India : Urbanization (Part – III)

31. Which one of the following does not consist of urban infrastructure? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

(a) Drinking water
(b) Housing
(c) Sanitation
(d) Transport

Correct Answer: (b) Housing

Solution:Drinking water, sanitation and transport are included in the urban infrastructure, while housing is not included in urban infrastructure.

Urban Infrastructure:
This encompasses the essential systems and services that support the daily lives of urban residents and the efficient operation of the city. Examples include:

Water supply and sanitation: Providing clean water and managing wastewater effectively.
Electricity and gas distribution: Ensuring reliable energy access for homes, businesses, and public spaces.
Transportation: Roads, public transit systems, and other means of getting around the city.
Waste management: Collecting and disposing of solid waste.

32. Which of the following is not a new scheme announced for the development of Urban Infrastructure? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Swachh Bharat Mission
(b) Heritage City Development and Augmentation Scheme
(c) Smart City Scheme
(d) Digital India Scheme

Correct Answer: (d) Digital India Scheme

Solution:Swachh Bharat Mission, Heritage City Development and Augmentation Scheme (HRIDAY) and Smart City Scheme are new schemes for Urban Infrastructure Development. While the Digital India Scheme is a program implemented by the Government of India with a view to transforming the entire ecosystem of public services through the use of information technology and transforming India into a knowledge economy.

33. The Finance Minister of India while presenting the Budget Proposals for 2005-06 before the Parliament, announced the decision for formation of: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

(a) Rural Development Commission
(b) Administrative Reforms Commission
(c) National Development Fund
(d) Urban Renewal Mission

Correct Answer: (d) Urban Renewal Mission

Solution:The Finance Minister of India while presenting the Budget Proposals for 2005-06 before the Parliament, announced the decision for formation of National Urban Renewal Mission covering the seven mega cities, all cities with a population of over a million, and some other towns. He proposed an outlay of Rs. 5500 crore for this mission. This mission was officially inaugurated in December, 2005 as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

34. The National Urban Renewal Mission has been named after: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

(a) Indira Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Rajendra Prasad
(d) Rajiv Gandhi

Correct Answer: (b) Jawaharlal Nehru

Solution:The Finance Minister of India while presenting the Budget Proposals for 2005-06 before the Parliament, announced the decision for formation of National Urban Renewal Mission covering the seven mega cities, all cities with a population of over a million, and some other towns. He proposed an outlay of Rs. 5500 crore for this mission. This mission was officially inaugurated in December, 2005 as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

35. Which one of the following is not an objective of SAJNNURM? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

(a) Urban Electrification
(b) Urban Transport
(c) Development of Heritage area
(d) Sanitation and Sewage

Correct Answer: (a) Urban Electrification

Solution:Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was launched in December 2005. It was a 7-year programme, in which attention was paid to upgradation of urban infra- structure, construction of large number of houses and provision of basic services for the poor, so as to promote inclusive growth. JNNURM consisted of two sub-missions:

(1) Sub-mission for urban infrastructure and governance Its objectives included water supply and sanitation, sewer- age, solid waste management, road network, urban transport and rejuvenation of old city infrastructure. (2) Sub-mission for basic services to the urban poor - Its objective was the integrated development of slums. Apparently urban electrifi- cation is not associated with the JNNURM scheme. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

36. Which one of the following is not true for Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission? It was: [U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]

(a) launched in 2005
(b) a 10 year programme
(c) to upgrade the quality of life in Indian cities
(d) to promote inclusive growth

Correct Answer: (b) a 10 year programme

Solution:Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was launched in December 2005. It was a 7-year programme, in which attention was paid to upgradation of urban infra- structure, construction of large number of houses and provision of basic services for the poor, so as to promote inclusive growth. JNNURM consisted of two sub-missions:

(1) Sub-mission for urban infrastructure and governance Its objectives included water supply and sanitation, sewer- age, solid waste management, road network, urban transport and rejuvenation of old city infrastructure. (2) Sub-mission for basic services to the urban poor - Its objective was the integrated development of slums.

37. JNNURM is concerned with improving which of the following? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl.) (Pre) 2010]

(a) Rural Housing
(b) Urban and Rural Marketing Structure
(c) Employment to Educated Persons
(d) Urban Infrastructure

Correct Answer: (d) Urban Infrastructure

Solution:Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was launched in December 2005. It was a 7-year programme, in which attention was paid to upgradation of urban infrastructure, construction of large number of houses and provision of basic services for the poor, so as to promote inclusive growth. JNNURM consisted of two sub-missions:

(1) Sub-mission for urban infrastructure and governance Its objectives included water supply and sanitation, sewer- age, solid waste management, road network, urban transport and rejuvenation of old city infrastructure. (2) Sub-mission for basic services to the urban poor - Its objective was the integrated development of slums. Apparently urban electrification is not associated with the JNNURM scheme. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

38. The revenue from which water and sewage will be financed in the Smart Cities Mission, that is: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Entertainment tax
(b) Octrai and Entry tax
(c) Education tax
(d) Property tax

Correct Answer: (d) Property tax

Solution:In the Smart City Mission water and sewage is proposed to be financed through property tax. It is noteworthy that in the first phase (2015-16 to 2019-20), a target has been set to develop 100 smart cities. Till now, a total of 100 cities have been selected under the Smart City Mission, including 10 cities selected in Phase-5.

The Smart Cities 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.
'Smart city' is a city equipped with basic infrastructure to give a decent quality of life, a clean and sustainable environment through application of some smart solutions.
It includes basic infrastructure like adequate water supply, electricity supply, sustainable sanitation and solid waste management, efficient urban mobility, affordable housing and ensuring robust IT connectivity and e-governance.
Smart Cities focus on their most pressing needs and on the greatest opportunities to improve lives.
They tap a range of approaches - digital and information technologies, urban planning best practices, public-private partnerships, and policy change to make a difference. They always put people first.

39. Which one of the following is not the objective of the smart city development? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Good governance
(b) Clean green city
(c) Stabilizing quality of life
(d) Smart mobility

Correct Answer: (c) Stabilizing quality of life

Solution:In the approach to the Smart Cities Mission, the objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent and improved quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of 'Smart' solutions. The core infrastructure elements of smart city development 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 citizen participation,

• Sustainable and green environment,

• Safety and security of citizens, and

• Health and education.

40. Match the following: [J.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]

Year	Committee
A. 1949–51	1. Local Finance Enquiry Committee
B. 1953–54	2. Taxation Enquiry Commission
C. 1963–66	3. Rural-Urban Relationship Committee
D. 1985–88	4. National Commission on Urbanization

	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	2	3	4	1
(c)	3	4	1	2
(d)	4	3	2	1

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (a)

Solution:The correctly matched lists are as follows:

Local Finance Enquiry Committee - 1949-51

Taxation Enquiry Commission - 1953-54

Rural-Urban Relationship Committee - 1963-66

National Commission on Urbanization - 1985-88

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.