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Subject: Indian Society

  • What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (15m,250 words)

    Despite constitutional guarantees, legal reforms, and social movements, women in India continue to face persistent challenges that transcend historical periods and vary across geographies and social locations.

    Challenges across time

    Patriarchal social norms – Enduring preference for male authority and control over women. Eg- son meta preference

    Control over female sexuality – Moral policing, honour-based violence, restrictions on marriage choices.

    Child Marriages – 23% (NFHS-5)

    Khap panchayats restricting wearing jeans etc

    Unequal care burden – women spend an average of 305 minutes daily on unpaid domestic work, compared to only 98 minutes for men.

    Educational discontinuity due to marriage and caregiving. Eg- Higher dropout rates among adolescent girls.

    Economic marginalization

    Women constitute 63% of agriculture workforce but own only 13% of land

    Low FLFPR – 41% in India vs 71% in China

    Violence against women – domestic violence, workplace harassment etc. Eg- Nirbhaya Case

    Legal-social gap – Eg- proxy representation in PRIs (Sarpanch Pati syndrome)

    Challenges across life-cycle stages

    Before Birth – female foeticide

    Childhood and adolescent stage – Nutrition neglect (57% anemia), high dropouts

    Adulthood – Maternal health and autonomy issues. Eg- early pregnancies.

    Elderly women’s vulnerability – Loneliness, poverty, and lack of social security

    Challenges across space

    Rural-urban divide

    Limited mobility in rural areas due to safety and norms.

    Safety concerns and informal employment in cities.

    Caste and community-based challenges

    Caste-based violence – Gender violence used as social control. Eg- Hatras rape case

    Mining and infrastructure-induced displacement of Tribal women

    Minority women’s double marginalization – Eg- Muslim women’s low labour force participation.

    Challenges in Economic space

    Concentration in low paying care and domestic work

    Glass ceiling effect – discrimination and low representation at higher positions

    Digital Divide – 51.6% of women aged 15 years and above in rural areas do not own a mobile phone (NSO)

    Regional and cultural disparities

    Regional inequality – Eg- Higher TFR in Bihar (3.0 vs national average of 1.9)

    Violence in conflict zones – Eg- gang-rape and naked parade of two Kuki-Zo women in Manipur

    Improvements made

    Political

    Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

    46% representation in PRIs

    Legal-

    stringent and gender-sensitive provisions in Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita

    PCPNDT and POSH Acts

    Health – Institutional Deliveries increased from 78.9% (NFHS-4) to 88.6% (NFHS-5).

    Education- women constitute 43% of STEM graduates.

    Economic- Over 28 crore women now have personal Jan Dhan accounts.

    Asset Ownership- Under PM Awas Yojana, 70% of houses are registered in the name of women.

    Way Forward

    Mainstreaming gender budgeting

    Expand One Stop Centres (OSCs) under Mission Shakti for integrated support services

    Introduce gender sensitisation modules in school curricula nationwide.

    Comprehensive Healthcare

    Expand coverage and financial incentives under Janani Suraksha Yojana and PM Matru Vandana Yojana

    Leverage digital health tools like MP’s SUMAN SAKHI chatbot to provide real-time support to expecting mothers.

    Women-Centric Urban Infrastructure- Eg- “Sakhi Niwas” hostels for working women

    Thus, sustainable gender justice requires simultaneous expansion of resources, agency, and participation.

  • What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (10m,150 words)

    According to J.H. Fichter, “a society can be defined as a network of interconnected major groups viewed as a unit and sharing a common culture.” Indian society is one of the world’s oldest living civilisations, distinguished by its ability to sustain cultural continuity amid change.

    Factors that Make Indian Society Unique in Sustaining its Culture

    Civilisational Continuity – Continuation of Vedic rituals, festivals, and pilgrimage traditions. Eg- Saptapadi in marriage

    Oral Traditions – Eg- Vedic Chanting tradition has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

    Syncretic Tradition – The interaction between different religions over centuries has created a unique, blended cultural fabric. Eg- Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb or Bhakti-Sufi movements

    “Unity in Diversity” – Instead of a “melting pot”, India follows a “Salad Bowl” model, where distinct identities coexist. Eg- India is home to 121 major languages and thousands of dialects

    Tolerance and Pluralism – historical precedent of providing refuge to persecuted communities further enriched its own culture. Eg- Parsis, Jews, and Tibetan Buddhists

    Family and Kinship Systems act as a carrier of cultural values.

