Study the following table carefully and answer the questions that follow:
India - Trends of Urbanisation 1961-2011
Year | Number of Towns/UAs | Urban Population (in Thousands) | % of Total Population | Decennial Growth (%) |
1961 | 2,365 | 78,936.6 | 17.97 | 26.41 |
1971 | 2,590 | 1,09,114 | 19.91 | 38.23 |
1981 | 3,378 | 1,59,463 | 23.34 | 46.14 |
1991 | 4,689 | 2,17,611 | 25.71 | 36.47 |
2001 | 5,161 | 2,85,355 | 27.78 | 31.13 |
2011 | 6,171 | 3,77,000 | 31.16 | 31.08 |
The increasing trend of urban population in India can be attributed to several factors:
- Economic Development: As the country has industrialized, more people have migrated from rural areas to cities in search of employment opportunities in industries and services.
- Improvement in Infrastructure: The growth of infrastructure such as better roads, transportation, and communication networks has made urban areas more attractive for people seeking a higher quality of life.
- Government Policies: Various government policies aimed at urban development and infrastructure improvement have encouraged migration to cities.
- Social Factors: Urban areas offer better education, healthcare, and social amenities, making them attractive to people from rural areas. As a result, India has seen a consistent increase in its urban population, reflected in the growth from 17.97% in 1961 to 31.16% in 2011.
The continuous increase in the number of towns in India from 2,365 in 1961 to 6,171 in 2011 reflects the rapid urbanization and growth of small towns into larger urban centres. Several factors contribute to this trend:
- Migration from Rural Areas: As rural areas become less economically viable, people migrate to towns for better employment, education, and healthcare facilities, leading to the expansion of towns.
- Economic Transformation: The expansion of industries and commercial activities has led to the creation of new towns and urban areas. This economic shift has increased the number of towns to support new markets and services.
- Urban Planning and Development: The Indian government’s policies and urban planning efforts have led to the formalization and development of new towns and urban areas, which were previously considered rural settlements. This continuous rise in the number of towns highlights the ongoing process of urbanization in India.
Read the following text carefully:
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister said that the Central Government has taken many proactive steps in the past few years to control retail prices of food items. He said that the government aims to keep inflation under control without compromising the country’s economic growth. Retail inflation inched up to a three-month high of 5.55% in November 2023 driven by higher food prices. Inflation has been declining since August 2023, when it touched 6.83%. 140 new price monitoring centres had been set up by the Central Government to keep a close watch on wholesale and retail prices of essential commodities. The Government has banned the export of many food items like wheat, broken rice, non-basmati white rice, onions etc. It has also reduced import duties on edible oils and pulses to boost domestic supply and control price rise. On the basis of the given text and common understanding,
answer the following questions: