short essay on smart city in india

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Essay on Smart City in India | Smart City in India Essay for Students and Children in English

Essay on Smart City in India: The movement of Smart City in India was introduced by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has a plan and a vision to build 100 smart cities in the country. Smart Cities are similar to ordinary cities but equipped with more advanced technologies and more transportation facilities along with a high rate of educated population with better sanitation and health facilities. In this essay, we will tell you more about Smart City in India in detail.

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Long and Short Essays on Smart City in India for Students and Kids in English

A long essay of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for students in classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. For the reference of students in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a short essay of 100-150 words has been provided.

Long Essay on Smart City in India 500 Words in English

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a mission of digital India in which he focused to develop the cities into smart cities. His vision is to come up with 100 smart cities all over India to help the development of the country and open a gateway for global marketing for the benefit of the economy.

The main objective or motive for this project is to improve the lives of the citizens of that city and to upgrade the city in terms of technology, infrastructure, health and sanitization, and transportation. If the city gets evolved then it would be a major boon for the country as the industrial sector would be developed which will result in increased employment opportunities and a rise in the economic and financial condition of the country.

This project is led by the Ministry of Urban Development. The smart city’s mission is to re-establish the urban areas in terms of better education, better health facility, and an educated population. With an improvement in the Cities, the GDP of India will also rise and more and more countries will be interested in collaborating with India for business opportunities.

The major objective of this mission is to supply electricity and an adequate amount of water supply to every house, along with providing services for proper roads and health facilities, increasing the security of the citizens, promoting the proper vehicle and parking facilities, good administration, and much more.

As the Smart city mission is so vast, there are some setbacks in this project. The funds are not adequate, the contribution of the leaders and other ministers is absent, limited skilled labour, and many other problems. But India’s Public Authority is trying its best to get this project back on track so that it will improve the lives of the citizens in the country and also improve their satisfaction.

The smart city project is beneficial for the industrial sector as it will open the passage between India’s metropolitan urban communities like the Chennai-Bangalore corridor, Delhi-Mumbai Corridor, Bangalore-Mumbai monetary corridor to begin with.

Advanced technology will be used to maintain the infrastructure and proper utilization of resources during the entire setup of the project. Automated techniques and sensors will be used to gather information about the citizens and that information will be used to improve the condition of the smart city.

All the infrastructure, gadgets, industries, water supply organization, traffic, and transportation services will be done according to the information provided by the technicians and engineers. With the help of smart cities, India can attract new markets and new industries into the country which will increase the revenue, the employment rate will increase and the economic and financial condition of the country will be more stable.

With this change, we can achieve something big in the future. With the help of the Smart City project, we can make our country developed and open welcome more opportunities for the citizens of the country for a better quality of life. We can work in a more advanced environment and save the resources for future use. With this project, our country will be developed and open to global marketing.

Short Essay on Smart City in India 150 Words in English

Smart cities refer to a city with better technologies and better facilities than the normal city. The main motive behind the movement of smart cities in India is to utilise the resources well rather than wasting them, which can make them go scarce. Also, to enhance the performance of the industries and for the well being of the overall economy of the country.

The smart city movement in India was begun by our leader Narendra Modi. As India is one of the developing countries, our leader has a vision of making it into a developed country so that other countries can invest their money in the organizations led by Indian entrepreneurs.

For the project, the information is gathered with the help of electronic gadgets and sensors. The information and data collected are used to improve the activities taking place in the cities and to develop the infrastructure and services of the city. Smart cities in India would open the doorway for more industrial collaborations as more countries would like to invest in India for better profit.

10 Lines on Smart City in India Essay in English

• The concept of a smart city is to utilize a limited amount of resources for better facilities.
• In India, the smart city mission is under the Ministry of Urban Development.
• In 2016, Narendra Modi introduced this mission with a vision of building 100 smart cities in India.
• A total sum of 48,000 crores has been confirmed by the Indian cabinet for this project.
• Smart city projects will help in improving the financial condition of the country.
• It would be a chance to open the gateway for global marketing in India.
• The main foundation of this mission is to provide better facilities such as providing sufficient water supply for all the citizens, and electrical supply in every house.
• With the scarcity of skilled labour and not enough contribution from other leaders, this mission is facing a few setbacks.
• The smart city mission will improve the lifestyle of people and also provide better employment opportunities.
• In the upcoming years, smart cities in India will promote globalisation.

FAQ’s on Smart City in India Essay

Question 1. Who introduced the Digital India Movement?

Answer: Narendra Modi introduced this movement in the year 2016.

Question 2. What is the main motive of the Smart City movement?

Answer: The main motive is to utilize the limited resources for better facilities and safer infrastructure.

Question 3. Which department supervises the Smart City mission?

Answer: The Ministry of Urban Development Department controls the Smart City mission.

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Essay on Smart City | Smart City Essay for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Smart City: Smart cities are defined as the concept of rapid urbanization and its contribution to the development and improvement of socio-economic activities of the society.

The idea of smart cities requires some specific elements and highlights some models of implemented smart solutions in the world.

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Long and Short Essays on Smart City for Students and Kids in English

We provide students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on Smart City in English.

Long Essay on Smart City 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Smart City is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

The concept of a smart city aims to investigate the implications of smart solutions for sustainable development and smart solutions in the city. These solutions mainly concentrate on the core area of the city’s administration, education, health, transportation etc.

The idea of a smart city has been introduced to highlight the importance of Information and Communication Technologies ( ICT’s) in the past 20 years for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of industrialization. In literal terms, the smart city is used to specify a city’s ability to cater to the needs of citizens. Development of city and quality of life are profoundly influenced by the core systems of a city: transport, education, and government services; public safety and health. Research has focused on these four areas, which identity having high priority.

The literature review highlights that various criteria referring to improve life in a city are mentioned in connection to the terms of a smart city. The most important area for starting to transform a city into a smart one in the system of communication; thus, this area prioritizes the use of modern transport technologies. Smart transformation system works as a highway between the development of city and modern technologies.

The term smart city is also used in the literature regarding the education of its citizen. Therefore, a smart city has smart inhabitants in terms of its educational criterion. The intelligent system represents the future processes of education. This system will affect how the information is received, used, understand, and learned by users. In other, the literature the term smart city is also referred to the relation between the city’s governance or public administration and its citizen.  Good governance is a communication for the citizens, e.g. “ e-governance” or “ e- democracy”.

The health system is like a good solution for a smart city snd this implies to use modern technologies to better the results. The smart health system ensures timely diagnosis thus improving the life of the patients. The concept of the ubiquitous city has been developed into huge international research. It is also known a U-city . a model of a smart city is based on the usage of computer systems to exchange data such as cloud computing, open data etc.

The term smart city has attracted a lot of attention in these recent years. Since the end of the last century, many cities have initiated smart city planning. The first step for the establishment of the smart city is based on the physical telecommunication network infrastructure. The second layer constitutes applications that improve operation in the city like traffic control, etc., the third is based on connectivity and unity of all.

There are a lot of advantages to this new system: energy and other natural resources are spent more efficiently, and the tasks of synchronization are much easier to accomplish. We are now able to identify a lot of smart city in different levels of development, and this concept can be used to define urbanization based on modern technologies.

Short Essay on Smart City 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Smart City is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The useful definition of a smart city is when investments in human and social capital and traditional and modern infrastructure fuel sustainable economic growth and high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through the participatory government. The idea of the smart city includes a new model of a sustainable economy based on more efficient use of communication solutions, transportation, public administration and natural resources.

The analysis of the smart city highlights the universe of smart applications of technology and infrastructure, which in turn are empowering citizens in innovative ventures. The strong concept is that a smart city is a strategy and an objective for every urban area and in some parts of the world is a reality. All the cities which implemented the concept of smart solutions had in view to improve the everyday life of citizens.

10 Lines on Smart City in English

• The concept of a smart city increases the rate of employment for men and women.
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thus increasing the share of renewable sources in final energy consumption is achieved.
• The idea of a smart city has increased energy efficiency at a higher rate of usage.
• Improved education levels have resulted in the reduction of dropout rates.
• The concept of a smart city has increased investments and stimulates research, development and innovation of new indicators.
• Promotes social inclusion by reducing poverty and eliminating the risk of poverty.
• Smart city interconnects the world’s systems and makes the world more intelligent.
• Smart city enables advanced services, helping to bridge the digital divide and provide a better quality of life.
• Their high speed and well-planned infrastructure define smart cities.
• The concept transforms cities into vibrant socio-economic communities.