    Caste and Community Structures ensure cultural continuity. Eg- endogamy or Khap Panchayats.

    Institution of Marriage – Marriage as a sacrament ensures reproduction of culture.

    Adaptation to Modernity – reforms in orthodox traditions. Eg- abolition of Sati and untouchability

    Constitutional Protection of Culture – Eg- Articles 29-30 protecting cultural and linguistic rights.

    Synthesis of Tradition and Technology – Eg- use of social media and OTT platforms for the revival of classical dances or broadcast of epics has created a “Neo-Traditionalism”

    As pointed out by Mahatma Gandhi, “our ability to reach unity in diversity is our civilization’s beauty and test.” Thus, cherishing this heritage and adopting scientific temper is needed to preserve Indian culture.

  • COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.

    The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted dual shock on India – a public health crisis compounded by economic devastation, thereby reversing a decade of hard-won poverty-reduction gains.

    COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerating Class Inequalities in India

    K-Shaped Recovery – While 84% of households suffered income decline in 2020-21, India’s billionaires grew from 102 to 142, with collective wealth of the top 100 hitting INR 57.3 lakh crore.

    Billionaire vs. Working-Class – Between 2020 to 2022, Indian billionaires saw wealth increase by 121%, while the bottom 50% saw their income share fall to just 13% of national income.

    Informal Sector impact- CMIE data shows 122 million people lost jobs in April 2020 alone; three-quarters were small traders and wage labourers in the informal sector.

    Digital Divide – Fewer than 15% of rural Indian households have internet access (42% urban), making technology-driven remote work and education inaccessible during lockdowns. (UNICEF)

    Gender-Class Compounding – 37.1% of women lost jobs in April 2020 versus 27.7% of men; by April 2021, women accounted for 73% of job losses, with recovery far slower for urban women.

    The top 1% own nearly 40.6% of India’s total wealth; in contrast, the bottom 50% (700 million people) own around 3% of total wealth. (Oxfam)

    Capital vs. Labour – Corporate Tax cut from 30% to 22% (2019) combined with pandemic-era surge in equity markets rewarded capital owners, while wages of casual workers stagnated or collapsed.

    Access to Quality Healthcare – high out-of-pocket expenditure in private hospitals

    Education Inequality – School dropout rates nearly doubled in 2021-22. Rates for SC (22.5%), ST (26.9%) and OBC (20%) children at the secondary level far exceeded the general category (15.6%).

    Unpaid Care Burden (Hidden Class-Gender Tax)- During the pandemic, women’s unpaid care work grew by nearly 30%; on average (UN Women.)

    COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerating Poverty in India

    Extreme Poverty – More than 4.6 crore Indians fell into extreme poverty in 2020 – nearly half of the global new poor that year, according to the United Nations.

    Mass Job Losses – CMIE data shows the highest single-month job loss of 123.8 million persons in April 2020, affecting over 30% of the total workforce

    Migrant Worker Crisis – Over one crore migrant workers returned home during the lockdown without any livelihood or social security.

    Informal Economy Collapse – ILO estimated approximately 400 million workers in India’s informal economy were at risk of falling deeper into poverty during the pandemic

    Food Insecurity due to loss of livelihood. World Food Programme estimated 130 million additional food-insecure persons globally.

    Wage Collapse – A CEP survey of urban workers (May-July 2020) found earnings fell 48% on average compared to pre-COVID months of January-February 2020.

    Rural poverty – SC/ST communities, casual labourers and self-employed were the most impacted

    Risk of child labour increased in India as job losses in the informal sector, inadequate social protection, and financial pressure led employers to use children as cheap labour, compounded by school dropouts and orphanhood from COVID deaths.

    Reverse Migration of labourers created excess pressure on the rural economy and agriculture, creating a poverty trap as overcrowded agriculture could not absorb them with dignified livelihood

    The pandemic revealed India’s structural inequalities, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive welfare, universal healthcare, social security, and resilient livelihoods.

