Question

Which government initiative in India focuses on providing affordable housing to the urban poor?

• A. Swachh Bharat Mission
• B. Make in India
• C. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
• D. Smart Cities Mission

Hint:

\textbf{Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY):} A major Government of India initiative for providing affordable housing.
\textbf{PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U):} Specifically targets affordable housing for the urban poor (EWS, LIG, MIG categories).
Implemented through strategies like slum redevelopment, credit-linked subsidies, affordable housing in partnership, and beneficiary-led construction.
Swachh Bharat is for sanitation. Make in India is for manufacturing. Smart Cities Mission has a broader urban development scope.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question asks about a government initiative in India focused on affordable housing for the urban poor. Let's analyze the options:
(a) Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM - Clean India Mission): Launched in 2014, its primary goal is to achieve universal sanitation coverage, eliminate open defecation, and improve solid waste management. While improved sanitation contributes to better living conditions, SBM's direct focus is not providing housing.
(b) Make in India: Launched in 2014, this initiative aims to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India, transforming India into a global design and manufacturing hub. It focuses on industrial and economic development, not directly on housing provision for the poor.
(c) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Launched in 2015, PMAY is a flagship housing scheme of the Government of India with the objective of providing "Housing for All" by a target year (originally 2022, now extended). It has two main components:
PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U): Focuses on providing affordable housing to the urban poor, including Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low-Income Groups (LIG), and Middle-Income Groups (MIG), through various interventions like in-situ slum redevelopment, credit-linked subsidy schemes (CLSS), affordable housing in partnership (AHP), and beneficiary-led construction/enhancement (BLC).
PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G): Focuses on rural housing. PMAY-U directly addresses affordable housing for the urban poor.
(d) Smart Cities Mission (SCM): Launched in 2015, aims to develop 100 cities across India making them citizen-friendly and sustainable. While affordable housing can be a component of smart city projects (e.g., under Area-Based Development), the mission's scope is broader, covering smart infrastructure, mobility, governance, etc. PMAY is the dedicated national mission for affordable housing. Therefore, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), particularly its urban component (PMAY-U), is the government initiative in India that specifically focuses on providing affordable housing to the urban poor. \[ \boxed{\text{Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana}} \]