FAQ’s on Smart City Essay

Question 1.  What is a Smart City?

Answer: Smart cities are defined as the concept of rapid urbanization and its contribution to the development and improvement of socio-economic activities of the society

Question 2. How is Smart City helpful?

Answer: The concept of a smart city increases the rate of employment for men and women. It has increased investments and stimulated research, development and innovation of new indicators.

Question 3. How can Smart City be created?

Answer:  It is essential to develop a city to have a strategy for a smarter city. This strategy will help to determine where and when to invest, will articulate key milestones and paybacks on investment and can help define an optimization calendar across the system.

Question 4.  What are the important criteria for a smart city?

Answer: Smart city promotes social inclusion by reducing poverty and eliminating the risk of poverty. It interconnects the world’s systems and makes the world more intelligent.

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Smart Cities Mission: A step towards Smart India

Cities accommodate nearly 31% of India's current population and contribute 63% of GDP (Census 2011). Urban areas are expected to house 40% of India's population and contribute 75% of India's GDP by 2030. This requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. All are important in improving the quality of life and attracting people and investment, setting in motion a virtuous cycle of growth and development. Development of Smart Cities is a step in that direction.

The Smart Cities Mission is an innovative and new initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.

• A step towards cleanliness
• Be and individual campaigner
• Participate as Government Institution
• Contribute as other organisation
• Cleaning India Together
• A Clean and Green India

Smart Cities focus on their most pressing needs and on the greatest opportunities to improve lives. They tap a range of approaches - digital and information technologies, urban planning best practices, public-private partnerships, and policy change - to make a difference. They always put people first.

In the approach to the Smart Cities Mission , the objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of 'Smart' Solutions. The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development and the idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a light house to other aspiring cities. The Smart Cities Mission is meant to set examples that can be replicated both within and outside the Smart City, catalysing the creation of similar Smart Cities in various regions and parts of the country.

Smart Cities Mission Strategy

• Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart Solution is applied city-wide
• Develop areas step-by-step – three models of area-based developments
• Retrofitting,
• Redevelopment,

• Adequate water supply,
• Assured electricity supply,
• Sanitation, including solid waste management,
• Efficient urban mobility and public transport,
• Affordable housing, especially for the poor,
• Robust IT connectivity and digitalization,
• Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation,
• Sustainable environment,
• Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly, and
• Health and education.

Coverage and Duration

The Mission will cover 100 cities and its duration will be five years (FY2015-16 to FY2019-20). The Mission may be continued thereafter in the light of an evaluation to be done by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and incorporating the learnings into the Mission.

The total number of 100 Smart Cities have been distributed among the States and UTs on the basis of an equitable criteria. The formula gives equal weightage (50:50) to urban population of the State/UT and the number of statutory towns in the State/UT. Based on this formula, each State/UT will, therefore, have a certain number of potential Smart Cities, with each State/UT having at least one. The number of potential Smart Cities from each State/UT will be capped at the indicated number. This distribution formula has also been used for allocation of funds under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation - AMRUT .

The distribution of Smart Cities will be reviewed after two years of the implementation of the Mission. Based on an assessment of the performance of States/ULBs in the Challenge, some re-allocation of the remaining potential Smart Cities among States may be required to be done by the Ministry of Urban Development .

Financing of Smart Cities

The Smart City Mission will be operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and the Central Government proposes to give financial support to the Mission to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores over five years i.e. on an average Rs. 100 crore per city per year. An equal amount, on a matching basis, will have to be contributed by the State/ULB; therefore, nearly Rupees one lakh crore of Government/ULB funds will be available for Smart Cities development.

Comprehensive development occurs in areas by integrating the physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. Many of the sectoral schemes of the Government converge in this goal, although the path is different. There is a strong complementarity between the AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission in achieving urban transformation. While AMRUT follows a project-based approach, the Smart Cities Mission follows an area-based strategy.

Similarly, great benefit can be derived by seeking convergence of other Central and State Government Programs/Schemes with the Smart Cities Mission. At the planning stage itself, cities must seek convergence in the SCP with AMRUT , Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) , National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) - External Website that opens in a new window , Digital India , Skill development, Housing for All, construction of Museums funded by the Culture Department and other programs connected to social infrastructure such as Health, Education and Culture.

What are the Challenges?

• This is the first time, a MoUD programme is using the 'Challenge' or competition method to select cities for funding and using a strategy of area-based development. This captures the spirit of 'competitive and cooperative federalism'.
• States and ULBs will play a key supportive role in the development of Smart Cities. Smart leadership and vision at this level and ability to act decisively will be important factors determining the success of the Mission.
• Understanding the concepts of retrofitting, redevelopment and greenfield development by the policy makers, implementers and other stakeholders at different levels will require capacity assistance. Major investments in time and resources will have to be made during the planning phase prior to participation in the Challenge. This is different from the conventional DPR-driven approach.
• The Smart Cities Mission requires smart people who actively participate in governance and reforms. Citizen involvement is much more than a ceremonial participation in governance. The participation of smart people will be enabled by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) through increasing use of ICT, especially mobile-based tools.

The India Smart Cities Challenge - External Website that opens in a new window is a competition designed to inspire and support municipal officials as they develop smart proposals to improve residents' lives. 100 cities will compete in the first round - with the best proposals receiving funding from the Ministry of Urban Development .

Related Links

• Mission Presentations - External Website that opens in a new window
• Indian Smart Cities Challenge - External Website that opens in a new window
• Photos - External Website that opens in a new window

An overview of Smart Cities Mission (India)

The ‘Smart City Mission’ is a ground-breaking initiative launched by the Indian government in 2015 to change the nation’s urban landscape . The government’s principal objective is to turn all Indian cities into smart cities by utilizing technology and encouraging local development. To accommodate the growing urban population, the government wants to renovate existing regions, generate jobs for people, and develop new places. A smart solution in cities would comprise the use of technology, information, and data to improve infrastructure and services. A comprehensive development like this would improve people’s quality of life, provide jobs, and increase their income. The core objective of India’s smart city mission is to give its citizens a high quality of life, a safe and secure environment, and smart solutions for everyone. A smart city encourages towns to be more sustainable by providing the necessary infrastructure . Smart individuals who can successfully engage in reformation and governance are essential for the smart city’s objective. The participation of the country’s citizens in governance is critical. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the smart cities’ mission in India, including its aims, objectives, selection process, features, vision, and problems.

What is the Mission of the Smart Cities Initiative? | Smart Cities Mission

The National Smart Communities Mission was inaugurated on June 25, 2015, to encourage cities to use “smart solutions” to offer fundamental infrastructure, a sustainable and clean environment, and a fair quality of life for their citizens. The Smart Cities Mission aims to boost economic growth and increase people’s quality of life by facilitating local area growth and using technology, particularly technology that contributes to Smart results. In collaboration with the state governments, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the designing and implementing ministry. It’s a federally funded initiative that started with 100 communities and will be expanded to 200 cities between 2019 and 2023. 

Smart Cities concentrate on their most critical demands and possibilities to enhance people’s lives. To make a difference, they use a variety of strategies, including information and digital technologies , best practices in urban planning, public-private collaborations, and policy reform. The emphasis is on environmental and equitable development, intending to create a repeatable model that would serve as a beacon for other aspiring communities. The Smart Cities Mission is intended to provide examples that may be repeated both within as well as outside of the Smart City, therefore catalyzing the formation of comparable Smart Cities across the country.

The goal of the smart city initiative is to enhance inclusive and sustainable cities which provide core infrastructure to provide a decent quality of life and a sustainable and clean environment by the use of smart solutions such as data-driven vehicular networks and intelligent lighting systems, among others.

The following are the basic infrastructural aspects of a Smart City:

• A sufficient supply of water
• Uninterruptible power supply
• Sanitation, which includes solid waste management, is important.
• Public transportation and efficient urban mobility
• Affordable housing , primarily for the poor
• Digitalization and strong IT connection
• E-government and public involvement are examples of good governance.
• Environmental sustainability and citizen safety, particularly for women, children, and the elderly
• Education and health
• The emphasis is on environmental and equitable development, to create a reproducible model that may serve as a model for other aspiring communities.

