What is Urbanisation? / Explain about Urbanisation

 What is Urbanisation

Urbanisation

   Generally, the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas is known as Urbanisation.

Urbanization is a result of economic development, because, due to economic development, industries and infrastructural facilities improve and expand. This leads to a shift of labour from agricultural sector to industrial and service sectors which makes urbanization faster.

As industrialisation was very slow during the British rule in India, the process of urbanisation was also very slow. But after Independence, the Indian Government has adopted a policy to encourage industrialisation, hence urbanization has started taking place but at a slower pace. But after the economic reforms of 1991, due to liberalised industrial policy, Government has announced various incentives to industries. The policy to encourage service sector also has resulted in faster economic development and urbanization.

A clear picture of urbanisation can be represented in the following table.

                    Trends of urbanization in India

Urbanization is taking place at a faster rate in India. Population residing in urban areas in India, according to 1961 census, was 17.97%. This count increased to 27.86% according to 2001 census, and crossing 30% as per 2011 census, standing at 31.16%