Question

What is urbanisation ? Discuss any two problems of urbanisation in India.

Hint:

Think of urbanisation as the "growth of cities". Its main problems stem from growing too fast: too many people lead to a shortage of everything – houses, clean water, open space, and clean air, which results in slums and pollution.

Answer 1

Urbanisation
Urbanisation is the process of societal transformation characterized by the increasing proportion of a country's population living in urban areas (cities and towns). It involves the migration of people from rural to urban areas, the physical growth of urban centres, and the spread of urban culture and lifestyles.
Two Major Problems of Urbanisation in India:


Overcrowding and Housing Crisis: The rapid influx of migrants into cities far outpaces the development of adequate housing. This leads to severe overcrowding and the proliferation of slums and informal settlements, which lack basic amenities like clean water, sanitation, and electricity, resulting in poor living conditions and health hazards.

Stress on Public Utilities and Infrastructure: Existing urban infrastructure, including water supply, sewerage systems, electricity grids, and public transport, is often unable to cope with the demands of the rapidly growing population. This results in frequent water shortages, poor waste management, traffic congestion, and an overburdened public transport system, degrading the overall quality of urban life.