INDIAN ECONOMY

HOUSING IN INDIA

Overview

• Majority of Indian have per capita housing space less than 10 x 10 square feet. Average rural per capita space is 103 sq ft and urban per capita space is 117 sq ft
• Dharavi (in Mumbai) is the largest slum in India. It comprises around 600,000-1 million people in a 0.67 sq mile area. Dharavi is one of the most densely populated areas of the world
• Housing is a state subject. However, the Union Government is responsible for formulation of policies and programmes
  
• Central-level policies are implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
  

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Urbanization in India

• Urban settlements in India are those settlements
  • That have a minimum population of 5000 and
  • Have 75% of the male population engaged in non-agricultural activities and
  • Have a population density of at least 400 persons per sq km
• Further, all towns having a Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council or Cantonment Board are classified as urban
• As per Census 2001, India’s urban population was 286 million (28% of total population)
  
• The number of cities with population more than 1 million is 35
  
• With 49.76% of population living in urban areas, Goa is the most urbanized state in India. Himachal Pradesh is the least urbanized (9.30%)
  

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES

All policies/programmes under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation unless otherwise noted

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy 2007

• The main aim of the policy is Affordable Housing for All
• Objectives of the Policy include
  • Urban planning including urban local bodies, rural-urban balance and Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS)
  • Affordable housing including development of housing infrastructure, technological modernization and subsidies for economically weaker sections
  • Increased flow of funds from government and private financial sources
  • Spatial incentives including relaxation of Floor Area Ratio and more efficient use of space by construction of high-rise buildings
  • Special provisions for minorities and women

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)

• Launched in 2005
• It is a massive city modernization programme
• Applies to 63 cities in India
• Provides City Development Plans (CDP) for addressing infrastructure gaps relating to water, sanitation, housing and roads
• Includes the following sub-missions
  • Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP): provides seven services to low income settlements i.e. security of tenure, affordable housing, water, sanitation, health, education, social security
  • Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP): provides the seven services to cities other Mission cities

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISSHUP)

• Launched in 2009
• Applies to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG)
• The scheme aims to encourage the poor to avail loan facilities through commercial banks/HUDCO for construction of housing
• Provides a 5% subsidy in interest payment
• Envisages construction of 310,000 dwelling units in the country

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)

• Launched in 1991
• Aims to provide gainful employment to urban unemployed
• Promotes setting up self-employment ventures and wage employment prospects
• Sponsored jointly by Central and state governments (75:25 ratio)

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme (ILCS)

• Launched in 1980, revised in 2003
• ILCS scheme launched to eliminate dry latrines in India, which involve carrying of sewage on the heads of scavengers
• The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993 seeks to remove this unsanitary and restore human dignity of scavengers
• Aims include
  • Construct/convert low-cost sanitation units through sanitary two-pit pour flush latrines
  • Construct news latrines for EWS households having no latrines
• The scheme covers all towns, but only EWS households
• Funded by the Centre (75%), state (15%) and beneficiary (10%)
• The main target of the scheme is to convert 600,000 dry latrines by March 2010

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AND OFFICES

All bodies/offices under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation unless otherwise noted

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

National Buildings Organization (NBO)

• Established in 1954
• Headquarters in New Delhi
• The NBO is primarily tasked with collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of statistics relating to housing and construction
• Data collected by the NBO includes construction activity, building permits/completion certificates, prices of building materials and wages etc
• The NBO also conducts training courses for personnel engaged in housing statistics at the state level

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)

• Established in 1990
• Headquarters in New Delhi
• The Council provides proven innovative technologies for entrepreneurs interested in setting up manufacturing units in construction materials
• Objectives include
  • develop and operationalise a comprehensive and integrated approach for technology development, transfer and investment promotion
  • promote environment-friendly and energy-efficient materials and construction practices

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Hindustan Prefab Limited (HPL)

• Established in 1953
• Public Sector Undertaking functioning under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
• Located in New Delhi
• HPL provides civil engineering services such as conventional construction as well prefab materials
• HPL pioneered the production of pre-stressed concrete railway sleepers
• HPL is the first company in India to produce precast pre-stressed concrete railway bridge girders

Keywords: India, ias, upsc, civil service, study material, free, exam, general studies, Indian economy

Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO)

• Established in 1970
• HUDCO is a Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
• Headquartered in New Delhi
• HUDCO’s focus is on the social aspects of housing and infrastructure development, with preferential access to disadvantaged
• One in every 16 houses in the country has availed of HUDCO’s assistance
• Objectives of HUDCO include
  • Provide long term finance for housing construction
  • To finance or undertake the establishment of new or satellite towns
  • To finance or undertake the establishment of industrial enterprises of building materials