Question

Explain the main Characteristics of urban settlements in India.

Answer 1

1. Size and Density of Population: Urban areas are characterised by their big population sizes and high density. In India, an urban settlement is commonly defined as having a minimum population of 5,000 people and a density of at least 400 people per square kilometre.
2. Occupational Structure: A significant majority of the population (at least 75% of male main workers) works in non-agricultural fields such as manufacturing, trade, services, and administration.
3. Administrative Setup: The presence of a local government is an important element. This includes a Municipality, Municipal Corporation, Cantonment Board, and Notified Town Area Committee.
4. Functional Complexity: Economic growth is centred in urban areas. They offer specialised services and products (banking, transit, education) to both urban people and those living in the adjacent rural hinterlands.
5. Social Relations: Unlike rural areas, where social relations are intimate, urban life is characterised by a quick pace of living and formal, secondary social relationships among a diverse population.