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THEME PAPER
income inequality persist. Urban Affairs, 2021). The India has also emerged as a
Addressing these issues Smart Cities Mission also global leader in renewable
requires continued economic plays a significant role in energy and sustainable
reform and an emphasis on job addressing urban mobility development.
creation, entrepreneurship, by integrating sustainable India’s National Action Plan
and investment in transport solutions with on Climate Change (NAPCC)
infrastructure. India’s Make advanced technologies. outlines the country’s strategy
in India initiative is one The development of metro for tackling climate change
such program designed to networks, bus rapid transit through a series of programs
promote manufacturing and systems (BRTS), and better
job creation. By enhancing pedestrian infrastructure is a and policies. The Pradhan
the ease of doing business key feature of this initiative. Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY), which aims to
and improving the country’s India’s urban population provide clean cooking gas to
manufacturing ecosystem,
the government aims to is rapidly growing, with poor households, helps reduce
substantially increase the over 600 million people indoor air pollution, which is
share of manufacturing expected to live in cities by a significant health hazard,
in the GDP. Similarly, 2031. This mass migration to particularly for women
the Startup India scheme cities brings with it several in rural areas (Ministry of
supports entrepreneurship challenges, particularly Petroleum and Natural Gas,
by providing tax incentives, around urban mobility—the 2021).Additionally, India is
incubation centers, and ability to move efficiently committed to reducing its
easier access to capital and sustainably within carbon footprint through the
for small businesses and urban spaces. The Indian International Solar Alliance
innovators (Government of government has recognized (ISA), which aims to harness
India, 2021). Another crucial the need for sustainable solar energy as a key resource.
area of economic focus is urban transport solutions. The National Electric Mobility
infrastructure development. Additionally, the Atal Mission Mission Plan (NEMMP) and
The Bharatmala Pariyojana for Rejuvenation and Urban FAME India also promote
is a nationwide highway Transformation (AMRUT) electric vehicles, helping
development program focuses on improving basic reduce the country’s reliance
that aims to enhance road urban infrastructure such as on fossil fuels.
connectivity across the water supply, sanitation, and In the 21st century, digital
country. By improving road transport networks, which infrastructure and innovation
infrastructure, India hopes to are critical to supporting the are key to driving India’s
reduce transportation costs, growing urban population. future development.
facilitate the movement of Environmental sustainability India has already made
goods, and promote regional is a critical component of significant strides in digital
development. The Smart India’s path to a developed transformation through
Cities Mission, which aims future. India is one of the initiatives like Digital India,
to build 100 smart cities most vulnerable countries which aims to provide internet
across India, integrates to climate change, facing access and digital services to
advanced technologies to challenges such as air every citizen. The Pradhan
create urban spaces that are pollution, deforestation, Mantri Gramin Digital Saksh
more efficient and livable water scarcity, and extreme Yojana (PMGDISHA) is an
(Ministry of Housing and weather events. However, initiative aimed at providing
16 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
