1) A smart city uses digital technology and communication networks to improve infrastructure and services for its citizens. This improves quality of life and reduces costs and resource usage. 2) The Indian government plans to develop 100 smart cities by 2022, selecting cities through a competitive process. 98 cities were initially selected based on proposed smart city plans and meeting certain criteria. 3) The development of smart cities is supported through large financial allocations by the central government. International partnerships, like with the UK, will also provide funding and technical support to help implement smart city plans.

1. SMART CITY
MEANING?
A City equipped with basic infrastructure to give a decent quality of life, clean and livable
environment to live smarter. Smarter City uses Digital technology and information and
communication technologies (ICT) to better quality and performance this engage more
effectively and actively with its citizen. The Smart City includes government services, transport,
traffic management, energy, health care, water and waste.
(http://www.smartcitiesprojects.com/whats-the-real-mean-of-smart-city)
It’s a city outfitted with high-tech communication capabilities. It uses digital technology to
enhance performance and well being, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage
more effectively and actively with its citizens.
The idea of smart city came into formulation owing to the need to accommodate rapid
urbanization of the age. Interest in smart cities continues to grow, driven by a range of
socioeconomic and technological developments across the globe. It is due to the increasing
number of smart cities that established suppliers from energy, transport, buildings, and
government sectors are moving into the smart city market, while startups are addressing a range
of emerging opportunities in the same field.
(http://www.iamwire.com/2015/02/smart-cities-india-what/110303)
WHERE?
The government plans to identify 20 smart cities in 2015, 40 in 2016 & 40 in 2017.
The total number of 100 Smart Cities has been distributed among the States and UTs on the basis
of equitable criteria. The Mission ones:-
Nine cities, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Shimla, Puducherry, Daman, Patna, Itanagar,
Thiruvananthapuram and Gangtok did not qualify for being a smart city
(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-releases-list-of-98-cities-for-smart-city-
project/article7586751.ece)
PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING THE PROJECT OF SMART CITY ?

2. There are two stages in the selection process are as follows:-
1) Stage 1 : Short listing of cities by state -The State/UT begins with short listing the
potential smart cities on the basis of conditions precedent and scoring criteria and in
accordance with the total number allocated to it. The first stage of the competition will be
intra-state, in which cities in the State will compete on the conditions precedent and the
scoring criteria lay out.
2) Stage 2 : The challenging ground for selection - In the second stage of the competition,
each of the potential 100 smart cities prepare their proposals for participation in the ‘City
Challenge’. This is a crucial stage as each city’s Smart City Proposal (SCP) is expected to
contain the model chosen, whether retrofitting or redevelopment or Greenfield
development or a mix thereof.
(http://smartcities.gov.in/writereaddata/Process%20of%20Selection.pdf)
NOTIFICATION BY THE CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT ?
The union government on Thursday released the list of 98 cities that will be developed
under the Smart Cities mission. These cities together have a population of 13 crore,
accounting for 35 per cent of India’s urban population.
Names of two cities — one from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh each — are yet
to be revealed. (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/central-govt-
announces-98-smart-cities-naidu-terms-them-safe-investments-for-pvt-firms/)
100 smart cities: Cabinet clears Smart Cities Mission with outlay of Rs 48,000 crore
(http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/100-smart-cities-project-gets-cabinet-
nod/#sthash.NcQbXgDH.dpuf)
LEGAL SANCTION
NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved Modi government's two flagship
schemes - 100 smart cities and urban rejuvenation programme for 500 towns and cities.
The idea is to recast the urban landscape and to make such areas more livable and
inclusive, besides driving economic growth. The government cleared a total central
outlay of Rs 98,000 crore to execute these schemes in the next five years.
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cabinet-nod-for-100-smart-
cities/articleshow/47102217.cms)
CHANGES OF IT BEING WITNESSED?

3. Urbanization can be simply defined as the rise of cities vis-a-vis the rural landscape. As a
country moves ahead on the road to progress, cities tend to take center stage. In that
manner, the rise of cities has often been construed as an indicator of development and
progress. The case has been no different when it comes to India. While the pace of
urbanization was a bit slack in the early years post-independence, it has really picked
pace in the past few decades, especially in the post-1991 phase. Coupled with economic
growth and expanding markets, the urban population now stands at around 30% of the
overall pie.
(http://www.moneycontrol.com/transformingindia/news/indias_big_smart_city_challenge
-1362398.html)
India’s changing urban landscape will be the next engine of growth for the Indian economy.
According to the Ministry of Urban Development, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs
(NIUA), more than 50 per cent of India’s population will be living in urban areas by 2039. With
this rapid urbanisation, India is embracing the push to create smart cities.
Simultaneously, Indian cities are aggressively looking to improve their infrastructure, as well as
the quality of life for their inhabitants. With rapid urbanization, India’s population by 2050 will
rise to 1.6 billion from its current level of 1.2 billion, resulting in many commercial opportunities
available in India for businesses to pursue. The government of India is committed to developing
100 smart cities; satellite towns; rejuvenate existing cities & heritage cities, etc., and has
allocated Rs. 6,000 crore for FY 2015-16 for the first phase of this development.
(http://www.supersmartenergy.com/ei-group-supports-indias-smart-city-vision-organizes-the-
annual-international-smart-cities-india-2015-expo/)
How it is being supported by minister’s speeches?
PUNE’s vision towards ‘mission smart city’ gathered steam on Thursday with UK Prime
Minister David Cameron announcing that Britain will partner India in developing three cities –
Indore, Amravati and Pune – by providing financial and technical assistance. The announcement
came on the second day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the UK. In his
speech delivered during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 10,
Downing Street, Cameron said, the discussions between the two leaders led to many positive
agreements and understanding, which included tangible outcomes in areas that are all part of
India’s national priorities. These include smart cities, healthcare, clean river initiatives, skills and
education. (http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/punes-smart-city-dream-gets-a-uk-
thumbs-up/#sthash.sb3UkrRH.dpuf)

4. Prime Minister Modi has said Britain is India's "entry point" into the EU, in an indication that he
wants the UK to reject exit at the upcoming referendum.
When asked for his views on the EU referendum, the Indian leader made clear he did not have
any advice for the "intelligent and wise" British voters.
David Cameron has played down concerns about Prime Minister Modi's human rights record by
saying any controversy happened in the "past".
Critics claim Mr Modi failed to intervene in a riot that saw more than 1,000 Muslims killed 13
years ago while he was chief minister of the Gujarat region.
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11989740/David-Cameron-and-Narendra-Modi-have-
big-ambitions-for-UK-India-relations-live.html)