- Why in news
- On 10 August 2026, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs told the Rajya Sabha how far GIS-based Master Plans have progressed under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0.
- What it is
- AMRUT is the Centre's urban mission for water supply, sewerage and urban infrastructure. Its GIS-based Master Plan sub-scheme helps cities build digital geospatial databases and statutory master plans. AMRUT 2.0 extends this to smaller Class-II towns.
- Constitutional basis
- Urban planning, including town planning, is a function of Urban Local Bodies under the 12th Schedule. The Centre only supplements State efforts.
- Funding
- The GIS Master Plan sub-scheme for AMRUT cities is 100% centrally funded.
- AMRUT progress
- 461 AMRUT cities are onboarded; draft plans are ready for 404 and 292 plans are finalised.
- Data standards
- AMRUT uses very high resolution satellite imagery at 1:4000 scale. AMRUT 2.0 adds drone mapping at 1:1000 scale.
- Cities covered
- 75 cities are implementing SAM recharge interventions under AMRUT.
- Who organised
- MoHUA organised the event with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
- What SAM does
- It supports cities in enhancing groundwater recharge through scientific planning and technical handholding.
- Flood benefit
- Bhubaneswar said SAM also helps reduce urban flooding through better stormwater infiltration.
Don’t confuse with AMRUT vs AMRUT 2.0 GIS sub-schemes: The AMRUT sub-scheme targets 461 AMRUT cities (Class-I). The AMRUT 2.0 sub-scheme targets Class-II towns of 50,000-99,999 population, with drone mapping added.
Don’t confuse with URDPFI Guidelines vs the sub-schemes: URDPFI Guidelines are advisory planning norms that encourage GIS tools. The sub-schemes are funded programmes that actually create the databases and plans.
Don’t confuse with SAM vs Catch the Rain: SAM is a programme under AMRUT for urban groundwater recharge in selected cities. Catch the Rain is a wider nationwide campaign on rainwater harvesting.
Don’t confuse with MoHUA vs Jal Shakti: MoHUA runs AMRUT and its SAM component for urban areas. The Ministry of Jal Shakti handles national groundwater and water policy.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Digital geospatial databases support evidence-based land use, transport and utility planning.
- Sharing data with PM Gati Shakti helps coordinate infrastructure across sectors.
- Recharge structures raise groundwater levels in cities that depend on borewells.
- Better stormwater infiltration reduces urban flooding and builds climate resilience.
Problems
- Enforcement of master plans and action against unauthorised construction rest with States, ULBs and development authorities, not the Centre.
- Benefits depend on regular updating of GIS data and links to online building-permission systems.
- Recharge structures need upkeep and community ownership to last.
- Dense construction and paved surfaces limit space for recharge.
Way forward
- Keep GIS data updated and link it to online building-permission and enforcement systems.
- Build ULB staff capacity through training and handholding support.
- Involve residents and local bodies in maintaining recharge structures.
- Scale up proven models using scientific aquifer mapping and monitoring.
Put in your answer
Constitutional basis: The 12th Schedule makes urban planning a ULB function, so the Centre acts through schemes and advisories. This is useful for cooperative federalism and urban governance answers.
Urban recharge example: Korba plans to revive 95 more defunct borewells after its SAM interventions worked, an example of low-cost nature-based recharge.
Flood and water link: Bhubaneswar shows that recharge works can ease urban flooding as well as raise groundwater.
- 2018Mains GS1 · Q14Making water harvesting effective for groundwater depletion in urban areas
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q13Factors depleting groundwater in India and government mitigation steps
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q11Introduce the objectives and strategy of the Smart City Programme, given urban life quality
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q8Salient features of Jal Shakti Abhiyan water conservation campaign
- 2017Mains GS2 · Q6Examine identifying beneficiary segments in WASH schemes, synchronized with anticipated outcomes
- 2025Mains GS1 · Q15How AI and drones, with GIS and remote sensing, can aid locational and areal planning
- 2021Prelims Q32Ancient town famed for dams and interconnected reservoirs water harvesting
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: AMRUT sub-scheme funded 100% by the Centre, with URDPFI guidelines and the 12th Schedule basis. Standing facts, but a question is unlikely.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.