Smart Cities Mission 2.0 Focuses on Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
The Union Government has extended the Smart Cities Mission with a new focus on sustainable and climate-resilient urban planning.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- Focuses on climate resilience and circular economy.
- Introduces 'Sponge City' concepts to tackle urban flooding.
- Includes 50 new cities in the mission.
- Emphasizes green mobility and waste-to-energy projects.
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. |
| Railway (RRB NTPC / Group D) | Medium | 2–4 | Miscellaneous GK about India and the world is standard in Railway papers. |
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 new focus of Smart Cities Mission 2.0?
- High-speed Internet
- Climate-resilient infrastructure
- Building new airports
- Smart street lighting
Explanation: Smart Cities Mission 2.0 prioritizes climate resilience and sustainable urban planning.
Q2. Which concept is being promoted under SCM 2.0 to manage urban flooding?
- Vertical Cities
- Sponge Cities
- Glass Cities
- Smart Grids
Explanation: The 'Sponge City' concept involves using nature-based solutions to absorb and manage rainwater to prevent flooding.
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.
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