Urban Agglomeration (UA) is a significant concept used in the Census of India to describe a continuous urban spread. This term encompasses a statutory town, which can be a municipality, corporation, cantonment board, or a notified town area committee, along with its adjoining outgrowths (OGs). Additionally, it includes two or more contiguous towns, regardless of whether they possess their outgrowths.
The primary criteria for classifying an area as an Urban Agglomeration are twofold: firstly, there must be at least one statutory town present, and secondly, the total population must not be less than 20,000 according to the last Census.
Examples of Urban Agglomerations in India include the Greater Mumbai UA and the Delhi UA. This concept accounts for various urban configurations that share continuous urban characteristics, even if each individual area does not meet the minimum population requirement to be considered an independent urban entity.
An Out Growth (OG) is defined as a viable unit, such as a village, hamlet, or enumeration block, located close to a statutory town. These units fall within the revenue limits of contiguous village(s) but lie outside the boundaries of the statutory town. OGs typically exhibit urban features, including pucca roads, electricity, tap water, drainage systems, educational institutions, medical facilities, and banks.
These outgrowths are physically contiguous with the core town of the UA and share integrated urban characteristics, which justifies their inclusion in the urban agglomeration.
The concept of Urban Agglomeration has evolved significantly over time, replacing earlier terminology such as “standard urban area” introduced in the 1971 Census. The aim was to provide a more meaningful picture of urbanization through comparable data spanning decades.
This new approach effectively countered the limitations of the previous “Town Group” concept, which suffered from comparability issues due to changing town boundaries and often overlooked intermediate areas.
In the 2011 Census, India identified 475 places designated as Urban Agglomerations, incorporating 981 OGs. This reflects a significant increase from the 384 UAs with 962 OGs recorded in the 2001 Census. Such a shift underscores the dynamic nature of urban expansion and the critical importance of accurately capturing the evolving urban landscapes for effective planning and development purposes.
Q1. What is an Urban Agglomeration?
Answer: An Urban Agglomeration is a continuous urban spread that includes a statutory town and its adjoining outgrowths, or multiple contiguous towns, with a minimum population of 20,000.
Q2. What defines an Out Growth (OG)?
Answer: An Out Growth is a viable urban unit like a village or hamlet adjacent to a statutory town, sharing urban features and characteristics essential for inclusion in Urban Agglomeration.
Q3. How has the concept of Urban Agglomeration changed over time?
Answer: The concept evolved from earlier terms like “standard urban area” to provide a clearer, more comparable understanding of urbanization, addressing issues from previous classifications.
Q4. Why is the concept of Urban Agglomeration important?
Answer: It helps in understanding urban growth trends, facilitating effective urban planning and development to meet the needs of expanding populations.
Q5. How many Urban Agglomerations were recorded in the 2011 Census?
Answer: The 2011 Census recorded 475 Urban Agglomerations, reflecting a significant increase from previous data, highlighting ongoing urban expansion.
Question 1: What is the minimum population required for an area to be classified as an Urban Agglomeration?
A) 15,000
B) 20,000
C) 25,000
D) 30,000
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: Which of the following is a characteristic of Out Growths (OGs)?
A) They are always independent towns.
B) They must be located far from statutory towns.
C) They exhibit urban features like roads and schools.
D) They do not contribute to Urban Agglomerations.
Correct Answer: C
Question 3: In which Census was the term “standard urban area” first introduced?
A) 1971 Census
B) 1981 Census
C) 1991 Census
D) 2001 Census
Correct Answer: A
Question 4: How many Urban Agglomerations were identified in the 2001 Census?
A) 384
B) 475
C) 962
D) 981
Correct Answer: A
Question 5: What does the increase in Urban Agglomerations from 2001 to 2011 signify?
A) Decrease in urbanization
B) Static population growth
C) Ongoing urban expansion
D) Rural migration only
Correct Answer: C
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