    Tribals

  • Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer.

    Thomas Friedman, (The Lexus and the Olive Tree), defines globalization as the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies, making it farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper.

    Globalization threatening diversity and pluralism in India

    Cultural Homogenization Trend: Western fast food and consumer habits slowly replace diverse local traditions and lifestyles. Eg: McDonaldization.

    Endangerment of Tribal Languages: Eg: UNESCO reports classifying over 190 Indian tribal dialects as critically endangered languages.

    Decline of Traditional Arts: Influx of mass-produced, cheap western entertainment items reduces market demand for unique local crafts. Eg: Electronic plastic toys replacing handmade clay crafts.

    Westernization of Youth Attire: Eg: Jeans and t-shirts completely replacing traditional clothing like dhoti and mundu among youth.

    Rise of Consumerist Individualism: Market-driven lifestyles weaken community-centric bonds and traditional joint-family support systems. Eg: increasing numbers of senior citizen care homes.

    Monopolization of Mass Media: Global streaming giants dominate entertainment platforms, sidelining small, diverse regional cinema industries.

    Erosion of Local Festivals: Local seasonal festivals are being overshadowed by “Global Spending Days” like Black Friday, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween.

    Global economic mining demands frequently force indigenous communities off their ancestral forest lands. Eg: mining in the Niyamgiri hills affecting the local Dongria Kondh tribe.

    Dietary Habit Uniformity: Processed, global packaged food items slowly displace diverse, nutritious regional cuisines and grains.

    Shift in Value Systems

    Individualism and consumerism replacing community-centric norms.

    Nuclear Family over traditional joint family structures.

    Architectural Sameness- The rise of “Generic Cities” characterized by glass-and-steel skyscrapers ignores regional climate-responsive architecture.

    Aspirational Shift – Youth associating prestige with global careers while devaluing local professions and knowledge systems.

    Counter Argument: Globalisation Strengthening Diversity and Pluralism

    Glocalization of Food Culture: Eg: McDonald’s creating localized vegetarian menus like McAloo Tikki exclusively for Indian markets.

    International recognition to India’s ancient spiritual heritage. Eg: The United Nations declaring June 21 as the official International Day of Yoga.

    Digital Preservation of Folkways: Eg: Tribal painters using online portals to directly sell Madhubani and Warli art worldwide.

    Revival of Ayurvedic Products: Global wellness trends have created a booming international market for traditional Indian medicines.

    International Expansion of Bollywood: Global media tools allow Indian cinema to project its multi-ethnic diversity to worldwide audiences. Eg: RRR

    Global Diaspora Cultural Links: Eg: Grand Diwali and Holi celebrations organized inside prominent venues like the US White House.

    International focus on sustainable food systems has popularised India’s native ancient superfoods globally.

    The United Nations celebrated the International Year of Millets driven by India’s proposal.

    Makhana as superfood

    International intellectual property laws help protect unique regional products from cheap foreign imitations. Eg: Geographical Indication (GI) tags for items like Darjeeling Tea and Pashmina.

    Hybrid Inter-Cultural Art Genres: Eg: The popular evolution of unique musical styles like Coke Studio’s classical-rock fusions.

    Deep-rooted pluralism, regional diversity, and civilisational depth ensure that globalisation in India produces Cultural Hybridization and enriches India’s cultural fabric.

  • Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?

    Customs represent the “inherited wisdom” of a society, providing a sense of identity and continuity. However, when they become rigid and immune to questioning, they can lead to obscurantism i.e. deliberate suppression of facts, logic, and scientific inquiry.

    Customs and traditions suppressing reason and leading to obscurantism

    Blind Ritualism – Mechanical adherence discourages questioning and rational inquiry. Eg- Astrology determining marriage, education, and career decisions.

    Moral Absolutism – Customs treated as eternal truths beyond questioning. Eg- practice of Nikah Halala or rigid Purdah systems

    Superstitions – Fear-based practices override scientific thinking. Eg- Witch-hunting in some tribal belts.

    Caste-Based Discrimination – Tradition legitimises hierarchy and inequality. Eg- Persistence of untouchability practices.

    Patriarchal Customs restrict autonomy and rational reform. Eg- Child marriage and son meta preference.

