India has been the fastest growing major economy in the world, with an average growth of 7% from 2017-18 to 2018-19, and a consistently increasing share in the world\u2019s GDP. It is the world\u2019s seventh largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Data source \u2013 State of the Economy in 2018-19: A Macro View, Economic Survey 2018-19] and the third largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) [Data source \u2013 State of the Economy in 2018-19: A Macro View, Economic Survey 2018-19]. As per the Ministry of Finance, India aspires to become a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024 and a USD 10-trillion economy by 2030.<\/span><\/p>\n There are over 4,400 statutory towns and cities in India with around 40 crores inhabitants today. At the current rate of growth, urban population in India is estimated to reach a staggering 60 crores by 2030 (WUP, 2018). According to Census 2011, as many as 53 cities in India had a million plus population. It is projected that more than 50% of the country\u2019s population will be urban by 2050 (WUP, 2018). By some estimates, India needs to build a Chicago every year and is expected to see an influx of population of the size of the entire USA into its cities over the next decade.<\/span><\/p>\n The hypothesis that urbanization is necessarily beneficial for economic growth cannot be taken for granted. Our cities have to overcome a number of challenges in order to realize their potential as engines of growth. At present, 34% of India\u2019s population lives in urban areas, with a growth rate of 2.4% in the 2010-18 period (World Urbanization Prospects, WUP, 2018). The level of urbanization in India is low as compared to the BRICS economies such as Brazil (86.6%), South Africa (66.4%) and China (59.2%) (WUP 2018). The level of urbanization across states is asymmetric. As per 2011 census, Tamil Nadu (48.4%) was the most urbanized among major states, followed by Kerala (47.7%), Maharashtra (45.2%) and Gujarat (42.6%). These four states together contributed to around one-third of the total urban population of India in 2011. States with low levels of urbanization were Himachal Pradesh (10%), Bihar (11.3%), Assam (14%), and Odisha (16.7%). 70 percent of the urban population is concentrated in close to 12% of its cities.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" India\u2019s Urban Snapshot India has been the fastest growing major economy in the world, with an average growth of 7% from 2017-18 to 2018-19, and a consistently increasing share in the world\u2019s GDP. It is the world\u2019s seventh largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Data source \u2013 State of the Economy in 2018-19: … Continue reading Why NUDM?<\/span> Urban Challenge<\/h4>\n