Amplifi 2.0: Urban Affairs Ministry’s Data Initiative For Indian cities

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in India has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to centralize and streamline raw data from cities across the country. Launched as the Amplifi 2.0 (Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive and Future-ready urban India) portal, this endeavor aims to facilitate data-driven policy-making, empower academics, researchers, and engage stakeholders in the urban development process.

Onboarding Cities and Data Challenges

The platform, operational for three weeks, has successfully onboarded 225 urban local bodies (ULB), with data currently available for 150 cities. However, the process revealed a significant challenge—lack of data maturity in cities. As a result, only 150 ULBs were initially able to share their data. In response, the Ministry sent data quality parameters to all cities, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive and reliable data.

Scope and Coverage

The Amplifi 2.0 portal is designed to encompass data from over 4,000 Urban Local Bodies eventually. It already provides a wealth of information, covering diverse aspects such as total diesel consumption, water quality testing, annual healthcare expenditure, slum population statistics, and road accident fatalities. This comprehensive dataset is crucial for creating a nuanced understanding of urban dynamics.

Indices and Rankings

Historically, the Ministry utilized data from ULBs to rank cities based on four indices—the Ease of Living Index, Municipal Performance Index, Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework, and Data Maturity Assessment Framework. Additionally, the government plans to release reports focusing on specific subsets of these indices, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Urban Outcomes Framework 2022

The Urban Outcomes Framework 2022, developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs and Ernst and Young for the Ministry, emphasizes a move from indices to data. This framework introduces a comprehensive list of indicators across 14 sectors, providing a holistic perspective on urban development. The shift enables domain experts to analyze disaggregated data, fostering a more nuanced understanding of urban challenges and opportunities.

Sectors and Open Data Frameworks

The initiative addresses data across 14 sectors, including demography, economy, education, energy, environment, finance, governance, health, housing, mobility, planning, safety and security, solid waste management, and water and sanitation. By streamlining data collection in these sectors, the platform not only facilitates current policy-making but also lays the groundwork for the creation of new frameworks based on open data.

Urbanization Trends and Future Projections

India has been experiencing rapid urbanization, with projections indicating that by 2030, 60 crore (40%) of the population will reside in urban areas, compared to 37.7 crore (31%) in 2011. Urban areas already contribute significantly to the country’s GDP, and this contribution is expected to rise from 63% in 2011 to 75% by 2030, according to the 2011 Census.

Important Questions Related to Exams

Q. What is the name of the initiative launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in India to centralize and streamline raw data from cities across the country?

Answer: The initiative is called Amplifi 2.0 (Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive and Future-ready urban India) portal.

Q. According to the 2011 Census, what percentage of India’s population is projected to reside in urban areas by 2030?

Answer: By 2030, 40% (60 crore) of the population is projected to reside in urban areas.

Q. What is the expected contribution of urban areas to India’s GDP by 2030, according to the 2011 Census?

Answer: The contribution of urban areas to India’s GDP is expected to rise from 63% in 2011 to 75% by 2030.

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