Smart Cities Mission

The Smart Cities Mission is a national urban renewal program designed to foster sustainable and citizen-centric urban spaces through area-based development strategies and technology-driven municipal service integration.

Under Indian Economy

• It institutionalizes technology-driven governance through Integrated Command and Control Centres to enhance real-time municipal service delivery and monitoring.
• It introduces competitive federalism into urban development by selecting participating cities through a competitive challenge framework.
• It tests alternative urban administrative structures by utilizing Special Purpose Vehicles to execute infrastructure projects at the municipal level.

UPSC frequently asks candidates to evaluate the administrative friction between executive-led Special Purpose Vehicles and democratically elected Urban Local Bodies under the framework of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Questions also assess whether the scheme's reliance on Area-Based Development creates socio-spatial inequalities instead of city-wide urban transformation. Additionally, Mains prompts focus on the role of smart municipal infrastructure in strengthening urban climate resilience and disaster risk management.

• Government policies and interventions GS2
• Role of women and women’s organizations, population issues, poverty GS1