2016 · GS Paper 1 · Q11 · 12 marks
With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the 'Smart City Programme'.
In short
Facing slums, service gaps and weak municipalities, India launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 to give 100 cities core infrastructure, a decent quality of life and a sustainable environment through smart solutions. Its strategy combines area-based development (retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield) with pan-city solutions, run through city Special Purpose Vehicles.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 267 words
Shelter deficit
About 6.5 crore people lived in slums (Census 2011), and the Kundu Technical Group (2012) put the housing shortage at 18.78 million units.
Services and governance gap
Only about 70% of urban households had tap water (Census 2011), and municipalities under the 74th Amendment lack funds and staff.
Core infrastructure
Assured water and power, sanitation, mobility, affordable housing and digital connectivity.
Quality of life and sustainability
Safety for women and the elderly, e-governance, and smart solutions for energy, water and waste in replicable lighthouse areas.
Competitive selection
A City Challenge with citizen consultation chose the cities; Bhubaneswar topped the first round in 2016.
SPV and funding
Each city works through an SPV under the Companies Act, 2013, with about Rs 100 crore a year per city from the Centre, matched by States and dovetailed with AMRUT and PMAY.
Data-driven management
Integrated Command and Control Centres now run in all 100 cities.
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This chapter in the exam
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies5 questions
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.