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Revision: Unit II Population and Human Settlements >> Urban Settlements Geography ISC (Arts) Class 12 CISCE

Key Points: Urbanisation in India

Urbanisation in India is measured by the percentage of the urban population to the total population.
India's urbanisation level was 31.16% in 2011, which is low compared to developed countries.
Urban growth is driven by expanding cities and the development of new towns.
Southern states like Goa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala are more urbanised than northern states.
India has a long history of urbanisation, with ancient cities like Harappa, Varanasi, and Indraprastha.

Key Points: Urbanization in India

Meaning of Urbanization – Urbanization refers to the increase in urban population and the rise in people engaged in non-agricultural activities.
Historical Phases – Urbanization in India began with the Indus Valley Civilization, followed by growth during Aryan, Mauryan, Mughal and British periods.
British Contribution – The British developed port cities (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai), hill stations, railways, industries and modern urban administration.
Growth Trends (1901–2011) – Urban population increased from 25.85 million (1901) to 377 million (2011), and urban percentage rose to 31.16%.
Current Position – Despite growth, India remains less urbanized compared to many countries like China, USA and Japan.

Key Points: Conurbations

Meaning: Conurbation means a large continuous urban area formed when nearby towns/cities expand and merge.
Term Origin: The term conurbation was coined by Patrick Geddes (1915).
Formation Cause: It usually develops along major transport routes, where towns grow and join together.
Kolkata Conurbation: A major conurbation exists in West Bengal along the Hugli River, with Kolkata as the main city and many towns linked to the jute industry.
North-West Conurbation: Another developing conurbation is forming from Agra to Delhi, extending further towards Meerut–Saharanpur, Ambala–Amritsar, and Chandigarh–Kalka and may become very large in future.

Key Points: Introduction and Definition of Urban Settlement

Urban area is difficult to define due to rural–urban continuum.
Urban areas mainly have secondary and tertiary activities.
Multiple criteria are used to define urban areas.
Census definition became stricter after 1961.
Urban areas are of two types: Statutory Towns and Census Towns.
Census Town: 5,000+ population, 75% male workers in non-agriculture, 400+ density.
Urban Agglomeration means a continuous urban spread with 20,000+ population.

Key Points: Problems Resulting from the Growth of Large Cities

Unemployment – Rapid rural-urban migration increases job seekers in cities, leading to rising unemployment and underemployment.
Growth of Slums – Unplanned urban growth leads to slums and squatter settlements with poor housing, sanitation and health conditions.
Urban Sprawl – Cities expand into surrounding agricultural land, forming suburbs and sometimes large conurbations.
Traffic Congestion – Increase in population and vehicles causes heavy traffic, slow movement and pressure on public transport.
Air, Water and Land Pollution – Industrial emissions, vehicles and untreated sewage cause serious environmental pollution, including river contamination.
Noise Pollution – Vehicles, industries and loudspeakers increase noise levels beyond safe limits in major cities.
Shortage of Basic Facilities – Rapid population growth leads to inadequate housing, water supply, sanitation, health, education and power facilities.

Key Points: Phases of Urban Growth in India

Three Phases of Urban Growth – India’s urban growth is divided into:
(i) Slow Growth (before 1931),
(ii) Medium Growth (1931–1961),
(iii) Rapid Growth (1961–2011).
Slow Growth Period (1881–1931) – Urban population increased slightly from 9.3% to 11.99%. Growth was slow due to droughts, famines, floods, epidemics and high mortality rate.
Medium Growth Period (1931–1961) – Urban population more than doubled. Growth was influenced by World War II, Partition (1947), industrial development and new capital towns. However, 1951–61 is called an inactive decade due to declassification of towns.
Rapid Growth Period (1961–2011) – Urban population increased more than four times (78.94 million to 377.11 million). Urban percentage rose from 17.97% to 31.16%. Number of towns increased sharply to 7,935.
State-wise Distribution – Tamil Nadu has the highest number of towns, followed by Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala. Over half of India’s towns are in five states.
Statutory and Census Towns – Statutory towns have local self-government bodies. Census towns meet population, density and occupation criteria set by Census authorities.
Size-Class Classification – Urban areas are classified into six categories based on population, from Class I (1 lakh and above) to Class VI (less than 5,000).

Key Points: Metropolization in India

Meaning of Metropolitan City – A metropolitan city is an urban agglomeration with a population of one million or more (million-plus city), as defined by the Census of India.
Early Growth – In 1901, only Kolkata was a metropolitan city. Mumbai joined in 1911. The number remained very low till 1941.
Post-Independence Expansion – After 1951, metropolitan cities increased rapidly. Their number rose from 5 in 1951 to 53 in 2011, showing strong urban growth.
Current Status (2011 Census) – India has 53 metropolitan cities with about 160 million people. Greater Mumbai is the largest, followed by Delhi.
Fast and Slow Growing Metros – Some big metros like Mumbai and Kolkata show slower growth, while smaller cities like Surat, Ghaziabad, Vasai-Virar and cities in Kerala are growing rapidly.
Urban Problems in Metros – Rapid migration, poor planning, pressure on infrastructure, traffic congestion and inadequate drainage and waste management are major issues.
Future Projection – By 2039, India is expected to have 87 metropolitan cities with around 255 million people, showing continued rapid metropolitan growth.

Key Points: Factors Influencing Urban Growth in India

Transportation – Water, rail and road transport are major factors in urban growth. Many towns developed along rivers, railway junctions and highways. “Break of transport” points (where one mode changes to another) also lead to town development.
Mineral Resources – Mining of coal, oil and metals attracts population and leads to growth of mining towns such as Jharia, Raniganj, Digboi and Khetri.
Agriculture and Industrialisation – Market towns grow in fertile agricultural areas. Industrialisation has strongly promoted urbanisation, leading to growth of cities like Jamshedpur, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Religious and Educational Centres – Many towns developed due to religious importance (Varanasi, Haridwar, Amritsar) or educational institutions (Nalanda, Roorkee, Aligarh).
Political Factors – Capitals and administrative centres grow rapidly due to government activities, e.g., Delhi and Chandigarh.
Defence Purposes – Fort towns and cantonment towns developed for security, such as Jodhpur, Gwalior and other military centres.
Physical Factors (Relief and Climate) – Towns usually develop on level land with a moderate climate. Extreme cold, heat or desert conditions discourage urban growth.