined in the 12th Schedule have been universally transferred to urban governments, and 
2. cities receive a mere 0.5% of the GDP in intergovernmental transfers. 
12. As we observe World Cities Day, these challenges highlight the need for comprehensive national interventions.[this can be mains question or you can include in your conclusion's line.]

HOMEWORK TIME -READ AND REVISE  

1. gs-2; polity-laxmikanth- municipality -constitutional provisions
2. your study material/ notes- gs-1; urbanisation 
3. geography optional:- paper-A; settlement geography 
4. geography optional; paper-B; Indian geography and current issues along with theories.

FURTHER READINGS AND ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE

1. https://vajiramandravi.com/quest-upsc-notes/urbanization/
   
2. https://pwonlyias.com/upsc-gs-paper-1-urbanization/
   
3. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/urban-planning/
   
4. https://www.india.gov.in/schemesprogrammes-under-ministry-housing-and-urban-affairs
   

If you have any doubts and question then comment down here.

lots of love and peace 💝