In India’s 100 Smart Cities Mission, area-based development includes city development (retrofitting), city rejuvenation (redevelopment), and city expansion (greenfield development), as well as a pan-city programme.

Area-based improvement that will use retrofitting and redevelopment to turn existing neighbourhoods, including slums, into better-planned residential zones, ultimately increasing the city’s habitability. Greenfield developments will create new regions in the city to support the city’s growing population. Pan-city development entails the integration of smart technologies into the city’s current infrastructure.

The Smart City Administrative Structure 

The Smart City Administrative Structure Guidelines provide monitoring at three levels: national, state, and local.

National: An Apex Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and comprised of members from associated ministries and organizations , is responsible for approving proposals, monitoring progress, and disbursing funding.

State: The Smart City Mission will be led by a High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC), which will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of the State.

All Smart Cities have a Smart City Advisory Forum, which includes the District Collector, and the Chief Executive Officer of a Special Purpose Vehicle (an SPV is formed for city-level implementation). Its responsibilities include releasing funding, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Smart City development initiatives), and members of Parliament to advise and facilitate collaboration with members of the Legislative Assembly, the Mayor, local youth, technical specialists, and representatives of the area Resident Welfare Association.

How many Smart Cities are there in each state or Territory? | Smart Cities Mission

The mission will visit 100 cities which have been evenly dispersed across the States/Union Territories (UT) based on a set of criteria. The methodology assigns the State/urban UT’s population and the number of statutory towns (a town with a municipality, corporations, cantonment board, or notified town area committee) in the State/UT identical weighting (50:50). According to this model, each state/UT will have a specific number of prospective Smart Cities , with at least one in each State/UT. 

The number of possible Smart Cities in each State/UT will be limited to the number specified. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation – AMRUT – has also utilized this distribution technique to allocate cash. After two years of Mission execution, the allocation of Smart Cities will be reviewed. The Ministry of Urban Development may be forced to re-allocate the remaining prospective Smart Cities among States based on an evaluation of the progress of States/ULBs in the Challenge.

Smart Cities Funding

The Smart City Mission would be run as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), with the Central Government proposing to fund it to the tune of Rs. 48,000 crores over five years, or Rs. 100 crore per city each year on average. The State/ULB would be required to provide an equivalent amount on a matching basis; hence, almost Rs. 1 lakh crore in Government/ULB money will be accessible for Smart City construction.

Integration with Other Government Programs

Comprehensive development happens when the physical, institutional, social, and economic infrastructures are all integrated into a given area. Many of the government’s sectoral plans converge on this aim, while the approach is varied. The AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission have a great synergy in terms of accomplishing urban change. AMRUT takes a project-based approach, whereas the Smart Cities Mission takes an area-based approach. Convergence of other State and Central Government Programs/Schemes with the Smart Cities Mission can also yield significant benefits. Cities should attempt convergence in the SCP alongside AMRUT, National Heritage City Development, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), as well as Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)- an External Website that launches in a new window, and other initiatives at the planning stage. Digital India, skill development, Housing for All, Museum building financed by the Culture Department, and other social infrastructure initiatives like Health, Education, and Culture. 

Ten Potential Characteristics for India’s Upcoming 100 Smart Cities 

• Information, communications, and technology (ICT)-enabled governance structures: IT-enabled administration and governance will fully rule the smart city. The implementation of integrated technology solutions that are easily available across many devices to promote access, transparency, speed, engagement, and redress in public services is sometimes referred to as “smart government.”
• After IT, efficient utilities — energy, water, solid waste, and effluents – are frequently discussed. Smart metres, energy conservation, water harvesting, renewable energy, effluent recycling, and scientific solid waste disposal systems will all be prominent features of the future smart city .
• Meaningful PPPs: A crucial feature of the smart city idea is the innovative use of public-private partnerships (PPPs). PPPs will be utilised not just to provide much-needed financing, but also to ensure that utilities are delivered efficiently and to agreed-upon service-level standards. PPPs might cover a wide range of services, ranging from health care to street lighting systems.
• Safety and security are high on the public’s mind, especially in light of disturbing news about women’s safety, road rage, robbery assaults on the elderly, and youth misbehaviour. Video surveillance networks, well-lit public places, extensive patrolling and monitoring, identity-verified access, and quick action to emergency calls are on the list of expectations.
• To “take responsibility for their destinies” in terms of financial sustainability. Financial freedom is the most crucial aspect of this. This is only achievable with a comprehensive and wide tap of all income streams, including property taxes, ads, and the ability to raise long-term debt such as municipal bonds.
• Citizen-participative local government: Encouraging residents to participate enthusiastically in local concerns necessitates careful design of electoral and participatory processes for everybody.
• Sufficient social capital: Smart cities cannot exist without enough social infrastructures, such as schools, hospitals, public spaces, athletic and recreational facilities, and retail and entertainment outlets. It must have a heart which beats to the delights of daily existence, in addition to a working brain and moving hands and legs.
• “Walk-to-work” is the ideal answer in these transit-oriented ecosystems. Nonetheless, the expectation matrix includes readily networked public transit with first- and the last-mile connection, reduced desire to use personal automobiles, the use of electric cars, and cycling routes.
• Green features: Carbon footprint reduction and environmental friendliness are mandatory. Parks and green areas are required, as is the absence of pollution , the use of renewable energy, conservation, and recycling.
• India has 5,545 urban agglomerations, which meet the minimum population criterion. Class 1 towns (sometimes known as cities) have a density of 100,000 or more. For a smart city, this should be the minimal population cut-off. 

What are the Complexities? | Smart Cities Mission

This is the first time that a MoUD programme has used a ‘Challenge’ or competition technique to choose cities for financing, as well as an area-based development plan . The essence of ‘cooperative and competitive federalism’ is captured in this phrase. States and local governments will play a crucial role in the establishment of Smart Cities. Smart leadership with vision at this level, as well as the capacity to move decisively, will be critical to the Mission’s success. Capacity support will be required to help policymakers, implementers, and other stakeholders at all levels understand the ideas of retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield development. Before participating in the Challenge, significant time and resource expenditures will be required during the planning phase. This is not the same as the traditional DPR-driven method. Smart individuals who play an active role in governance and transformation are required for the Smart Cities Mission. Citizen participation in government is much more than a token gesture. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will enable clever people to participate by boosting the use of ICT, particularly mobile-based solutions.

COVID-19 has impacted practically every country on the planet, creating major economic and healthcare problems. However, in the months after the lockout, the ambition to construct 100 smart cities in India has witnessed a boost, with money almost doubling in use. One of the most pressing issues confronting smart cities is how to fund them. Smart city infrastructure necessitates a significant financial commitment. For the effective implementation of India’s smart city initiative, the government is focusing on increasing Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) (at present, about 21 per cent of the funding of the smart cities projects is via the PPP model). Sterlite Power, for example, signed a PPP agreement with the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) in June 2020 to develop and maintain the fibre network in Gurugram Suburban. 

For the past 21 years, City 2 has been my home. India has nearly 4,000 urban local bodies and cities, with potential in housing, sanitation & cleanliness, livelihood, information technology, health and education, transportation , and the environment, among other things. The government is prioritizing the financial and IT services industries for investment, and top economies throughout the world have expressed curiosity about the Smart City Mission.

The mission is a wise and growing action that requires careful preparation, implementation, and ongoing monitoring. By 2030, urban regions are predicted to house 40% of India’s population and generate 75% of the country’s GDP. The Smart Cities Mission is an urban city development programme in India. The government is putting innovative goods and ideas to the test as part of numerous programmes to efficiently execute ‘Smart Cities.’ For efficient project planning and execution, initiatives like the Smart Cities Forum bring together collaborative perspectives from all key sectors. In addition, private-sector companies are cooperating with cities to produce innovative goods and services that address local requirements.

References:

• Guha, A. (n.d.). Smart cities . Retrieved from Deloitte: https://www2.deloitte.com/in/en/pages/public-sector/articles/smart-cities.html
• IBEF. (2021, March 31). Revitalising ‘India’s Smart City Mission’ . Retrieved from Indian Brand Equity Foundation: https://www.ibef.org/blogs/revitalising-india-s-smart-city-mission
• India.Gov.In. (n.d.). Smart Cities Mission: A step towards Smart India . Retrieved from India.gov.in: https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/smart-cities-mission-step-towards-smart-india
• Meta. (2015, December 21). Smart Cities in India: An Overview . Retrieved from The center for internet & society: https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/smart-cities-in-india-an-overview
• Singhal, N. S. (2022). Smart Cities Mission in India: A Review. Springer , vol 860.

