Explain the main characteristics of urban settlements in India.

OR

Explain the evolution of towns in India.

(A) Main characteristics of urban settlements in India

• Census criteria: a place with population of at least 5,000, density of at least 400 persons per sq km, at least 75% of the male working population in non-agricultural activities, and/or a place with municipal status (municipal corporation, municipality, cantonment board, notified town area).
• Occupational structure: majority of workers engaged in secondary and tertiary activities — manufacturing, trade, transport, administration and services — rather than agriculture.
• Compact and dense: built-up areas are compact, densely populated and often show vertical growth (multi-storeyed buildings) due to scarcity of land.
• Functional differentiation: distinct residential, commercial, industrial and administrative zones exist within the town/city.
• Infrastructure: better roads, water supply, sewerage, and educational/medical facilities compared to villages.
• Social character: greater anonymity and social heterogeneity compared to the close-knit rural community.

(B) Evolution of towns in India

• Ancient towns: more than 2,000 years old, evolved mainly as religious and cultural centres, e.g. Varanasi, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Pataliputra (Patna).
• Medieval towns: about a hundred towns developed as headquarters of principalities and kingdoms, often centred on forts, e.g. Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Agra, Nagpur.
• Modern towns: developed during the British period — first as trading ports (Surat, Daman, Goa under the Portuguese) which later grew into metropolitan cities (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata), and as hill stations/cantonments (Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Nainital) for administration, health and defence purposes.