Rural and Urban areas – Census Definition

In India, the definition of rural and urban areas for the census is based on population size, density, and occupation. According to the Census of India, an area is considered rural if it has a population of less than 5,000 people and a population density of less than 400 people per square kilometer. An area is considered urban if it has a population of 5,000 or more people and a population density of more than 400 people per square kilometer.

The census definition of rural and urban areas can vary depending on the country conducting the census. However, in general, rural areas are defined as sparsely populated areas that are predominantly characterized by agriculture, forestry, and other natural resource-based activities. These areas typically have a lower population density and are located outside of cities or urban centers.

Village or Town is recognized as the basic area of habitation. In all censuses throughout the world this dichotomy of Rural and Urban areas is recognized and the data are generally presented for the rural and urban areas separately. In the rural areas the smallest area of habitation, viz., the village generally follows the limits of a revenue village that is recognized by the normal district administration.

Revenue village

The revenue village need not necessarily be a single agglomeration of the habitations. But the revenue village has a definite surveyed boundary and each village is a separate administrative unit with separate village accounts. It may have one or more hamlets. The entire revenue village is one unit. There may be unsurveyed villages within forests etc., where the locally recognised boundaries of each habitation area is followed within the larger unit of say the forest range officers jurisdiction.

In India, a revenue village is the smallest administrative unit in rural areas. It is a geographical area that is identified and demarcated by the state government for the purpose of revenue collection and administration. A revenue village may consist of one or more hamlets or settlements, and is usually headed by a Village Panchayat, which is an elected body of representatives responsible for the local governance of the village.

The revenue village is used as a unit of administration for various government departments and services, including land revenue collection, agriculture and rural development, public health, education, and law and order. The state government maintains a record of all revenue villages in the state, along with information on their geographical boundaries, population, land use, and other socio-economic indicators.

Urban areas

On the other hand, urban areas are defined as densely populated areas that are predominantly characterized by non-agricultural activities such as trade, commerce, manufacturing, and services. These areas typically have a higher population density and are located within cities or urban centers.

It is in defining the Urbans areas that problems generally arise. However for the 1971 Census the definition adopted for an urban area which follows the pattern of 1961 was as follows:-

(a)  all places with a Municipality, Corporation or Cantonment or Notified Town Area

(b)  all other places which satisfied the following criteria:

              (i)    a minimum population of 5,000.

             (ii)  at least 75% of the male working population was non-agricultural.

            (iii)    a density of population of at least 400 sq. Km. (i.e. 1000 per sq. Mile)

The Director of Census of each State/Union Territory was, however, given some discretion in respect of some marginal cases, in consultation with the State Govt., to include some places that had other distinct urban characteristics and to exclude undeserving cases.

Additionally, the Census of India classifies urban areas into two categories: statutory towns and census towns. Statutory towns are areas that have been notified by the state or central government as towns or urban areas, while census towns are areas that have a population of 5,000 or more and at least 75% of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities, but have not been notified as urban areas by the government.

Standard Urban areas : Census Definition

A new concept that had been developed for the 1971 Census for the tabulation of certain urban data was the Standard Urban Area. In the Indian census, Standard Urban Areas (SUAs) are a type of urban area defined on the basis of population size and density. SUAs are areas with a population of 1 lakh (100,000) or more, and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer.

SUAs are further categorized into three classes, based on their population size:

• Class I SUAs: These are areas with a population of 1 lakh to 10 lakhs.
• Class II SUAs: These are areas with a population of 10 lakhs to 50 lakhs.
• Class III SUAs: These are areas with a population of 50 lakhs or more.

The SUAs are identified and demarcated by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, and are used as units of enumeration for the census as well as for planning and administration purposes.

The SUAs are important for the government and policymakers, as they serve as hubs of economic activity, infrastructure development, and social and cultural interactions. The identification and classification of SUAs helps in planning and implementing policies and programs related to urban development, housing, transportation, and other urban issues. The SUAs are also used for the allocation of resources and grants to the urban local bodies and other urban institutions for the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure to the urban population.

The essential of a Standard Urban Area are :

1.  It should have a core town of a minimum population
2. The contiguous areas made up of other urban as well as  rural administrative units should have close   mutual socio- economic links with the core town.
3. The probabilities are that this entire area will get fully  urbanized in a period of two to three decades.

The idea is that it should be possible to provide comparable data for a definite area of urbanization continuously for three decades which would give a meaningful picture.

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