Smart Cities Mission
Quick Facts
- Purpose: To develop 100 smart cities across India, making them citizen-friendly and sustainable.
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
- Smart City Definition: There is no universal definition of a “smart city.” It is context-specific and varies across countries and cities.
Implementing Agency
- Implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed under the Companies Act, 2013.
- Equity Structure: 50:50 contribution from the State/UT government and the Urban Local Body (ULB).
- Functions of SPV: Planning, appraisal, fund release, implementation, management, operation, and monitoring of projects.
Objectives
- Provide core urban infrastructure and create a clean, sustainable environment using smart solutions.
- Promote economic growth and quality of life by focusing on social, economic, physical, and institutional aspects of a city.
- Develop replicable models that can act as lighthouses for other aspiring cities.
Background
- Launched on June 25, 2015.
- Designed to improve the quality of life in 100 cities through:
- Efficient services
- Robust infrastructure
- Sustainable solutions
- Covers key urban aspects: housing, transport, education, healthcare, recreation, etc.
Equitable Selection Criteria for Cities
- Equal weightage given to:
- Urban population of a State/UT
- Number of statutory towns in a State/UT
This ensured fair representation across states.
Approach of Smart City Mission
Two main approaches:
- Area-Based Development (ABD):
- Focused and intensive intervention in specific areas (e.g., retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield projects).
- Pan-City Projects:
- Technology-driven solutions applied across the city (e.g., smart traffic management, e-governance).
Core Infrastructure Elements in a Smart City
(As per Mission Guidelines)
- Adequate water supply
- Assured electricity supply
- Efficient urban mobility and public transport
- Affordable housing (especially for the poor)
- Sanitation and solid waste management
- Robust IT connectivity and digitalization
- Good governance (especially e-governance and citizen participation)
- Sustainable environment, safety, and security of citizens
Six Fundamental Principles of Smart Cities
- Community at the core – citizen participation in planning & execution.
- More from less – maximize outcomes with minimal resources.
- Cooperative & Competitive Federalism – cities compete for selection, states support projects.
- Integration, Innovation, Sustainability – holistic and eco-friendly solutions.
- Technology as a means, not the goal – appropriate use of technology for local needs.
- Convergence – sectoral and financial integration with other schemes.
Funding Mechanism
- Union Govt Contribution: ₹48,000 crore (₹100 crore per city per year for 5 years).
- Matching Contribution: From State/ULB.
- Additional Resources:
- Finance Commission grants
- ULB own resources
- Municipal Bonds
- Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) – strong emphasis on leveraging private investment.
Key Innovations
- Integrated Control and Command Centres (ICCCs):
- Now operational in all 100 smart cities.
- Used for monitoring traffic, water, health services, security, and urban governance.
- India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC):
- Recognizes best-performing cities/projects promoting sustainability and inclusiveness.
✨ Conclusion
The Smart Cities Mission is not about importing technology blindly—it is about making cities livable, sustainable, and citizen-centric.
Through SPVs, PPPs, innovative financing, and citizen participation, it aims to create model urban centers that can guide India’s urban transformation.
📌 For UPSC:
- Remember Launch Year: 2015
- Implementing Agency: SPV
- Approach: ABD + Pan-City
- Core elements & six principles are very important for Prelims and Mains.