Urbanization has been a gradually evolving focus in India’s Five-Year Plans. While early plans emphasized rural development, later ones began recognizing cities as engines of growth.
1. First to Third Five-Year Plans (1951–66)
- Focus: Agriculture, community development, rural growth.
- Urbanization received minimal attention, mainly in the form of housing schemes (e.g., Housing Boards).
- Third Plan (1961–66): First recognition of urban problems like housing shortages, slums, and basic amenities.
2. Fourth and Fifth Plans (1969–79)
- Acknowledged rapid urban growth and need for urban infrastructure investment.
- Beginning of metropolitan planning (focus on Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras).
- Housing, transport, and slum improvement were addressed in fragmented manner.
3. Sixth Plan (1980–85)
- Urbanization seen as unavoidable in the development process.
- Proposed integrated urban development, strengthening small and medium towns.
- Introduction of Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) Scheme (1980).
4. Seventh Plan (1985–90)
- National Commission on Urbanisation (NCU), 1986 was a milestone.
- NCU stressed:
- Strengthening urban–rural linkages.
- Promoting growth centers.
- Avoiding over-concentration in metros.
- Recommendations influenced later programmes.
5. Eighth and Ninth Plans (1992–2002)
- Post-liberalization era → urbanization seen as key for economic growth.
- Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULCRA) repealed (1999) to improve land supply.
- Emphasis on private sector participation in housing and infrastructure.
6. Tenth Plan (2002–07)
- Explicit focus on urban governance and service delivery.
- Stressed 74th Constitutional Amendment implementation.
- Recommended reforms in municipal finance, user charges, and capacity-building.
7. Eleventh Plan (2007–12)
- Marked a paradigm shift → saw urbanization as a positive force.
- Introduced Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM, 2005).
- Largest urban reform programme (infrastructure, housing, e-governance).
- Stressed reforms-based funding (property tax, rent control, ULB empowerment).
- Focus on inclusive cities and urban poor (BSUP – Basic Services to the Urban Poor).
8. Twelfth Plan (2012–17)
- Recognized that urban areas contribute >60% of GDP.
- Called for “faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth” in urbanization.
- Proposed urban transport, housing, water, sanitation, governance reforms.
- Suggested new urban policy framework but it did not fully materialize.
Even though India does not yet have a formal, comprehensive National Urban Policy, multiple initiatives post-2014 act as de facto frameworks:
1. Smart Cities Mission (2015–present)
- Develop 100 smart cities with ICT-enabled governance, efficient mobility, sustainable environment, and quality of life.
- Focus on area-based development + pan-city solutions.
2. AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, 2015)
- Focus on basic services (water supply, sewerage, drainage, green spaces).
- Covers 500 cities → more inclusive than Smart Cities Mission.
3. PMAY–Urban (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 2015)
- Housing for All by 2022 (now extended).
- Addresses housing shortages for the urban poor, EWS, LIG, and MIG groups.
4. HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana, 2015)
- Focused on heritage conservation + urban infrastructure in historic cities.
5. National Urban Transport Policy (2006, revised efforts ongoing)
- Prioritizes public transport and non-motorized transport.
6. Draft National Urban Policy Framework (NUPF, 2018)
- Released by MoHUA & NITI Aayog.
- Suggested a “10-pillar framework” for cities:
- Integrated spatial planning, mobility, housing, environment, inclusivity, local governance, municipal finance, technology.
- Aims to provide strategic direction for future policies.
| Period | Urbanization Policy Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1950s–70s | Rural bias, limited urban focus, start of metropolitan planning |
| 1980s | Recognition of urban challenges, IDSMT scheme, NCU report (1986) |
| 1990s | Liberalization, urban reforms, private participation |
| 2000s | JNNURM, governance reforms, slum improvement |
| 2010s | Inclusive, sustainable urbanization; Smart Cities, AMRUT, PMAY |
| Latest | NUPF 2018 (draft), multi-mission approach instead of single national policy |
✅ In essence:
Urbanization policy in India evolved from a rural-centered planning era to recognizing cities as growth engines. The latest attempts (Smart Cities, AMRUT, PMAY, NUPF) show a multi-pronged, mission-driven approach rather than a single national policy document.