Smart Cities Mission 2.0: Focus on Net Zero Urban Centers
The Government of India has extended the Smart Cities Mission with a new focus on achieving Net Zero emissions in 100 cities.
Key Points for Quick Revision
- Launch of Smart Cities Mission 2.0
- Focus on Net Zero emissions
- 100 cities targeted
- Emphasis on climate resilience and e-mobility
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. |
| Banking (IBPS / SBI) | Medium | 2–4 | Banking awareness and general GK are separate sections — both draw from current affairs. |
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
- Net Zero emissions and sustainability
- Increasing city population
- Privatizing water supply
Explanation: Smart Cities Mission 2.0 focuses on environmental sustainability and achieving Net Zero emissions.
Q2. Which ministry implements the Smart Cities Mission?
- Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Ministry of Environment
- Ministry of Power
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.