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UPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IInfrastructurePractice question

AMRUT Mission Contributions and AMRUT 2.0 Objectives

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched in 2015 to improve the quality of life in Indian cities. Assess its contribution towards achieving this objective over the past decade. What are the key objectives of AMRUT 2.0?

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Introduce the AMRUT mission by stating its launch year, mandate, and alignment with sustainable urbanisation. Assess its major contributions over the past decade across basic civic infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and governance reforms. Conclude by enumerating the key objectives of AMRUT 2.0 and linking them to long-term urban resilience and SDG 6.

Model answer

436 words

Introduction

Launched in June 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) marked a paradigm shift in Indian urban planning towards basic service delivery. Covering 500 cities, it aimed to guarantee universal water supply, enhance sewerage networks, develop urban green spaces, and implement civic administrative reforms to improve the urban quality of life.

Contributions of AMRUT over the Past Decade

Over the past decade, AMRUT has systematically addressed infrastructure deficits in targeted urban areas through coordinated project execution and reform incentives.

  • Basic Civic Infrastructure: The mission addressed core municipal deficits by providing over 2.03 crore tap connections and 1.50 crore sewer and septage connections (inclusive of ongoing AMRUT 2.0 transitions), drastically reducing disease burdens and expanding household coverage.
  • Urban Sustainability and Carbon Reduction: AMRUT supported the development and rejuvenation of over 2,000 open green spaces and urban parks. Additionally, the replacement of conventional streetlights with 99 lakh energy-efficient LED fixtures has reduced annual carbon emissions by approximately 46 lakh tonnes.
  • Financial and Institutional Governance Reforms: The mission incentivised fiscal prudence and administrative modernisation across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). It enabled 13 municipal corporations to access capital markets by issuing municipal bonds worth ₹4,984 crore. Furthermore, the deployment of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems has modernised real-time tracking of water distribution and reduced non-revenue water.
  • Stormwater Drainage: Upgraded storm water drainage systems in flood-prone cities have mitigated localized urban waterlogging during extreme monsoon precipitation events.

Key Objectives of AMRUT 2.0

Launched in October 2021 for a five-year period (2021–2026), AMRUT 2.0 scales up the scope from project-based provisioning to sustainable water stewardship.

  • Universal Water and Sanitation Coverage: Aims to provide 100% piped tap water coverage to all households across approximately 4,900 statutory towns, alongside 100% sewage and septage management in the original 500 AMRUT cities.
  • Promoting a Circular Economy of Water: Requires urban centres to prepare City Water Balance Plans (CWBPs) to promote wastewater recycling, mandatory reuse of treated effluent for industrial and landscaping purposes, and the ecological rejuvenation of urban water bodies.
  • Competitive Governance through Pey Jal Survekshan: Introduced a citizen-centric survey to assess and rank cities on parameter benchmarks including water service levels, water quality, and equitable access.
  • Technological Innovation and Incentives: Initiatives like 'Jal Hi AMRIT' incentivize municipal utilities to upgrade Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and establish clean, secure mechanisms for biosolid recycling.

Conclusion

AMRUT has pivoted Indian urban governance from fragmented, ad-hoc municipal works to an integrated, reform-driven, and data-backed ecosystem. AMRUT 2.0 deepens this transformation, laying the framework for water-secure, climate-resilient cities aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Key facts to remember

scheme
AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)

Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs across 500 cities to establish basic civic infrastructure like tap water, sewerage, storm water drainage, and green spaces.

statistic

Reforms incentivised under AMRUT enabled 13 Urban Local Bodies to raise ₹4,984 crore through municipal bond issuances to fund public infrastructure.

— Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
definition
City Water Balance Plan (CWBP)

A strategic planning tool under AMRUT 2.0 that quantifies citywide water demand, sources, usage, and treatment capacities to facilitate the circular economy and reuse of wastewater.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary difference in coverage between AMRUT 1.0 and AMRUT 2.0?

AMRUT 1.0 was restricted to 500 designated cities focusing on foundational infrastructure, whereas AMRUT 2.0 expands universal tap water supply to all ~4,900 statutory towns in India.

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