    Religious Orthodoxy – Dogmatic interpretations suppress dissent. Eg- honor killings.

    Resistance to Social Reform – Tradition used to justify the status quo. Eg- Opposition sabrimala temple entry for women.

    Fear of social boycott silences rational voices. Eg- Khap panchayat diktats.

    Obstruction to Scientific Temper – Eg- Faith healing replacing medical treatment or vaccine hesitancy among tribals

    Educational Constraints – Eg- Restrictions on girls’ education in conservative communities.

    Legal Stagnation – Laws based on “customary practice” often protect outdated behaviors that modern reason would deem criminal. Eg- legal immunity for Marital Rape

    Counter-Argument- The Rationality of Tradition

    Cultural Identity and Stability – Traditions ensure social cohesion. Eg- Family and kinship systems.

    Scientific nature of traditions and customs. Eg- use of Turmeric (Haldi) for its antiseptic properties

    Traditions act as ethical frameworks and provide moral guidance. Eg- Values of ahimsa, dharma, tolerance.

    Reform from Within Tradition – Many reform movements emerged internally. Eg- Buddhism, Bhakti movement.

    Adaptive Nature of Traditions – Customs evolve with social change. Eg- greater acceptance of widow remarriage

    Ecological Conservation – customs establish a symbiotic relationship with nature. Eg- Sacred Groves (Devrai)

    Social Safety Nets – Traditions of collectivism provide psychological and material support. Eg- Langar tradition in Sikhism

    The need of the hour is to harmonise tradition with reason, scientific temper, and constitutional morality, ensuring cultural continuity without compromising rational progress.

  • How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the educational system in the country? Elaborate your answer.

    India’s education system has witnessed a major transformation through digital initiatives, especially under the digital India mission and after the COVID-19 period.

    Contributions of digital initiatives to the education system

    Expanding Access and Inclusion – Digital platforms have taken education to remote and underserved areas.

    Democratization of Quality Content – High-quality lectures from premier institutions are freely accessible. Eg- SWAYAM offers courses from IITs, central universities, and NITs.

    Continuity of Learning – Eg- Online classes and TV-based learning during COVID-19 lockdowns.

    Teacher Capacity Building– Eg- Online teacher training modules on DIKSHA and NISHTHA programmes.

    Multi-Modal Learning- Eg- PM e-Vidya integrating DTH channels, radio, and online learning.

    Bridging Regional and Language Barriers – Content available in regional languages improves inclusivity.

    Enhancing Governance and Transparency – Eg- UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education) provides real-time data on school infrastructure, teacher availability, and student enrollment

    Self-Paced and Lifelong Learning -Eg- Online certification and skill courses for working professionals

    Cost Effectiveness and Scalability – One-time digital content creation serves millions.

    Virtual Labs allow STEM students to perform complex science experiments digitally.

    Digital initiatives have also catered to Children with Special Needs (CWSN) through “Digitally Accessible Information System” (DAISY) and sign-language videos on the e-Pathshala portal.

    Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) or “One Nation, One Student ID”, provides a 12-digit digital ID for every student to store all their academic achievements

    Challenges

    Rural-Urban divide- only 18.47% of rural schools have internet access compared to 47.29% of urban schools.

    Infrastructure gaps – Only about 24% of rural children had access to digital devices for learning (ASER report).

    Digital Illiteracy among Parents leads to a “guidance gap” at home.

    Language Barriers- the “advanced technical content” is still predominantly available in English

    Excessive screen time leads to

    Eye strain

    Exposure to “adult” content online

    Reduced physical activity – rising obesity and social isolation

    Gender Digital Gap – Girls have less access to devices and connectivity.

    Retention challenges – Eg- less than 4% of SWAYAM students have completed their courses since its launch in 2017

    Way Forward

    Replicating Kerala’s Hi-Tech School Project – every classroom equipped with a projector and high-speed LAN.

    Leveraging CSR funds to provide solar-powered tablets to students in “Aspirational Districts” .

    Using AI-based real-time translation tools to make high-end STEM content available in regional languages. Eg- “Bhashini” approach.

    Gamified Learning- Integrating Gamification to increase student engagement.

