Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched in June 2015 by PM Narendra Modi under the Government of India. The AMRUT scheme is an initiative to provide basic civic amenities to the urban areas to improve the quality of life with major focus to the poor and the disadvantaged.
It is the first focused national water Mission, which was launched in 500 cities and covered 60% of the urban population. The scheme is important for the Indian Polity syllabus of the IAS Exam and this article will talk about its important details.
Aspirants can also get a comprehensive List of Government Schemes in India, launched for the social and economic development of the country at the linked article.
Latest Update:
- To mark 6 years of successful completion of the AMRUT Scheme, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organized an online event on June 25, 2021. The date also marked the 45 years of establishment of the National Institute of Urban Affairs, an autonomous body of MoHUA, tasked to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization.
- It was announced that as of June 2021, 105 lakh household water tap connections and 78 lakh sewer/ septage connections have been provided under the mission; 88 lakh streetlights have been replaced with energy-efficient LED lights leading to energy savings of 193 crore units
- As per The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), 84.6 lakh tons carbon footprint have been reduced through various initiatives under the AMRUT Scheme
For more information about the scheme, one can visit the official website – amrut.gov.in
Aspirants can refer to the UPSC Syllabus for the prelims and mains examination and complement their preparation with the links given below:
| Urban Planning in India | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana |
| Sponge Cities Mission In India | Global Indices & India’s Ranking in 2021 |
| States’ Startup Rankings in India | Sustainable Development Goals |
Key Highlights of AMRUT Scheme
Some of the highlights of the AMRUT scheme are mentioned in the table below:
| AMRUT Scheme | |
| Full-Form | Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation |
| Year of launching | June 2015 |
| Launched by | PM Narendra Modi |
| Government Ministry | Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs |
Objectives of AMRUT Scheme
The AMRUT Scheme focuses on establishing an infrastructure for ensuring adequate sewage networks and water supply in the urban areas through the implementation of the urban revival projects. The first state to submit State Annual Action Plan under the AMRUT scheme was Rajasthan. Various other schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Housing for All 2022 and the local state schemes related to water supply, sewerage and infrastructure can also be linked to the AMRUT scheme.
About ₹1 lakh crore investment on urban development under Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation of 500 cities has already been approved by the government
The main objectives of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) are mentioned below:
- To ensure a proper supply of water and a sewage connection in every household.
- To develop green and well maintained open spaces and parks to increase the amenity value of the cities.
- To reduce pollution by switching to public transport or through the construction of non-motorized transport facilities such as walking and cycling.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aims in covering around 500 cities that are having a population of over one lakh with notified municipalities.
| To complement your preparation for UPSC 2022, check the following links: |
What are the major components of the AMRUT Mission?
The AMRUT Mission consists of the following major components:
- Capacity building
- Reform implementation
- Water supply and management of sewerage and septage
- Drainage of stormwater
- Improvement in urban transport facilities
- Development of green spaces and parks.
AMRUT Scheme – Latest Developments
- The Mission was launched on June 25, 2015, with an overall budget of Rs. 1 lakh crore allocated for the development under this scheme. Of which, State action plans amounting to Rs. 77,640 crores for basic infrastructure projects were approved, against which projects worth Rs. 79,772 crores have been grounded. So far, i.e., as of June 2021, work worth Rs. 52,477 crores (66%) has been carried out
- Based on the data released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in June 2021, the following progressions have been made under this scheme:
- Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) capacity worth 1,240 MLD have been created, of which 907 MLD is being recycled/ reused. Another, 4,800 MLD STP capacity is under development
- Energy audits of water pumps has been completed in 396 cities in 27 States/UTs. 11,385 water pumps are identified for replacement, of which 667 pumps have been replaced
- Online Building Permission System (OBPS) with seamless integration with internal/ external agencies has been made operational in 2,465 towns including 452 AMRUT cities. India’s rank in Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in construction permits has jumped to 27 in World Bank’s Report (DBR)-2020 from 181 in 2018
Who can apply for Amrut Scheme?
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation aims in covering around 500 cities that are having a population of over one lakh. To be selected under the AMRUT Scheme, the cities/towns falls under the following categories:
- All the cities and towns that are having a population of one lakh or above as per the census of 2011 with notified municipalities and also including the civilian areas.
- All the capital cities or towns of States/ UTs that are not falling under the above criteria.
- The cities or towns that are classified as Heritage Cities by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the HRIDAY Scheme.
- Thirteen cities and towns that fall on the stem of the main rivers and having a population of more than 75,000 but less than 1 lakh.
- Ten Cities belonging from the hill states, islands, and tourist destinations. Only one city from each of these states can be selected under the AMRUT scheme.
Candidates should follow the latest developments in Current Affairs related to other government schemes for their UPSC 2021 preparation.
AMRUT Scheme – UPSC Notes :- Download PDF Here
Aspirants reading the topic, ‘AMRUT Scheme’ can also read about other important schemes linked in the table below:
Multiple Choice Question
1. Consider the following statements
- Rajasthan was the first state in the country to submit State Annual Action Plan under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) or Clean India Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management (SWM). Phase 2 will be implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
- Swachh Survekshan (Cleanliness survey) is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in cities and towns across India. It was launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which aimed to make India clean and free of open defecation.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is an initiative by the Government of India in which affordable housing will be provided to the urban poor with a target of building 20 million affordable houses by 31 March 2022.
Choose the correct answer from the below-given options
A) None of the above statements are true.
B) None of the above statements are false.
C) Only statements 1, 3, and 4 are false.
D) Only statements 1 and 4 are true.
Answer: B
2. How many cities are allocated in the initial phase of the AMRUT scheme
A) 90
B) 60
C) 70
D) 20
Answer: A): 90
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