An aspiring urbanist, who is trying to explore herself through architectural writing currently, she believes that the remedy for a healthy planet begins with designing responsive spaces. She is an optimistic, determined and curious person who is always eager to learn and improve her skills.

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Smart Cities Mission [Latest Updates on Mission Extension]

In cities, the pressure of population on land, infrastructure, and environment is massive and civic agencies are grappling with problems like clean air, mobility, sanitation, water, public safety, etc. Hence there is a need for developing a sustainable solution.

The Smart Cities Mission was launched on June 25, 2015, with the key objective of promoting cities to provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.

There are various other schemes, missions, and policies that have been released by the central government for the purpose of development. UPSC aspirants can refer to the List of Government Schemes in India at the linked article.

In a report of a parliamentary standing committee, it was mentioned that the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry informed it that the extension of the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) beyond its current deadline of June 30th 2023 is an open issue.

Report of the panel:

• 32 cities completed more than the number of projects planned for implementation
• 68 cities are yet to meet the targets wherein the performances of some are quite poor
• Hence the total number of completed projects gives a misleading picture, as it contains the excess projects accomplished by 32 smart cities too.
• Out of a total of 7,821 projects worth Rs. 181 lakh crore, 5,343 projects worth Rs. 1 lakh crore have been successfully finished.
• So far, out of the total Rs. 48000 crore for the mission, Rs. 36,561 crore has been released and out of this 90% of the fund has been utilized by the cities.
• A thorough evaluation and resolution of the factors causing significant project delays must occur before any further extension of the deadline is granted.
• To mark the sixth anniversary of the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) and other urban transformation missions, a virtual event was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on June 25, 2021. The date also marked the 45 years of establishment of the National Institute of Urban Affairs, an autonomous body of MoHUA, tasked to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization.
• Winners for Smart Cities India Awards 2020 were also announced on June 25, 2021. Indore and Surat together were named the smartest cities. All government exam aspirants can visit the linked article and get the detailed list of state/UT-wise and theme-wise winners.

In this article, the key objectives and the significance of the Smart Cities Mission along with its various other aspects have been discussed. Also, the recent developments under the scheme have been discussed further below in this article. The details gathered from this article will be useful for the  IAS Exam and other competitive exam preparation.

What is a Smart City?

It is a city where there is a significant and extensive improvement in the physical, social, and economic infrastructure.

What is the need for the development of Smart Cities?

• Smart cities are needed to bring in growth and development in a country.
• Smart cities are needed for the development of the quality of life of people in the cities.
• If the quality of life of the people is improved in cities, then naturally the city will attract more people and thereby more investments.

Smart Cities Mission – Government of India

• GoI launched the 100 smart cities mission in 2015.
• The objective is to integrate city functions, utilize scarce resources more efficiently, and improve the quality of life of citizens.
• To improve safety and security
• To improve the efficiencies of municipal services.
• The use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is at the core of enhancing the city’s liveability, workability, and sustainability.
• The Ministry of Urban Development has identified 24 key areas that cities must address in their ‘smart cities’ plan.
• Of these 24 key areas, 3 are directly related to water and 7 are indirectly related to water – Smart-metre management, leakage identification, preventive maintenance, and water quality modeling.
• Smart Cities Mission is one of the mechanisms that will help operationalize the nationwide implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) priorities like poverty alleviation, employment, and other basic services. Know in detail about the Sustainable Development Goals on the linked page.

The municipalities used their Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) as war rooms for Covid-19 response under the Smart Cities Mission. The ICCCs set up under the Mission are meant to coordinate traffic management, surveillance, utilities and grievance redressal.

Out of the 100 municipalities in the Smart Cities Mission, the ICCCs of 45 cities are online or operational. As Covid-19 war rooms, the ICCCs implemented initiatives such as:

• CCTV surveillance of public places.
• GIS mapping of Covid-positive cases.
• GPS tracking of healthcare workers
• Predictive analytics (heat maps) for virus containment across different zones of the city.
• Virtual training to doctors and healthcare professionals.
• Real-time tracking of ambulances and disinfection services.
• Providing medical services through video-conferencing, telecounseling, and telemedicine.

Aspirants can check out the relevant links provided below to prepare comprehensively for the upcoming Civil Services Exams-

Smart Cities Mission – Planning

Initially, there was a lack of clarity as there was no universal definition of a smart city. The Government of India did not prescribe any particular model as they realized one size did not fit all, from the experiences of previous Urban Development Missions.

Every city had to formulate its concept, vision, mission, and plan which is appropriate to its local context, resources, and level of ambition.

Smart Cities Mission – Finance/Funding

• Total Mission funds are Rs 2.05 Lakh Crore
• 45% of the total mission funds come from Central and State Governments.
• 21% of the funds will come from convergence and PPP ( Public-Private Partnership )
• 5% of the funds from debts and loans.
• 1% through their own funds and 7% from others.

Smart Cities Mission – Distribution of Funds

• Area Development – Rs 42,000 Crore
• Urban Mobility – Rs 34,00 Crore
• Water Supply, Wastewater/Sewerage, Storm Water Drain – Rs 30,000 Crore

Smart Cities Mission – Implementation

Established SPV ( Special Purpose Vehicle ) in each city for

• Decision making
• Project designing and
• Implementation.

Smart Cities Mission – Progress/Achievements

The Smart Cities Mission has made both physical and financial progress since its implementation. Given below are the details about the progress made under this scheme (as of June 2021):

• Of the total proposed projects under this mission, 5,924 projects have been tendered, work orders have been issued for 5,236 and 2,665 projects are fully operational
• 212 PPP projects worth Rs. 24,964 crore have been grounded/completed
• 70 Smart cities have developed and operationalized their Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) in the country
• Smart Roads – 310
• Smart Solar – 57
• Smart Water – 101
• PPP – 123
• Vibrant Public Places – 72
• Apart from the general themes and categories for which India Smart Cities Awards are released every year, for 2020, two new themes were added to this list. These included the Sustainable Business model of ICCC and Innovation award, especially in COVID Management.

Smart Cities Mission – Challenges

• A lot of progress is desired in creating energy-efficient and green buildings.
• Making Urban Bodies self-reliant
• The share of public transport is declining, it needs to be increased to meet the needs of increasing urbanization.
• Rising air pollution, increase in road congestion due to an increase in urbanization.

Smart Cities – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2023 .

For more topics, you can visit the UPSC Syllabus page. You can find more UPSC-related preparation materials and other articles with the links given in the table below:

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Demystifying the Indian smart city: An Empirical reading of the smart cities mission

Pranav kuttaiah, neelanjan sircar.

Centre for Policy Research

August 10, 2018

The newly elected federal Government of India (GoI) launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) in 2015 with the stated purpose of improving the governance and infrastructural deficiencies that plague Indian cities. Missing, however, in the pageantry of the new programme is a cohesive understanding of a smart city. While the government documentation repeatedly implies infinite liberty for cities to self-define their understanding of ‘smartness’, the actions demonstrate that there is a larger idea of ‘smartness’ that the federal government seeks to implement. It is at this disjunction, between the rhetoric and practice of the Mission, that this paper finds its core research question – ‘What constitutes a smart city in India?’ Through a detailed reading of the government documentation of the top 99 cities, the paper argues that the there is a profound chasm between the professed objectives of the Mission and the strategies enacted to achieve these objectives.

Essay on Smart City

Students are often asked to write an essay on Smart City in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Smart City

What is a smart city.

A smart city uses technology to improve the quality of life for its citizens. It uses data from sensors and other sources to manage resources efficiently.

Features of a Smart City

Smart cities have features like smart grids for efficient energy use, intelligent traffic management systems, and digital libraries. They also use technology for waste management and water supply.

Benefits of a Smart City

Smart cities offer many benefits. They reduce waste, pollution, and energy consumption. They also improve the quality of life by making services more accessible and efficient.

Challenges of a Smart City

Despite the benefits, smart cities face challenges. These include high costs, privacy concerns, and the need for digital literacy among citizens.

250 Words Essay on Smart City

Introduction.

Smart cities represent the future of urban living, leveraging digital technology and data-driven solutions to enhance the quality of life for residents. They aim to foster sustainable and efficient environments, addressing urbanization challenges with innovative solutions.

