UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 10th September
Question
Urbanization in India has been a significant and rapid phenomenon in recent decades, accompanied by both opportunities and challenges. Discuss the factors leading to rapid urbanisation and its adverse impact on socio economic structure of the country. (15 marks, 250 words)
Model Answer
Explanation:
Urbanisation:
According to United Nations, Urbanisation refers to the process of moving people from rural areas to urban areas.
Status of urbanisation:
According to the UN:
Two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050.
More than 50% of India’s population, or 877 million people, will live in our cities and towns by 2050.
Rapid growth:
The Economic Survey 2023–24, citing studies by NITI Aayog, projects that over 40% of India's population will reside in urban areas by 2030.
According to the 2011 census, urbanisation increased from 27.7% in 2001 to 31.1% in 2011, representing a total of 377.1 million people and an annual growth rate of 2.76%.
Factors responsible for rapid urbanisation:
Economic opportunities:
Cities offer more employment opportunities than in rural areas because of infrastructure development, business establishments etc.
Development of industries:
Better infrastructure for business establishments, Market access, investment opportunities, and transportation facilities led to industrial development. This development attracts the more labour force towards urban cities.
Example: Industrial areas around the Delhi city encouraging migration of people leads to urbanisation.
Better educational facilities:
Cities can have better schools and colleges and universities providing better education, attracts people to migrate from rural to urban areas.
Better lifestyle opportunities:
Urban areas have more facilities such as best hospitals, libraries, entertainment facilities such as malls attract people who are craving for better life style.
Example: Best hospitals like Yashoda are in cities like Hyderabad.
Migration of population:
Informal settlements of urban areas such as slums significantly contributes to urbanisation in India.
Example: Dharavi, Mumbai is an excellent example of slum formation in the cities due to migration of people from rural to urban areas.
According to 9th National Service Scheme round (July 2012-December 2012), the capital had approximately 6,343 slums with more than a million households where 52 per cent of its total population resided.
Adverse impact of rapid urbanisation on socio economic structure of the country:
Population pressure:
Rapid urbanisation leads to explosion of population which can cause burden on resources allocation.
Example: Slum dwellers in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata often lack access to basic services.
Infrastructure strain from overcrowding:
Over population crowd decreases the facilities of housing and basic services such as water availability etc.
Example: Cities like Mumbai and Delhi face a shortage of affordable housing and inadequate public transport infrastructure.
Increasing poverty and unemployment:
Many people did not get employment opportunities due to excessive population often ended in informal economic activities such as street vendors etc.
Environmental degradation:
Due to rapid urbanisation water stress will increases, increased vehicles lead to increase in air pollution.
Unplanned urban development exacerbates the urban flooding etc.
Example: Floods in Chennai (2017), Vijayawada (2024) and Bangalore floods are the best examples.
Slum proliferation:
Insufficient housing facilities, high cost living often led to slum proliferation.
Example: According to Census 2011, There were 0.9 million homeless people in urban India in addition to a slum population of roughly 65 million (or 17% of urban India).
Way forward:
Sustainable solutions: Sponge City Concept and Permeable Urban Landscapes, Waste-to-Energy and Decentralised Waste Management Systems, Smart Water Management and Recycling Infrastructure can improve the urban infrastructure.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): It focuses on improving basic urban infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems.
Housing for All (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana): It targets the elimination of urban housing shortages by providing affordable housing.
Conclusion:
Rapid urbanisation is a double-edged sword, by adopting sustainable urbanization strategies, India can ensure that its cities become inclusive, resilient, and vibrant centres of progress. This requires a coordinated effort from governments, private sectors, and communities to harness the potential of urbanization for the benefit of all.