[General Studies I: Indian Society – urbanisation]  [150 words, 10 marks]  

Answer Structure:

• Introduction: Spatial and non-spatial components
• Body: Spatial vs non-spatial components
• Conclusion:  The multi-sectoral approach

Answer

Introduction

A city is a ‘system of systems’, wherein the spatial components include land use, transport, logistics, heritage, environment, housing, etc., and the non-spatial ones include the administrative structures, legislative frameworks, economic policies, labour market, budget allocations and so on. 

Body

Spatial and land use plans use environmental legislations and development control regulations to affect/control the land use. These instruments can restrict the usage of land in a certain way, but may not necessarily offer the most efficient, community and market-driven land use patterns to emerge. 

The non-spatial systems may create incentives to use land in a certain but may not correspond to the objectives of land use planning systems.  

Cities struggle to achieve their development objectives due to the pressures of competing and contradicting land uses.

Conclusion

The settlements, thus, demand an integrated planning approach wherein both the spatial and non-spatial systems are given due consideration. 

This needs concerted actions towards increasing awareness about the utility of a multi-sectoral approach towards urban planning and policy making at various levels, preparation of urbanisation policies at the State level and urban planning capacities to be able to put the policies into action. 

(The model answer provided above strictly follows the word limit, the above answer is compiled in 187 words.)

Practising answers sticking to the word limit will aid the aspirants to write answers precisely and to the point by avoiding unnecessary things. 

(Titles introduction, body and conclusion are just for reference, aspirants should not write these titles in the answer sheet.)