As India prepares for its next Census, should it revise its current methodology for defining and measuring urbanisation to better reflect the country’s changing socioeconomic realities and spatial growth patterns?

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As per the 2011 Census, only 31.2% of India’s population is classified as urban, based on a definition set in 1961 that distinguishes statutory and census towns through demographic and economic criteria. However, evolving settlement patterns and economic shifts suggest that this significantly underrepresents India’s true urban scale. The World Bank’s Agglomeration Index estimates urban-like conditions for over 55% of the population, pointing to substantial “hidden urbanization.” As India approaches its next Census, redefining ‘urban’ is critical to enable accurate planning, equitable resource distribution, and responsive governance.