Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs addresses the creation of urban administrative, financial, and technical service cadres for cities with populations over one lakh. The Government of India supports state efforts through schemes and advisories, particularly the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI). This scheme encourages states to augment human resources for urban planning and municipal cadre strengthening, offering incentives for filling vacant posts and creating new positions. States/UTs must complete reforms by December 15, 2025, to be eligible for incentives.
Key Points / Main Content:
SSASCI and Urban Planning Reforms:
* The Government of India supplements states' efforts in urban governance through schematic interventions and advisories.
* The Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) from FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 encourages urban planning as a development driver.
Human Resource Augmentation:
* Under SSASCI, states filled 1034 vacant posts (regular/contractual) and created 320 new planner positions.
* Thirteen states collaborated with private experts for urban projects.
SSASCI Extension and Governance Reforms (2025-26):
* The SSASCI scheme extends to 2025-26, including incentives for strengthening Urban/Municipal Technical Cadres and improved governance.
* Incentives are provided for completing recruitment for at least 50% of sanctioned vacant engineering posts (Public Health, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical) in ULBs with populations over one lakh.
* Incentives are provided for hiring contractual staff, including engineers and finance specialists, to strengthen Technical Municipal Cadres.
* Incentives are provided for Creating a Municipal Staff Framework for Small Towns up to population 1 lakh
Eligibility and Deadlines:
* States/UTs must complete reforms by December 15, 2025, to be eligible for SSASCI incentives.
Impact Analysis:
States/Union Territories:
* Impact: Encouraged to strengthen urban planning ecosystems and municipal cadres by filling vacant positions, creating new posts, and collaborating with experts.
* Action Required: Complete recruitment for vacant posts, hire contractual staff, create municipal staff frameworks, and sanction environmental engineer and hydrologist posts by December 15, 2025, to qualify for SSASCI incentives.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Urban Development Authorities:
* Impact: Directly benefit from the state government's actions to fill vacant positions and strengthen technical cadres, enhancing their capacity for urban governance.
* Action Required: Support state government initiatives by providing necessary data, facilitating recruitment processes, and ensuring effective utilization of new staff and resources.
Citizens:
* Impact: Indirectly benefit from improved urban governance and infrastructure development resulting from strengthened ULBs and better urban planning.
* Action Required: No direct action is required, but citizens can engage with local authorities to voice their needs and preferences regarding urban development.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for housing and urban development.
Urban Administrative Services: A proposed cadre of administrative professionals for cities with a population of one lakh and above.
12th Schedule of the Constitution of India: A schedule to the Constitution of India that defines the functions of Urban Local Bodies.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Local governing bodies in urban areas, responsible for urban governance.
Urban Development Authorities: Agencies responsible for planning and development in urban areas.
Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI): A scheme implemented by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to states for capital investments in urban planning.
Public Health, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical: Engineering disciplines relevant to urban infrastructure and services within ULBs.
States/UTs: Refers to States and Union Territories within India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1999
TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 31, 2025
PROPOSAL FOR URBAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
NO. 1999. SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Union Government proposes to formulate or create
Urban Administrative Services, Financial Services and Technical
Services Cadre for cities having population of one lakh and above in
the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Union Government proposes to provide funds/financial
assistance to the States to recruit staff required to run the said
cadre efficiently and improve urban structure;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by which it is likely to
be done;
(d) whether the Union Government has formulated the necessary
framework for the recruitment of staff for the said cadre and if so,
the details thereof; and
(e) the number of cities initially selected for this purpose by the
Union Government?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (e): As per the 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India, matters
related to urban governance, including administrative, financial, and
technical functions, are the function of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Urban
Development Authorities. Government of India supplements the efforts of
the States through schematic interventions/ advisories.
…2/--2-
The Government of India has implemented the Scheme for Special
Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme (SSASCI)- (Urban
Planning Reforms) Financial Year (FY) 2022-23 to FY 2024-25 aimed at
leveraging urban planning as a key driver of development, under which
States were encouraged through Incentive for Augmentation of Human
Resource for Strengthening Urban Planning Ecosystem by the State
Government
Under SSASCI (Urban Planning Reforms) as reported by the States
so far, 1034 vacant posts were filled (Regular/Contractual), 320 new posts
were created for Planners and 13 States collaborated with private
experts for specific urban projects.
To further encourage States/UTs to strengthen Urban/Municipal
Technical Cadre of the States/UTs, the Government has extended the
component under Urban Planning Reforms in SSASCI scheme 2025–26 -
Governance Reforms including Building Municipal Cadres for improved
Governance which also covers incentives for filling and creation of posts.
The Scheme covers incentives for the following reforms: -
• Completion of the recruitment for at least 50% of already
sanctioned vacant posts of engineers of Public Health,
Mechanical, Civil, Electrical in ULBs (more than One lakh
Population)
• Hiring for Contractual Post to strengthen Technical Municipal
Cadres including engineers from disciplines of Public Health,
Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and finance specialists
• Creating a Municipal Staff Framework for Small Towns (up to
population 1 lakh) including, Municipal Administrative Service:
One Executive Officer, Municipal Finance Service: One
Financial Officer, One Accountant and Municipal Technical
Service: Engineers: 3 Civil, 2 Mechanical, 1 Electrical, 1 Public
Health.
• Sanction of posts of Environmental Engineers and Hydrologists
State/UTs are required to complete the reforms by 15th December
2025 to be eligible for incentives under the scheme.
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