India’s Rapid Urbanisation

October 31 is observed every year as World Cities Day. The world’s urban population has 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’.

Challenges faced by cities

• Cities are confronting unprecedented challenges, particularly due to climate change.
• Despite progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation persist.
• In the Global South, challenges are compounded by rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, and limited resources. Common issues include:

• Housing shortages
• Poor access to clean water and sanitation
• Increased vulnerability to climate-related events

Urbanization in India

• India’s urbanization trajectory is distinct from that of Western nations, which historically benefited from industrialization and colonial economic transfers.
• India experiences "poverty-driven urbanization," with significant rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban migration driven by economic distress.
• The COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in urban infrastructure, leading to reverse migration and highlighting vulnerabilities.
• Key Urban Challenges in India
  • Lack of Current Data: The absence of a 2021 Census hampers accurate assessments of urban population and planning.
  • Inadequate Spatial Planning: Urban planning is often outdated, failing to accommodate population growth and changes in demographics.
  • Economic Changes: Deindustrialization since the 1980s has resulted in job losses in major cities, with 40% of the urban population now residing in slums.
  • Climate Change Impact: Cities face severe pollution, flooding, and heat island effects. Eight out of the ten most polluted cities in India are in the National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi.
  • Social Segregation: Urban areas are increasingly divided along social and religious lines, with a widening gap between affluent developments and those lacking basic housing.
  • Informal Sector Vulnerability: Approximately 90% of city jobs are in the informal sector, characterized by poor working conditions and lack of job security.
  • Governance and Planning Issues: Despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment aimed at decentralizing urban governance, many Indian cities remain under the control of undemocratic bodies.
• Elected representatives often lack control over urban planning, which is frequently outsourced to private entities and parastatals.
• Cities receive only 0.5% of GDP in intergovernmental transfers, limiting their financial capacity for development.