    Introducing “Digital Citizenship” as a core subject to teach students about internet safety, misinformation, and ethical AI usage.

    Public-Private Partnerships for leveraging EdTech innovation. Eg- Collaboration with start-ups for interactive content.

    These measures can ensure that digital education becomes a powerful enabler of inclusive, future-ready, and outcome-oriented learning in India.

  • Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.

    Caste can be defined as a localized, hereditary, and endogamous group characterized by a fixed rank in a ritual hierarchy (Varna).

    Caste losing relevance

    Decline of Ritual Hierarchy – Notions of purity and pollution have weakened. Eg- Inter-caste dining in urban areas is common

    Occupational Mobility – Caste-occupation linkage has diluted. Eg- Dalits and OBCs in IT, civil services, academia.

    Urbanisation and Migration promote anonymity and mixed social spaces. Eg- Cosmopolitan life in metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru.

    Legal and Constitutional Framework has established equality before law irrespective of caste hierarchy. Eg- Article 14 and Article 17.

    Rise of Individualism – Personal choice gaining prominence over ascriptive identity. Eg- Love marriages, nuclear families.

    Growth of Class-Based Stratification in urban settings. Eg- rise of dalit and OBC Middle Class

    Relevance of caste

    Enduring Endogamy – NFHS-5 (2023-24) data confirms that over 90% of marriages remain intra-caste

    Political Mobilisation – Caste act as a “Political Vote Bank.” Eg- 2024-25 Bihar Caste Survey and announcement of “Caste Census”

    Caste remains a basis for welfare and representation. Eg- Reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    Economic inequalities along caste lines. Eg- 96% manual scavengers are Dalits

    Social Discrimination along caste lines persists. Eg- Hatras rape case or Rohith Vemula death.

    Intersectionality – Caste intersects with gender, religion, and region. Eg- Dalit women facing multiple marginalities.

    New associational forms. Eg- Maratha Kranti Morcha, Patidar Anamat Andolan.

    Caste based economic groups. Eg- Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) promoting “Dalit Capitalism”

    Caste-Based Spatial Segregation (Ghettoization) in modern cities

    Inter-generational Wealth Gap – The Oxfam Inequality Report (2024) highlights that the average wealth of a General Category family is nearly triple that of a Dalit family.

    Understanding contemporary India therefore requires recognising caste not as a static relic, but as a dynamic and evolving social reality operating alongside class, gender, religion, and region.

  • Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue.

    Regionalism is political, social, or cultural mobilization around a specific region, rooted in language, culture, history, economy, or perceived neglect, seeking greater autonomy, recognition, or resources.

    Regionalism as a Consequence of Rising Cultural Assertiveness

    Linguistic assertiveness against cultural centralization– Eg- Anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu or the recent Kannada-first signage mandates in Karnataka.

    Ethno-cultural nationalism – Region imagined as a cultural nation.

    Tamil cultural nationalism emphasizing classical language and Dravidian heritage.

    Demand for Greater Nagalim rooted in the assertion of a unique Naga identity.

    Religious identity also acts as a base for regional assertiveness. Eg- demand for Khalistan

    Preservation of Folk Traditions- Eg- protests against Jallikattu Ban (2017) were framed as an assertion of Tamil “Veeru” (bravery) against “outsider” legal impositions.

    Cultural symbolism is used for political mobilization. Eg- renaming Bombay to Mumbai and Calcutta to Kolkata.

    Sons of the Soil Doctrine- Movements like the Shiv Sena’s initial “Marathi Manoos” campaign assert that locals must have the first right over the state’s resources.

    Sub-Regional Assertion- Eg- demand for Tulu Nadu based on the distinct Tulu language and culture.

    Resistance to “Mainstreaming”- Tribal regionalism in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh began as an assertion of Adivasi culture against the “Diku” (outsiders).

    Other Factors Driving Regionalism in India

    Inter-State Disparities- widening economic gap between the prosperous South/West and the lagging East/North creates friction. Eg- violence against Bihari migrants in Gujarat

    Relative Deprivation

    Vidarbha in Maharashtra.

