Urban settlements in India are officially classified by the Census of India using population size, density, and occupational structure. Beyond this, concepts like metropolis, megalopolis, and functional classification are used in urban studies.
1. Census Definition of Urban Places (India)
According to the Census of India, an area is classified as urban if it meets the following:
Statutory Towns:All places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board, or notified town area committee, irrespective of size.
Census Towns:Places fulfilling all three conditions:
Population of at least 5,000
75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits
Population density of at least 400 persons per sq. km
2. Categories of Urban Places (Census & Urban Studies)
(a) Town
Smallest statutory or census urban unit.
Population range: 5,000 – 1,00,000 (approx.).
(b) City
Larger than a town.
Population of 1,00,000 and above.
(c) Town Groups / Urban Agglomeration (UA)
A continuous urban spread consisting of:
A statutory town and its adjoining outgrowths (OGs), or
Two or more physically contiguous towns, with or without outgrowths.
Example: Greater Mumbai UA, Delhi UA, Kolkata UA.
(d) Standard Urban Area (SUA) (introduced in Census 1971, later dropped)
Meant to represent the functional region of a city.
Composed of a core city + surrounding urban and rural areas linked to it socio-economically.
(e) Metropolis
Urban settlement with a population over 1 million (10 lakh).
Examples: Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow.
(f) Mega City
As per Census of India: Cities with population over 10 million (1 crore).
Examples: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai.
(g) Megalopolis (concept from Jean Gottmann, 1961)
A huge urban region formed by the merging of several metropolitan areas into a continuous urban corridor.
Example (India): Delhi–Meerut–Ghaziabad–Faridabad–Gurgaon urban belt (NCR); also Mumbai–Pune corridor.
3. Functional Classification of Urban Places
Urban settlements are not only defined by size but also by their functions. Functional classification groups cities based on their dominant economic and social roles.
Major Functional Categories:
Administrative Towns
Perform political/administrative functions.
Examples: New Delhi (national capital), Gandhinagar, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar.
Industrial Towns
Dominated by manufacturing and industries.
Examples: Jamshedpur (steel), Bhilai, Durgapur, Rourkela, Kanpur (textiles).
Commercial Towns
Specialize in trade, markets, banking, transport.
Examples: Mumbai (finance, trade), Ahmedabad, Kolkata.
Transport Towns
Grow at nodal points of rail, road, air, or waterways.
Examples: Itarsi, Katni (rail junctions), Kandla (port), Nagpur (road–rail hub).
Cultural/Religious Towns
Centers of pilgrimage, heritage, or cultural activity.
Examples: Varanasi, Haridwar, Tirupati, Amritsar.
Educational Towns
Developed around universities and academic institutions.
Examples: Varanasi (BHU), Aligarh (AMU), Pune, Kota.
Mining Towns
Developed near mineral resource sites.
Examples: Dhanbad (coal), Singrauli, Jharia.
Tourist Towns
Rely on tourism as the main economic activity.
Examples: Agra (Taj Mahal), Jaipur, Udaipur, Shimla, Goa.
Multi-functional Metropolitan Cities
Large urban centres with mixed functions: administrative, commercial, industrial, cultural.
Examples: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata.
4. Conclusion
The Census of India provides a statistical and legal definition of urban places, ranging from towns to megacities, while urban geographers extend the concept to megalopolises and functional types. Together, these classifications help us understand the size, spread, and role of urban settlements in India’s socio-economic system.
