Slums

Why it matters

• They represent the structural mismatch between rapid rural-to-urban migration and the capacity of municipal governance to provide affordable housing and formal infrastructure.
• They are central to studying urban poverty, public health vulnerabilities, and social exclusion under urbanisation and social justice modules.
• They demonstrate the dynamics of the informal economy, housing a significant workforce operating outside formal legal and property frameworks.

How it is asked

UPSC frames questions on slums around the policy debate between forced eviction, in-situ rehabilitation, and affordable housing initiatives under urban governance frameworks. Questions require candidates to analyze the trade-offs between property rights, municipal financial capacity, and inclusive urban planning. Candidates must evaluate structural interventions that balance formal land integration with the protection of informal livelihoods.