**Executive Summary**
This document contains the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' (MoHUA) response to Unstarred Question No. 2137 regarding unplanned urbanization, scheduled to be answered on February 12, 2026. The response clarifies the roles of State Governments/Urban Local Bodies in urban planning and highlights the Government of India's initiatives such as the issuance of URDPFI guidelines and the implementation of AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0. These initiatives aim to support regulated and planned urban development through Master Plans and GIS-based planning.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Urban Planning Responsibility:**
* Urban planning, including the preparation of Master Plans and the constitution of planning authorities, falls under the purview of State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and Urban Development Authorities, as per the 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
* State Town and Country Planning/Municipal laws govern these functions.
* **Government of India's Support:**
* The Government of India supplements state efforts through schematic interventions and advisories.
* MoHUA issued the Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines in 2014 for adoption by States/Union Territories.
* **Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):**
* Launched on June 25, 2015, in 500 selected cities and towns across the country.
* Includes a sub-scheme for Formulation of GIS based Master plans for (>1 Lakh population) 500 AMRUT cities.
* As of the report date, 461 AMRUT Cities in 35 States are on board with an approved outlay of ₹ 408.94 Cr.
* Draft GIS based Master Plans have been formulated for 404 towns, and Master Plans for 288 towns have been finalized.
* **AMRUT 2.0:**
* Launched in 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ cities.
* Empowers States/Union Territories (UTs) to select, appraise, propose, and implement projects.
* Includes a sub-scheme for Formulation of GIS based Master Plans covering Class-II Towns with a population of 50,000 - 99,999.
* Geo database for 91 cities and draft Master Plan for 56 cities has been created, and additionally, another 63 cities have finalized the Master Plans so far.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/Urban Local Bodies/Urban Development Authorities**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for urban planning and the constitution of planning authorities.
* Expected to adopt URDPFI guidelines for regulated and planned development.
* Empowered to select, appraise, propose, and implement projects under AMRUT 2.0.
* **Action Required:**
* Utilize available resources from AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 to formulate and finalize Master Plans.
* Implement urban planning and development in accordance with respective State Town and Country Planning/Municipal laws.
**Citizens of India**
* **Impact:**
* Impacted by the effectiveness of state planning and development
* **Action Required:**
* Citizens should be aware of plans so that they may raise grievances with appropriate planning authorities
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: Central ministry responsible for urban development initiatives
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): Government scheme focused on urban infrastructure and planning
Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines: National guidelines for urban planning and development
Constitution of India: Governing document assigning urban planning to state and local bodies.
State Government/ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities: Entities responsible for urban planning and development at the state and local level.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2137
TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2026
UNPLANNED URBANISATION
NO. 2137. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government maintains data on the number of statutory
and census towns in the country that are growing without an
approved Master Plan and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any study to identify the
reasons for a large number of urban areas growing without statutory
Master Plans and if so, the key findings thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that a significant share of urban
growth is occurring outside the boundaries of statutory towns, often
in the absence of planned urban services and development
regulations and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken
to address this issue;
(d) whether the Government has examined the implications of such
unplanned growth for urban infrastructure, land use and service
delivery and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has issued any advisories to States for
constituting planning authorities to cover urbanising areas as well
and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (e): As per 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India, urban planning
including preparation of Master Plans/Development Plans and constitution
of planning authorities are the function of State Government/ Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities and are governed by the
respective State Town and Country Planning / Municipal laws. The
challenges of urbanization vary from State to State and city to city, based
on the geographical and physiographical conditions. Government of India
supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/
advisories.
…2/--2-
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of
India has issued Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and
Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014
(https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/URDPFI%20Guidelines%20Vo
l%20I(2).pdf) for adoption by the States/Union Territories for regulated and
planned development.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
was launched on 25 June 2015 in selected 500 cities (485 cities including
15 merged cities) and towns across the country. The Sub-Scheme on
Formulation of GIS based Master plans for (>1 Lakh population) 500
AMRUT cities, has been undertaken under AMRUT for geo data base
creation and GIS based Master Plan formulation. At present 461 AMRUT
Cities in 35 States are on board with an approved outlay of ₹ 408.94 Cr.
Draft GIS based Master Plans have been formulated for 404 towns out of
which Master Plans for 288 towns have been finalized.
AMRUT 2.0 was launched in the year 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs)/ cities. Under the Mission, States/ Union Territories (UTs) are
empowered to select, appraise, propose and implement projects. Under
AMRUT 2.0, a sub-scheme for Formulation of GIS based Master Plans
covering Class-II Towns with population of 50,000 - 99,999 is placed. Geo
database for 91 cities and draft Master Plan for 56 cities has been created
and additionally, another 63 cities have finalized the Master Plans so far.
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