Essential Components of a Smart City

Smart cities are characterized by their use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to improve public services. Key components include smart grids for efficient energy use, intelligent traffic management systems to reduce congestion, and digital platforms for real-time communication between the government and citizens.

The Role of IoT in Smart Cities

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a pivotal role in the development of smart cities. IoT devices collect and analyze data, facilitating decision-making processes. For instance, smart sensors can monitor air quality, noise levels, and traffic patterns, providing valuable insights to city planners.

Benefits and Challenges

Smart cities promise numerous benefits, such as improved public services, reduced environmental impact, and economic growth. However, they also present challenges, including data privacy concerns, the digital divide, and the need for significant infrastructure investment.

In conclusion, smart cities represent an exciting convergence of technology and urban planning. While they offer significant benefits, it is crucial to address the accompanying challenges to ensure these cities are accessible, inclusive, and sustainable. As we move towards an increasingly urbanized future, the concept of smart cities will continue to evolve, shaping the way we live, work, and interact.

500 Words Essay on Smart City

Introduction to smart cities, the concept of a smart city.

A smart city is a framework, predominantly composed of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), to develop, deploy, and promote sustainable development practices to address growing urbanization challenges. A big part of this ICT framework is essentially an intelligent network of connected objects and machines transmitting data using wireless technology and the cloud. In a smart city, cloud-based IoT applications receive, analyze, and manage data in real time to help municipalities, enterprises, and citizens make better decisions enhancing urban services efficiency, reducing resource consumption and costs.

Key Components of a Smart City

Smart cities are built on a foundation of key components that work together to create a cohesive, efficient, and sustainable urban environment. These include:

Benefits of Smart Cities

Smart cities offer a plethora of benefits. They create a more efficient and cost-effective city management system, enhance the quality of life for citizens, and reduce environmental footprint. By using technology to streamline services, cities can save on resources, promote sustainable practices, and create a more interactive and responsive city administration. Furthermore, smart cities foster innovation and economic development, making cities more attractive to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite their potential, smart cities face significant challenges. These include data security and privacy concerns, the need for substantial investment, and the requirement for cross-sector collaboration. Moreover, the digital divide may exacerbate social inequalities if not properly addressed.

Smart cities represent a bold vision for the future of urban living. By leveraging technology and data, they offer a powerful tool for addressing the challenges of urbanization and creating more sustainable, efficient, and livable cities. While there are significant challenges to overcome, the potential benefits make the pursuit of this vision an exciting prospect for the future.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Mission Objectives

About smart cities, what do we mean by a smart city, challenges/the need for smart cities, smart city features.

Smart cities are cities that work.

Most importantly, work for whom? And, what do we mean by cities that work? Cities are confluences of people; places where people live, come to meet, exchange ideas, earn livelihoods, access education, health and other services and enjoy a life of good quality. People are at the core of the city. Therefore, cities should work for their people. Cities that work for their people will continuously become better versions of themselves with each passing day.

“We shape cities, and they shape us.” – Jan Gehl

What do we mean by cities that work for their people?

To answer this question, we need to understand the reasons which make a city attractive to people in the first place. These reasons would be, to a large extent, different for different cities and different for different sets of people and therefore cannot be generalized. Some cities attract people for the opportunities that exist therein as markets and centers for manufacturing, some others due to the greatness of their cultures, or their cosmopolitan vibes, and others for their ability to provide better education and health facilities or a combination of factors and so on.

There are, largely, two kinds of factors, which attract people into cities - ‘push factors’, led by distress or scarcity in their place of origin – like droughts, violence, social rifts etc. and ‘pull factors’, like better opportunities for education, business and industry, leisure, art and culture etc.

Decoding the specific reasons for which people choose a certain city over others is at the core of understanding any city’s DNA – the foundational building blocks that drive the city. The aspirations of a city’s inhabitants evolve with time and hence these reasons have to be studied in the relevant contexts. In order to understand these reasons, smart city practitioners need to ask some crucial questions, for example – which are the different communities that constitute the city, what are their current needs, how have their needs evolved, what are their hopes and aspirations, what attracts outsiders to the city etc.

A city can be said to work for its people only if it supports them in their chosen pursuits. If one is a migrant, coming into the city for two years in connection to my job, his or her needs would hover around access to decent rental housing, efficient modes of public transport, recreational places and so on. However, if one is a student, his or her needs could be about availability of good educational institutions, safe cycling and walking infrastructure. This is different from the needs of an elderly citizen who may prioritize access to good quality healthcare above other things.

Clearly, not all people or sets of people desire the same things. In order to simplify the understanding of the diversity of needs expressed by a city’s diverse residents, it is useful to classify them under three broad pillars – liveability, economic-ability and sustainability. Imagine these as three folders on your computer that have multiple files of different types, dealing with different aspects.

These, thus, constitute the three broad outcomes that a city needs to target in order to work for its people. In other words, to answer the question ‘what is a smart city’ in another way; it is a city, which is liveable, sustainable and has a thriving economy offering multiple opportunities to its people to pursue their diverse interests.

Cities are engines of growth for the economy of every nation, including India. Nearly 31% of India’s current population lives in urban areas and contributes 63% of India’s GDP (Census 2011). With increasing urbanization, urban areas are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute 75% of India’s GDP by 2030. This requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. All are important in improving the quality of life and attracting people and investments to the City, setting in motion a virtuous cycle of growth and development. Development of Smart Cities is a step in that direction.

• This is the first time an Urban Ministry programme used the ‘Challenge’ or competition method to select cities for funding and used the strategy of area-based development. This captures the spirit of ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’. 
• States and ULBs will play a key supportive role in the development of Smart Cities. Smart leadership and vision at this level and ability to act decisively will be important factors determining the success of the Mission. 
• Understanding the concepts of retrofitting, redevelopment and greenfield development by the policy makers, implementers and other stakeholders at different levels will require capacity assistance. 
• Major investments in time and resources will have to be made during the planning phase prior to participation in the Challenge. This is different from the conventional DPR-driven approach. 
• The Smart Cities Mission requires smart people who actively participate in governance and reforms. Citizen involvement is much more than a ceremonial participation in governance. Smart people involve themselves in the definition of the Smart City, decisions on deploying Smart Solutions, implementing reforms, doing more with less and oversight during implementing and designing post-project structures in order to make the Smart City developments sustainable. The participation of smart people will be enabled by the SPV through increasing use of ICT, especially mobile-based tools.

In the approach to the Smart Cities Mission, the objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions. The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development and the idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a lighthouse to other aspiring cities. The Smart Cities Mission of the Government is a bold, new initiative. It is meant to set examples that can be replicated both within and outside the Smart City, catalysing the creation of similar Smart Cities in various regions and parts of the country.

The core infrastructure elements in a Smart City would include - adequate water supply,  assured electricity supply, sanitation, including solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport,  affordable housing, especially for the poor, robust IT connectivity and digitalization,  good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation,  sustainable environment,  safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly, and  health and education. Some typical features of comprehensive development in Smart Cities are described below:

The purpose of the Smart Cities Mission is to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local area development and harnessing technology, especially technology that leads to Smart outcomes. Area-based development will transform existing areas (retrofit and redevelop), including slums, into better planned ones, thereby improving liveability of the whole City. New areas (greenfield) will be developed around cities in order to accommodate the expanding population in urban areas. Application of Smart Solutions will enable cities to use technology, information and data to improve infrastructure and services. Comprehensive development in this way will improve quality of life, create employment and enhance incomes for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, leading to inclusive Cities

The strategic components of Area-based development in the Smart Cities Mission are city improvement (retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension (Greenfield development) plus a Pan-city initiative in which Smart Solutions are applied covering larger parts of the city. 

Below, are given the description of the three models of area-based smart city development.

