Sustainable Settlement And Communities (UNSDG 11) -Localization in India’s Religious Cities

Abstract

India, the world's most populated country, has Urban population (% of total population) as 36.36 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, with 508 million people living in cities and towns in 2024. Alarmed global nations agreed to prioritize the much- need sustainable development guidelines for future development. As a result, in 2012 the process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was launched at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. To create a sustainable, liveable, and resilient future, the United Nations General Assembly announced seventeen SDGs in September 2015 to be achieved by 2030. Out of the 17 goals, the paper focuses on SDG 11 i.e., sustainable cities and communities. Among all the cities in India, religious heritage cities are witnessing huge amount of development. In light of globalisation and urbanisation, all Indian religious heritage cities have persistent issues with contemporary urban infrastructure for future development, based on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability pillars. The research is carried out to understand the extent of SDG 11 localization in India concerning religious cities, identify the issues related to the implementation of the targets, and indicators, and analyse the present conditions. Urbanization is a threat on a global scale, but historic religious cities and towns with significant heritage value raise the stakes even higher. Along with primary surveys and interviews government reports, and papers have been referred to identify the gaps in the localization of SDG 11 and the recommendations suggested.