Government Launches Smart Cities Mission 2.0
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the second phase of the Smart Cities Mission, focusing on sustainability and climate resilience.
Key Points for Quick Revision
- Smart Cities Mission 2.0 launched with a focus on sustainability.
- Extends coverage to tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
- Emphasis on climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Funding shared equally between Centre and States.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | Medium | 2–4 | Miscellaneous GK including appointments, books, summits, and records appears in SSC. |
| UPSC / State PCS | Low | 2–5 | UPSC focuses on depth, not breadth. General items are tested only when they have policy relevance. |
| State PCS / PSC | Medium | 3–5 | Miscellaneous GK is tested across all state exam categories. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- Appointments: new heads of organizations, ministries, and international bodies
- Books and authors in the news — especially by current heads of state or notable personalities
- First-ever achievements: India's firsts, world firsts, records broken
- Summits and their dates, venue, and key declarations
- Obituaries: notable personalities, their field, and contribution
Practice Questions
Q1. What is the primary focus of Smart Cities Mission 2.0?
- Building new airports
- Sustainability and climate resilience
- Privatization of water supply
- Increasing urban population
Explanation: Smart Cities Mission 2.0 focuses on making cities sustainable and resilient to climate change.
Q2. Which ministry is responsible for the Smart Cities Mission?
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Ministry of Science and Technology
- Ministry of Environment
Explanation: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the nodal ministry for this mission.
How to Prepare Current Affairs for Government Exams
For general current affairs, read the PIB (Press Information Bureau) daily digest. It covers government announcements that directly map to exam questions.
Maintain a 'Monthly Top 50' list — the 50 most important facts from the month. Revise this before every mock test.
Focus on news from the last 6–8 months before your exam date. Older news rarely appears unless it was a landmark event.