Better Cities, Better Growth: India's Urban Opportunity

Abstract

India is on the cusp of an urban transition. The country’s urban population reached 420 million or 33% of its total population in 2015. It is expected to almost double to 800 million by 2050,2 when one in every two Indians is expected to reside in its towns and cities. By 2031, 75% of India’s national income is expected to come from cities, an increase on the current 66%, and the majority of new jobs will be created in urban areas.3 Policy engagement on meeting India’s urban challenge is also at a turning point. The Government of India has launched an array of initiatives to tackle issues of urban growth and liveability, including “100 Smart Cities”, “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” (Clean India Mission), “500 Cities Fund”, “Urban Infrastructure”, “Heritage Cities”, and “Make in India” programmes. This urban focus is timely and appropriate, for several reasons.