•   Retrofitting will introduce planning in an existing built-up area to achieve Smart City objectives, along with other objectives, to make the existing area more efficient and liveable. In retrofitting, an area consisting of more than 500 acres will be identified by the city in consultation with citizens. Depending on the existing level of infrastructure services in the identified area and the vision of the residents, the cities will prepare a strategy to become smart. Since existing structures are largely to remain intact in this model, it is expected that more intensive infrastructure service levels and a large number of smart applications will be packed into the retrofitted Smart City. This strategy may also be completed in a shorter time frame, leading to its replication in another part of the city.
• Redevelopment will effect a replacement of the existing built-up environment and enable co-creation of a new layout with enhanced infrastructure using mixed land use and increased density. Redevelopment envisages an area of more than 50 acres, identified by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in consultation with citizens. For instance, a new layout plan of the identified area will be prepared with mixed land-use, higher FSI and high ground coverage. Two examples of the redevelopment model are the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project in Mumbai (also called the Bhendi Bazaar Project) and the redevelopment of East Kidwai Nagar in New Delhi being undertaken by the National Building Construction Corporation.
•    Greenfield development will introduce most of the Smart Solutions in a previously vacant area (more than 250 acres) using innovative planning, plan financing and plan implementation tools (e.g. land pooling/ land reconstitution) with provision for affordable housing, especially for the poor. Greenfield developments are required around cities in order to address the needs of the expanding population. One well known example is the GIFT City in Gujarat. Unlike retrofitting and redevelopment, greenfield developments could be located either within the limits of the ULB or within the limits of the local Urban Development Authority (UDA).
• Pan-city development envisages application of selected Smart Solutions to the existing city-wide infrastructure. Application of Smart Solutions will involve the use of technology, information and data to make infrastructure and services better. For example, applying Smart Solutions in the transport sector (intelligent traffic management system) and reducing average commute time or cost to citizens will have positive effects on productivity and quality of life of citizens. Another example can be waste water recycling and smart metering which can make a substantial contribution to better water management in the city
• The Smart City proposal of each shortlisted city is expected to encapsulate either a retrofitting or redevelopment or greenfield development model, or a mix thereof and a Pan-city feature with Smart Solution(s). It is important to note that pan-city is an additional feature to be provided. Since Smart City is taking a compact area approach, it is necessary that all the city residents feel there is something in it for them also. Therefore, the additional requirement of some (at least one) city-wide smart solution has been put in the scheme to make it inclusive.
• For North Eastern and Himalayan States, the area proposed to be developed will be one-half of what is prescribed for any of the alternative models - retrofitting, redevelopment or greenfield development.

• MyGov Updates

The Idea and Practice of Smart Cities in India Reading Time : 7 minutes -->

The past is often used to keep non-western cultures and civilizations in a vice-like grip and it comes from imposing limits on vision for the future. We have to define our own culture in terms of our own categories and concepts and to articulate our vision in a language that is true to our self.

In the unique culture of India, there are informal rules operating at the State/city levels. The work of Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom provides some useful insights into the informal rules driving local level actions. In her study of mechanisms of self-governance operating in the less-developed world, Ostrom found that decentralized groups develop various rule systems that enable social cooperation to emerge through voluntary association. She investigated situations where rules for dividing property into private plots do not exist. In such cases she found that non-State decision-making follows  “ rules in use ” and accomplishes what the State mandated “ rules in form ” would have accomplished. In the context of policy-making rules in form represent the Government policy and the rules in use are the informal norms followed by non-state actors and entities at the ground level.

Such “calculated informality “ _ _ _ involves purposive action and planning _ _ _ where the seeming withdrawal of regulatory power creates a logic of resource allocation, accumulation and authority _ _ _ in this sense that informality, while a system of deregulation, can be thought of as a mode of regulation. And this is something quite distinct from the failure of planning (decision-making) or the absence of the state”. In these informal settings, a one-size-fits-all policy often leads to unintended and uncertain outcomes on ground and is one of the main reasons for the gap between policy and execution.

The outcomes of the interaction between the rules in form and rules in use are difficult to predict because the rules in use are specific to time and place and tacit – hard to write down, not obvious to frame. As a result, some policies may be implemented as stated, others may not be used as stated or policies may go by one name, but in practice do something else. The overall effect is that policies remain formal in appearance, but play out differently during implementation.

In order to minimize the mismatch between the rules in form and rules in use, policies have to strike the right balance between allowing rules in use to operate without opening the door to discrimination, lack of openness, corruption and arbitrariness which formal rules in form are supposed to prevent. In other words, a mix of bottom up and top down approaches is likely provide greater scope for freedom of action and thought to the local rules in use leading to a closer fit between rules in form and rules in use during implementation. The Smart Cities Mission (SCM; henceforth called Mission) blends bottom up and top down approaches by designing a ‘loose fit’ Mission (rules in form).

Defining Smart Cities

A smart city has a different connotation in India than, say, Europe. Even in India a smart city means different things to different people and the conceptualization of a smart city varies from city to city, state to state and region to region, depending on the level of development, willingness to change and reform, resources and aspirations of the city residents. No single definition can capture the diverse conceptualizations of city residents, especially in the unique Indian culture containing dynamic, diverse and contextual rules in use.

One way to capture the varying conceptualizations is to allow the residents to have a say in policy formulation and execution by prescribing flexible, broad policies in the form definitional boundaries within which residents can influence local policies and their implementation. Once local rules in use are given importance, “people will assume ownership of projects and leave no stone unturned to make the Mission successful”. Such definitional boundaries will permit policy making by citizens within some overarching goals and an overall strategy. The Mission fixed the following broad goals and strategy.

• Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of IT enabled smart solutions.
• Strategy: Apply smart solutions to improve governance and public services and make the city smart through area-based development.

Holistic Development

To provide for the aspirations and needs of the citizens urban planners ideally aim to develop all elements contained in the institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure. This can be a long-term goal and cities can work towards such holistic development , incrementally, by adding on layers of ‘smartness’ . The Mission consists of three layers of smartness:

First layer : Provides citywide core infrastructure (basic services and physical infrastructure) to provide for the basic needs of the residents. This is the first layer of the smart city and some of the elements are given below.

• Adequate and clean water supply,
• Assured electricity supply,
• Sanitation facilities, including and solid waste management,
• Efficient urban mobility and public transport,
• Affordable housing, especially for the poor,
• Robust IT connectivity and digitalization,
• Good governance, especially. e-Governance and citizen participation,
• Sustainable environment,
• Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly, and
• Health and education.

Second layer : Consists of application of smart solutions to infrastructure and services to improve them. This is done at the citywide (pan-city) and an illustrative list of smart solutions is given in Figure 1. Application of smart solutions to existing infrastructure and services is expected to, (1) extract more output from the existing assets and resources, (2) use less resources to deliver the same output and, (3) improve governance and delivery of public services.

Figure 1. Illustrative list of smart solutions

Third layer : This consists of development of all elements in compact parts of the city, called ‘ Areas ’ (also called area-based developments and used interchangeably). Such Areas act as a Lighthouse for other Areas in the City to emulate and develop over time. Box 1 gives the strategic components of area-based developments in the mission.

• Retrofitting will completely develop an existing built area of more than 500acres so as to achieve Smart City objectives, along with other objectives of making the existing area more efficient and livable.
• Redevelopment will replace the existing built environment in an area greater than 50 acres and enable co-creation of a new layout, especially enhanced infrastructure, mixed land use and increased density.
• Greenfield developments will completely develop a previously vacant area, of more than 250 acres, using innovative planning, plan financing and plan implementation tools with provision for affordable housing, especially for the poor.

The negative effects of congestion forces can be reduced by appropriately integrating the elements in the Areas, such as land-use, walkability, last-mile transport, affordable housing, open spaces, open space of all types – parks, playgrounds and recreational – and usage of information technology to improve services and infrastructure. At the same time Smart Solutions can be applied at the city level to realize the full

The three layers, and their elements are complementary and overlapping and can be represented as three layers contained within a triangle (Figure 2). The basic building block is the provision of core infrastructure to meet the basic needs of all the city residents, particularly the poor and the disadvantaged. Next, smart solutions are applied to core infrastructure and services in order to improve the life of all its residents. On the top is area-based development in which Areas are made more livable, for example, by creating walkable localities, promoting mixed land use and a variety of transport options, providing housing for all and preserving/developing open spaces. This in a nutshell is the idea and practice of integrated planning in the India Smart Cities Mission, which leads to holistic development in the long run.

Figure 2. Integrated planning triangle

The Competition

The focus of the Mission is on making people part of the policy formulation and partners in execution. The local policy and implementation is articulated in the form of a Smart City Proposal (also called Plan and used interchangeably) and generated through a process of competition, perhaps for the first time for a public program of this size. The winners of the Challenge (process of competition) get funding to become smart cities. The Challenge consists of a two-stage competition. The States conduct the Stage 1 of the intra-state competition and in Round 1 led to shortlisting of 100 cities (also called potential smart cities). In Stage 2 the Central (Federal) Government organized an All-India competition. The uniqueness of the potential smart city was captured by the Proposal – the deliverable of the Stage 2 of the competition.