    Demand for Telangana before 2014

    Paul Brass argues that regionalism is politically constructed, where cultural markers are activated by elites for political benefits. Eg- invoking “bengal pride” by TMC

    Inter-state disputes over resources fuels regionalism. Eg- Krishna-Godavari water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

    Administrative Neglect- Large states become too big to govern, leading to the demand for smaller states. Eg- demand for the division of UP into Harit Pradesh, Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and Awadh Pradesh

    Way Forward

    Cooperative Federalism- Strengthening the Inter-State Council (Article 263)

    Balanced Regional Development- Eg- aspirational district program

    Scaling the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” program for promoting fraternity

    Administrative Decentralization- empowering Local Bodies

    A mature Indian federalism must promote inclusive development, autonomy with unity, and diversity with constitutional fraternity.

  • What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (150 words) शहरी भूमि उपयोग के लिए जल निकायों से भूमि-उद्धार के पर्यावर्णीय प्रभाव क्या है ? उदाहरणों सहित समझाइए। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

  • What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? (250 words).

    The IT-BPM sector contributes around 10% of India’s GDP. It is highly urban-concentrated, with major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Gurugram

    Positive Socio-Economic Implications

    Employment Generation- The tech sector directly employs over 5.8 million professionals as of early 2026.

    Financial Independence for Women, comprising nearly 34% of the IT workforce. This has led to delayed marriage ages and increased agency for women in urban households.

    Competitive salaries have fueled the growth of a “new middle class” with high disposable income, driving consumption in retail, automobiles, and high-end services.

    Social Mobility- meritocratic nature of the IT industry has allowed youth from lower strata to bypass traditional social barriers and achieve rapid upward mobility.

    Cosmopolitan Urban Culture- These cities have become multicultural melting pots that accommodate diverse linguistic and dietary preferences. Eg- Bangalore, Mumbai

    Infrastructure Modernization- Eg- multi-specialty hospitals, international schools, and Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) under the Smart Cities Mission.

    Fiscal Gains for States and Cities – Eg- Increased GST, property taxes, and local revenues.

    Boost to Ancillary Sectors – Multiplier effects on construction, hospitality, logistics. Eg- growth of Pune’s real estate sector

    Startup Ecosystem & Innovation- Major IT cities host the bulk of India’s 1.8 lakh startups. Eg- Bangalore as India’s “silicon valley”

    The presence of Fortune 500 companies has positioned Indian cities as global “knowledge capitals,” attracting significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    Urban Economic Diversification – Shift to knowledge economy. Eg- Bengaluru’s transition from PSU-led industry to global IT hub.

    Human Capital Development due to demand for technical and soft skills. Eg- Expansion of engineering colleges.

    Negative Socio-Economic Implications

    Rising Urban Inequality – Sharp income divide between IT workers and informal sector.

    Spatial Segregation (ghettoization) – Gated communities and exclusive zones.

    Job Insecurity due to rapid tech change and automation risks. Eg- recent “layoffs” in major IT firms

    Lifestyle Stress

    Long hours, night shifts, work-life imbalance – rise in suicide and depression among youths

    Rise in non-communicable disease burden – 67% of total deaths

    Gender issues

    Glass ceiling effect – discrimination and low representation at higher positions

    “Dual Burden” of household and job

    Safety issues. Eg- delhi

    Escalation of Housing Costs – Real estate prices in Gachibowli in Hyderabad or Whitefield in Bengaluru have seen a 35-40% surge in last 5 years

    Unplanned urbanization and unsustainable infrastructure development. Eg- Gurugram flooding

    Pressure on Urban Infrastructure – Eg- Traffic congestion in India’s top four cities cost $22 billion annually in lost productivity. (Economic Survey 2025-26)

    Regional Imbalances – Concentration of growth in a few metros.

    Low-productivity equilibrium – Cities continue to absorb labour, but governance systems fail to integrate workers into formal housing, transport and service networks. (Economic Survey 2025-26)

    Environmental Stress –

    High water and energy footprint. Eg- Bangalore’s water crisis

    India is 3rd largest generator of e-waste

    Encroachment on wetlands – Chennai has lost 85% of its wetlands. (WWF)

    For making IT-led urbanisation broad-based and socially sustainable, there is need for

    Inclusive urban planning

    Affordable housing

    Decentralisation of IT growth to tier-2 and tier-3 cities