Urban Challenges in India and Globally

Source: The post urban challenges in India and globally has been created, based on the article “What are major challenges faced by Indian cities?” published in “The Hindu” on 4th November 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper1- Society-urbanisation, their problems and their remedies

Context: The article highlights challenges in urban areas, especially in India, including climate change, poverty, and poor planning. It emphasizes issues like overcrowded slums, pollution, lack of resources, limited governance power, and the need for better urban development policies.

For detailed information on Challenges faced by the Urban Policy Framework in India read this article here

What are the global urban challenges?

1. Global cities face multiple challenges, especially climate change, poverty, inequality, and environmental issues.
2. Approximately 4.7 billion people (57.5% of the global population) now live in urban areas, with this number expected to double by 2050.
3. Rapid urbanisation in the Global South worsens challenges due to limited resources and weak infrastructure.
4. Many cities struggle with housing shortages, lack of clean water, and poor sanitation.
5. Urban centres are vulnerable to climate-related events like urban flooding.
6. Poverty-driven urbanisation, particularly in developing countries, highlights the need for sustainable development policies and resilient infrastructure.

How is urbanisation different in India?

1. India’s urbanisation differs from the Global North, where urbanisation followed industrial growth, creating jobs that absorbed rural workers.
2. Western urbanisation was supported by colonial wealth transfers; economist Utsa Patnaik estimates India contributed over $45 trillion to Britain’s economy during colonial rule.
3. India’s urbanisation is primarily “poverty-driven,” fueled by economic distress rather than industrialisation.
4. Migration includes both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban movement.
5. COVID-19 highlighted urban planning gaps as reverse migration surged.

What challenges do Indian cities face?

1. Outdated Urban Planning: Plans are not updated to match population growth. Many displaced industrial workers move to peri-urban slums.
2. High Slum Population: 40% of India’s urban population lives in slums with poor sanitation and water access.
3. Severe Pollution: Delhi NCR has eight of India’s ten most polluted cities, impacting health.
4. Climate Vulnerability: Cities face urban flooding and heat island effects.
5. Governance Limitations: Elected city officials have limited power, with just 0.5% GDP in transfers.
6. Rising Inequality: Urban planning focuses on capital growth, leaving millions without basic housing and services.

Why is governance a problem in Indian cities?

1. Lack of Autonomy: Elected city representatives have limited control over urban planning. Urban governance is often managed by parastatals and private entities, reducing local input and accountability.
2. Ineffective Implementation of Laws: Despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment aiming to empower urban local governments, less than three of the 18 mandated functions have been effectively transferred to these governments.
3. Insufficient Funding: Urban local bodies receive only about 0.5% of GDP in intergovernmental transfers, severely limiting their operational capacity and ability to improve infrastructure and services.
4. Overlooked by National Policies: There is a disconnect between national policies and local needs, leading to inefficient and inadequate urban planning and management

Why does World Cities Day matter for India?

World Cities Day stresses the need for urgent change in Indian cities. Challenges like climate change, poverty, and poor infrastructure show the need for effective, people-focused policies. Comprehensive national strategies are essential to address these urban issues.

Question for practice:

Examine how the challenges of urbanization in Indian cities differ from those faced by cities in the Global North.