The Challenge helped the city residents to gather thoughts and ideas towards defining their smart city, and innovative approaches towards how these can be implemented based on the local context. Key stakeholders were involved quite early on in the planning and saw themselves as partners in the process of building cities. This led to high levels of citizen engagement and involvement of other stakeholders, such as specialists, technical experts, professionals, private players and political representatives.

The content of the Proposal was the competition brief, which was to be submitted to the Government of India by the potential smart cities. The Proposal required that each city should propose to develop one area-based development – either a retrofitting of minimum 500 acres, a redevelopment of minimum 50 acres or a Greenfield development of minimum 250 acres – on the principles of place-making and apply one or two pan-city smart solutions, which would improve the quality of life and/or the delivery of municipal services throughout the city.

A standard template was devised for submission of the Proposals, such that all Proposals, regardless of the size and type of city, could be judged on a common basis and on their own merit. A unique innovation was introduced through the design of the blank standard template in which the Proposals were to be prepared, consisting of a set of 43 questions and providing limited word counts for each response as well as a stipulation of page limits for enclosures. The 43 questions were divided into three broad categories – city-level vision, goals and strategy, area-based development and pan-city smart solutions. Figure 3 gives the details of the scores given to different sub-criteria in the Proposal.

Figure 3. Scoring criteria/sub-criteria for three categories in the Proposal

Integrated Planning: The Proposal

The Proposal was prepared using principles of integrated planning involving extensive citizen consultations at multiple stages. The strategic part of the Proposal contained the way infrastructure elements in layers would be gradually implemented to cover the full city in the long-run and the tactical part contained concrete and well phased plans that were easily implementable.

At the city level – strategic blueprint

The city strategy determines the elements to be included in the layers and their sequence of implementation. The strategic blueprint consists of a pathway to make the entire city smart by gradually (incrementally) developing,

• There is a strong complementary between the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Smart Cities Mission, such as to improve governance, sanitation, water-supply, waste management, urban mobility and other such urban infrastructure projects at the Pan-city level.
• Similarly, other programs/schemes of the Central and State Government can be converged. At the planning stage itself such convergence can be achieved in the Proposal with Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), Digital India, Skill India and other programs connected to social infrastructure, such as health, education and culture,
• Replicating area-based developments – one Area is selected in close consultation with citizens. For this, the entire city is divided into Areas and the strategy indicates how all these Areas would be developed one-by-one to cover the entire city over time, and
• Applying one or two smart cities initially and gradually adding more and more IT-enabled smart solutions at the pan-city level.

Ideally, the three layers are implemented one after the other starting by addressing the basic needs of the residents, first. However, some cities can apply smart solutions during the development of core infrastructure and, thereby, leapfrog one stage. Another way to leapfrog is to apply smart solutions without waiting for the upgradation of the existing city infrastructure and services.

Figure 4. Dovetailing of interlocked programs around the smart city mission

At the sub-city level – tactical plan

The tactical plan integrated various aspects of the Proposal, such as delineation of project boundaries of a contiguous Area, selection of type of area-based development (retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield); application of smart urban form to the Area, mixed land use, transit-oriented development; use of IT to improve systems and delivery; place-making and planning for complete development of the Area. The process followed by the cities was given significant weightage in the evaluation, with citizen involvement and stakeholder consultations forming the bedrock of the smart city tactical plan.

The results orientation and ‘do-ability’ of the proposal was another significant part of the tactical plan. The scoring criteria given in Figure 3 shows that nearly 30 percent of the marks were given for implementation framework and feasibility. The feasibility of the implementation of the proposed developments could be understood as the result of maximum convergence of funds from Government sources, leveraging of private investment, public private partnership frameworks for sustainability and the assessment of risks and mitigation measures required.

The Proposal conceived in this way led to replacement of top-down processes, tools and tactics with a more bottom-up approach. There was a greater focus on bottom-up self-organization and collaboration in order to capture the rules in use – direct and indirect, explicit and implicit, tacit and obvious. The Proposal was generated through a detailed process containing several types of feedbacks from the citizens (e.g. discussion forums, polls, blogs, suggestions). The involvement of different stakeholders was a measure of the integrated planning and evidence-based planning . What emerged finally was an admixture of bottom up and top down approaches.

SPV: Bridging the Implementation Gap

The dynamic interplay between rules in form and rules in use generates an ever-changing relationship between the two. As a result, rules in form are rendered open and the uncertainty and ambiguity so generated adversely affects decision-making leading to delays in execution.

One way to bridge the execution gap is to create an entity, which is autonomous, able to quickly adapt to rules in use, regulated by some basic, inviolable rules in form and accountable to the municipal representatives. The Mission proposed that in each smart city a company would be established at the city-level owned by the State Government and the City, governed by the regulations of the Companies Law and managed by professionals. In India, companies (corporations) have been formed at the State level, not at the municipal level. Other countries, such as China and Africa have formed companies at the city level to access investments and develop urban infrastructure. Box 2 gives the details of the companies established by China and Africa.

In the Mission, therefore, implementation of projects is done by a city-level Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV). The SPVs are permitted to enter into joint ventures with other entities to raise capital. These will be autonomous bodies accountable to the city, with majority ownership held by the State/City and the private sector and financial institutions could hold minority equity stakes.

• Financing platform. UDICs raise funds for urban infrastructure development from multiple channels. They provide borrowed money to infrastructure projects through on-lending or direct investments.
• Public sector investor. UDICs operate as authorized investment agents of the municipal government or state-owned asset administration authorities. UDICs operate and manage the assets within their authorized scope and are responsible for maintaining the value of the asset and protecting the interests of the government.
• Land development agent. Many UDICs conduct up-front development and management of land allocated by local government in urban planning areas.
• Project sponsor/owner. UDICs sponsor and own priority urban infrastructure projects. In this respect, UDICs are

Their involvement in social infrastructure varies form local government to local government. According to one estimate there are nearly 360 established UDICs with varying operational models and reporting structures. The results have been impressive. Infrastructure investment has been maintained at approximately 9-10 percent of the GDP. The level of infrastructure investment, as well as the quality of infrastructure in China compares favourably in the regional and global context.

In South Africa, Municipal Entities (ME) are set up to manage and develop specific services, sectors or portfolios. They are separate companies normally wholly owned by the municipality (thought this is not mandatory and municipalities may hold a partial interest in a company if the other shareholders are national/provincial government or, if it’s a private sector company, the municipality has a controlling interest) and regulated by one of its departments. While they may issue debt, this is tightly regulated and they are not primary vehicles for raising (off balance sheet) debt finance for general urban development purposes (which is what SPVs normally are – as in China). In S. Africa there were 91 municipal entities in 2006. Municipal entities have been utilized to perform a variety of functions. The developmental and planning function includes economic and business development (excluding tourism) with 21 entities represented. This is followed by housing services with 11 entities and water services with 6 entities. Of the 91 municipal entities, 41 entities were companies followed by 31 private companies, 6 trusts and 5 service utilities.

Sameer Sharma,

Additional Secretary(Smart Cities),

Ministry of Urban Development 

Disclaimer – All views are personal

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Sustainable Smart Cities in India

Challenges and Future Perspectives

• © 2017
• Poonam Sharma 0 ,
• Swati Rajput 1

Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

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• Includes cases studies on numerous Indian smart cities
• Comprehensive coverage including Infrastructure, Transport and Architecture, Communication Technology, Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing, Environment, Energy and Development
• Well illustrated with numerous maps and diagrams
• Applies to geographers, town planners, urban management specialists, civil engineers and GIS consultants
• Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: The Urban Book Series (UBS)

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This book presents fundamental and applied research aimed at the development of smart cities across India. Based on the exploration of an extensive array of multidisciplinary literature, this book discusses critical factors of smart city initiatives: management and organization, technology, governance, policy, people and communities, economy, infrastructure, and natural environment. These factors are broadly covered under the integrative framework of the book to examine the vision and challenges of smart city initiatives. The book suggests directions and agendas for smart city research and outlines practical implications for government professionals, students, research scholars and policy makers.

