Rapid urbanization in India creates simultaneous developmental advantages and various complications for national growth. The Government of India introduced the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 2005 as its principal urban development program to manage increasing urban demands.
India is on the cusp of a profound urban metamorphosis. In the forthcoming decades, India is anticipated to boast the most significant urban population globally. However, India’s urban future is shaped by blueprints drawn far from the streets where people live.
Hindi movies and TV programs are doing a fair bit to spread the language in its popular Hindustani version, rather than in its stilted Sanskritised avatar
Whether it is a farmer from rural Bihar seeking a stable income in Delhi, or a young graduate from a small town aspiring to join Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem, the magnetism of urban centres lies in their perceived ability to transform lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech at Varanasi commemorating the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas,emphasised the creation of an egalitarian society — one driven by ideals of social justice. A society where people from the margins are marching towards the epicentre with great hope for creating a community free from social evils, a society made up by liberated souls. With the unveiling of the statue of Sant Ravidas, Modi talked about how the ills of the caste system are destroying humanity. This transported me to the words of Sant Ravidas, “Jaat-paat ke pher mahi urjhi rahi sab log/ Mannushta ku khat hai, Ravidas jat kar rog” (Everyone is trapped in the caste system/ Ravidas, humanity is being eaten up by the disease called caste).
In his speech, he said that the BJP government has been instrumental in revitalising the teachings of Sant Ravidas as they embody a movement to reclaim history, give voice to underrepresented groups, and change the way politics is framed. The BJP has been successful in transforming the social and cultural reality of the country. The current political dispensation’s policies have been centred around the empowerment of marginalised people. With this approach, the BJP government is attempting to harmonise some facets of its governance model with that of Begumpura, the city without sorrow envisioned by the poet-saint, through the prioritisation of social justice, equality, and development.
The story so far: In 2015, the NDA government positioned urban development as a key pillar of its growth strategy as cities contribute nearly 67% to the GDP. However, in the government’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat,” cities seem to be conspicuously absent.
The IMPRI Center for Habitat, Urban, and Regional Studies (CHURS), New Delhi, hosted a panel discussion on February 5, 2025, as part of its 6th Annual Series on the Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of the Union Budget 2025-26. The session, titled Rural Realities and Union Budget 2025-26, focused on the challenges and opportunities facing rural India, particularly in the context of the government’s budgetary proposals and their potential impact on agriculture, rural employment, and development.