Urbanisation in India

Urbanization refers to the shift of rural inhabitants to urban areas, measured by the proportion of urban population to the total population. In India, urbanization is relatively low, standing at only 28% in 2001.

Despite this, urbanization in India has seen significant growth, increasing 11-fold during the twentieth century. However, the pace of urbanization has slowed down in the recent two decades.

Functional Classification of Towns

Some towns and cities specialise in certain functions and they are known for some specific activities, products or services. Based on their dominant or specialized functions, Indian cities and towns can be broadly classified as follows:

• Administrative Towns and Cities: These towns house administrative headquarters of higher orders, like Chandigarh, New Delhi, Bhopal, and Srinagar.
• Industrial Towns: Cities where industries play a crucial role, such as Mumbai, Salem, and Jamshedpur.
• Transport Cities: These may be ports primarily engaged in export and import activities (e.g., Kochi, Vishakhapatnam) or hubs of inland transport (e.g., Agra, Mughalsarai).
• Commercial Towns: Cities specializing in trade and commerce, like Kolkata and Saharanpur.
• Mining Towns: Developed in mineral-rich areas, such as Raniganj, Digboi, and Singrauli.
• Garrison Cantonment Towns: Emerged as garrison towns, like Ambala and Jalandhar.
• Educational Towns: Centers of education, which have grown into major campus towns, such as Allahabad and Varanasi.
• Religious and Cultural Towns: Prominent due to their religious or cultural significance, like Varanasi, Amritsar, and Haridwar.
• Tourist Towns: Popular tourist destinations, such as Nainital, Mussoorie, and Jaisalmer.

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Class 12 Geography Notes: These Geography Class 12 notes on Chapter 2: Human Settlements are really helpful for students preparing for their CBSE board exams. It covers important topics like rural and urban settlements, types of settlements, and factors that influence where people live.

They’re easy to understand and provide all the key information students need to know. With these notes, students can study effectively and feel confident when answering exam questions. They’re a great resource for students aiming to do well in their Geography exams.