A lot of work is happening on smart cities as it is an upcoming area of research and development. At international level, and even in India, the concept of smart cities concept is a hot topic at universities, research centers, ministries, transport departments, civic bodies,environment, energy and disaster organizations, town planners and policy makers. This book provides ideas and information to government officials, investors, experts and research students.

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• urban geography and urbanism

Table of contents (47 chapters)

Front matter, perspectives of smart cities: introduction and overview.

Poonam Sharma, Swati Rajput

Smart Cities Development Potentials and Challenges

Can the smart city allure meet the challenges of indian urbanization.

• Ashok Kumar

Methodological Issues in Studying Urban Influence

• Surya Tewari, H. Ramachandran

Implementation Challenges for Establishing Smart Urban Information and Knowledge Management System

• Sandeep Kumar Raut, Papiya Bandyopadhyay Raut

Spatial Distribution of Startup Cities of India

• Daljit Singh

Re-imagining Post-industrial Cities: Exploring Newer Identities in Faridabad, Haryana

• Anjan Sen, Anuja Yadav

Problems and Prospects of Development in Guwahati, Assam

• Pratisha Padmasri Deka, Meena Kumari Devi

Exploring Potentials and Challenges in Making Smart Cities in India: A Case Study of Allahabad City, Uttar Pradesh

• Arun Pratap Mishra, Anjan Sen, Ashok Kumar

Smart City Development and Role of ICT, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System

Assessing pattern of spatio-temporal change in nct of delhi and its peri-urban areas using geospatial techniques.

• Dipanwita Dutta, Atiqur Rahman

Monitoring Urban Expansion of Thoubal, Manipur

• L. Mirana Devi, S. K. Bandooni, V. S. Negi, Masood A. Siddiqui

Optimising Green Spaces for Sustainable Urban Planning: A Case of Jaipur, Rajasthan

• Amrita Bajaj, Ajay Kumar

The Strategic Role of Green Spaces: A Case Study of Kalaburagi, Karnataka

• Ramesh Anguluri, Priya Narayanan, Krishna Udnoor

Assessing the Rainwater Harvesting Potential of Pallavpuram Area in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

Facility management system: a case study of university campus.

• Arifa Begum, Ashis K. Saha

Impact of Urbanisation on Land Surface Temperature in Nagpur, Maharashtra

• Manish Kumar, Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Vinay Maitri, Vivekananda Biswas

3D City Models for Extracting Urban Environmental Quality Indicators in Greater Hyderabad, Telangana

• Tirunagari Mounika, Ramesh Anguluri

Environment, Energy, Disaster Management and Sustainable Development of Cities

“This large volume represents one of the few cases of empirical multidisciplinary research on the geography of smart urbanism. … Sustainable Smart Cities in India can be a compass which academics, practitioners and students can use to traverse the vast constellation of alleged smart cities, and find out if the answer to some of the world’s sustainability issues lies in one of them.”(Federico Cugurullo, Urban Studies, Vol. 55 (15), 2018)

Editors and Affiliations

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : Sustainable Smart Cities in India

Book Subtitle : Challenges and Future Perspectives

Editors : Poonam Sharma, Swati Rajput

Series Title : The Urban Book Series

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47145-7

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Earth and Environmental Science , Earth and Environmental Science (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-319-47144-0 Published: 10 April 2017

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-319-83666-9 Published: 18 July 2018

eBook ISBN : 978-3-319-47145-7 Published: 27 March 2017

Series ISSN : 2365-757X

Series E-ISSN : 2365-7588

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XVIII, 809

Number of Illustrations : 52 b/w illustrations, 210 illustrations in colour

Topics : Urban Geography / Urbanism (inc. megacities, cities, towns) , Sustainable Development , Regional and Cultural Studies

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Make Your Note

Smart Cities Mission

• 16 May 2024
• GS Paper - 2
• GS Paper - 1
• Social Empowerment
• Welfare Schemes
• Government Policies & Interventions
• Urbanization

For Prelims: Smart Cities Mission , Centrally Sponsored Scheme , Sustainable development , Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) , Public-Private Partnership (PPP) , Atal Mission for Urban , Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) , Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) , Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0 , TULIP-The Urban Learning Internship Program

For Mains: Analysis of Smart Cities Mission

Why in News?

Despite two extensions until June 2024, the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) launched in 2015, is unlikely to meet its deadline, with 5,533 completed projects funded at Rs. 65,063 crore and 921 ongoing projects worth Rs. 21,000 crore.

What is the Smart Cities Mission (SCM)?

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme , launched in June 2015 to transform 100 cities to provide the necessary core infrastructure and clean and sustainable environment to enable a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of "Smart Solutions" .
• It aimed to improve the quality of life for citizens through s ustainable and inclusive development.
• Provide core infrastructure and decent quality of life
• Clean and sustainable environment
• Application of ‘Smart’ Solutions
• Sustainable and inclusive development
• Compact areas
• Replicable model
• Redevelopment: Renewal of existing urban areas to improve infrastructure and amenities. E.g. Bhendi Bazar, Mumbai.
• Retrofitting: Upgrading infrastructure in existing areas to make them more efficient and sustainable. E.g. Local Area Development (Ahmedabad).
• Greenfield Projects: Development of new urban areas with a focus on sustainability and smart technologies. E.g. New Town, Kolkotta, Naya Raipur, GIFT City.
• Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions across various sectors such as e-governance , waste management, water management, energy management, urban mobility, and skill development.
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was created under the Companies Act, 2013 led by a bureaucrat or a representative of a multinational corporation (MNC),
• The funding Pattern was envisioned through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Route.
• Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U)
• Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0.
• TULIP-The Urban Learning Internship Program.
• Smart Cities Mission (SCM) : Launched in June 2015, aimed to adapt to global changes by selecting 100 cities for smart city development over five years.

What is a Smart City?

• The term ‘Smart City’ gained prominence after the 2009 financial crash, referring to cities designed with advanced ICT integration, often likened to new Silicon Valleys.
• However in the Indian context, a Smart City would be the one which plans judiciously to meet its aspirations and challenges in a sustainable manner while fostering principles of good governance .
• A Smart City is one which has basic infrastructure, uses ‘smart’ solutions to make infrastructure and services better, and relies on Area-based development.
• Evolution of Smart Cities: Before 2009, cities were mainly seen as hubs of commerce and culture with little emphasis on integrating ICT however after 2009, there was a marked shift toward leveraging ICT for enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and economic growth, partly driven by post-financial crash recovery needs.

What are the Challenges Faced by the Smart City Mission?

• The definition's ambiguity makes it challenging to allocate resources effectively and prioritise projects.
• The role of elected representatives being sidelined by reducing the role of elected councils in decision-making raises concerns about democratic governance and accountability.
• Selecting cities on a competitive basis overlooked the diverse urban realities of India, which are dynamic and not static like the West.
• For example, Chandigarh had invested Rs 196 crore into one pocket-sector 43.
• McKinsey reports indicate that to improve livability in Indian cities by 2030, USD 1.2 trillion is needed, making Rs. 1,67,875 crore over nine years a mere 0.027% of the total urban India expenditure.
• Initially planned for completion by 2020, the mission was extended twice , with the current deadline set for June 2024, indicating the complexity of the urban development process.
• Despite PPP being an important driver of the mission, not more than 5% of the funding has come through this route.
• Smart city projects led to the displacement of people living in poorer localities, such as street vendors, disrupting urban communities.
• The focus on infrastructure development in some towns led to enhanced urban flooding , as water channels and contours were disrupted or dismantled.

What are the Steps Needed to Strengthen the Smart City Mission?

The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs gives the following overarching recommendations.

• Dedicated CEO should be appointed with fixed tenure, ensuring the representation of experts and stakeholders, and utilising existing expertise.
• Members of Parliament (MPs) need to be included in State-Level Advisory Forums, and should be consulted for project identification, selection, and implementation, as they have grassroots-level expertise.
• Th e emphasising should be more on pan-city projects for comprehensive and holistic development, optimising resource allocation and reducing wastage.
• Digital infrastructure protection mechanisms are needed to safeguard against cyber threats and maintain data privacy.
• A plan to strengthen Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) capabilities in small cities and central government assistance for organisational restructuring and capacity building in states requiring support should be taken up.
• The focus should be on timely completion of project. The ministry's role should not be confined to fund transfer but extend to ensuring execution and completion by intervening with inputs and expertise.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.’ (2016)

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