What is the size of the Urban Challenge Fund announced in the budget of 2025-26?
- A.25,000 crore rupees
- B.50,000 crore rupees
- C.1 lakh crore rupees
- D.2 lakh crore rupees
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 1 lakh crore rupees. Setting out NITI Aayog's Growth Hub initiative, Rajiv Gauba pointed to the Urban Challenge Fund of 1 lakh crore rupees announced in the budget of 2025-26, meant to develop cities as hubs of growth. He mentioned alongside it the provision in this year's budget of 5,000 crore rupees each for 7 city economic regions spread over five years. Options A, B and D are wrong because the fund was not put at any of those amounts; they are plausible-sounding sums but none was named in the address. The surrounding figures are worth holding together for an examination: spending on the urban sector has grown ten times over since the large missions began, metro rail and bus systems have absorbed investment of about 3.7 lakh crore rupees, and the share of urban local bodies in Central Finance Commission grants has risen to 45 per cent from 36 per cent.
Read the full article: NITI Aayog Urges Elected Mayors at 2nd National Urban Conclave
Practice Questions
India's urban population is projected to rise from about 50 crore at present to how many by 2050?
- A.65 crore
- B.75 crore
- C.85 crore
- D.95 crore
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Addressing the closing session of the 2nd National Urban Conclave, Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog, said that nearly half of all Indians are expected to be living in urban areas by 2050, and that the urban population would therefore climb from roughly 50 crore at present to 85 crore.
Read the full explanation →How many functions did NITI Aayog ask States to devolve to urban local bodies in line with the 74th Amendment?
- A.11
- B.15
- C.18
- D.29
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Drawing on the report Moving Towards Effective City Governance, prepared jointly by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Rajiv Gauba said States must devolve all 18 functions to urban local bodies in line with the 74th Amendment, naming master planning, water supply, fire services and traffic…
Read the full explanation →The report 'Moving Towards Effective City Governance' has been prepared by NITI Aayog along with which ministry?
- A.Ministry of Home Affairs
- B.Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- C.Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- D.Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
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Rajiv Gauba referred to Moving Towards Effective City Governance as a report developed jointly by NITI Aayog and that ministry, and he used its recommendations as the backbone of his address: directly elected mayors with terms of five years, a Mayor-in-Council system, municipal elections held on time, and the devolution…
Read the full explanation →What is the size of the Urban Challenge Fund mentioned at the National Urban Conclave 2026?
- A.₹5,000 crore
- B.₹10,000 crore
- C.₹1 lakh crore
- D.₹25,000 crore
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The Secretary of the Department of Urban Development listed the Urban Challenge Fund of that size among recent initiatives and reforms, along with reforms under the SASCI scheme.
Read the full explanation →India's urban population is expected to reach what level by 2036, as stated at the conclave?
- A.About 450 million
- B.About 600 million
- C.About 750 million
- D.About 900 million
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The Union Minister of State said the urban population had grown from roughly 377 million in 2011 to around 500 million at present and was expected to reach that mark by 2036, adding that by the centenary of independence nearly one in every two Indians would be living in a…
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