Environment and Sustainable Development

According to the census of 2011 approximately 121 crore people (68.9%) still live in rural areas as compared to 37.7 crores (31.1%) people living in the urban areas. Although the rate of urbanization in India is high yet the process lacks solutions to provide basic infrastructural amenities like Drinking water, Transport, Sanitation, Electricity, etc.

Natural capital includes all renewable and non-renewable environmental resources. It includes air, water, land, minerals and forests. In other words only those resources, which are created by nature, without any human interference, can be deemed as natural capital. Hence, roads cannot be included in the country's natural capital.

The Smart City Mission is an innovative and new initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. The core infrastructure elements of the mission are-
* Adequate water supply.
* Assured electricity supply.
* Sanitation including solid waste management.
* Efficient urban mobility and public transport.
* Affordable housing, especially for the poor.
* Robust IT connectivity and digitalization.
* Good Governance, especially e-Governance and people's participation.
* Sustainable environment.
* Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly.
* Health and Education.