Amrut Scheme – Full Form, Cities & Objectives of Amrut Mission

What is Amrut Scheme?

The Amrut Scheme was the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. It was renamed and relaunched on 25th June 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Central Government allocated a sum of INR 50,000 crore to the AMRUT Yojana for 5 years, from FY2016-16 to FY2019-20.

The Government also launched AMRUT 2.0 on 1st October 2021 with an approximately INR 76,760 crore allocation from the Central Government for five years, from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26. Its focus lies on water conservation, reuse and recycling of water, and rejuvenation of water bodies.

Amrut Mission Objectives

The Objective of the AMRUT Mission is stated as follows –

1. To ensure that every house has a reliable water supply and a sewer connection;
2. Develop greenery and well-maintained open spaces such as parks to improve the amenity value of cities; and
3. Amrut Scheme also aims to Initiation of Non-motorized transportation, such as cycling and walking, and a switch to public transport were meaningful goals to reduce pollution.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) prescribes indicators and standards for these objectives in Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs)

Components of Amrut Scheme

The main components of the AMRUT Yojana are:

1. Water Supply – Rehabilitation and water supply systems and rejuvenation of water bodies
2. Sewerage – It is another component of the Amrut Scheme. Rehabilitation and development of an underground network of sewage with facilities for recycling and reuse
3. Storm Water Drainage – Construction and improvement of stormwater drain to eliminate flooding.
4. Urban Transport – Facilities for non-motorized transport and multi-level parking
5. Green Space and Parks – Development of parks with special provisions for children, senior citizens, and Divyang (disabled)

Coverage of Amrut Scheme

Amrut Scheme covers 500 cities, categorized as follows:

• According to the Census of 2011, cities and towns with a population of over 1 lakh, along with notified Municipalities (including Cantonment Boards)
• Other capital cities/towns of States/Union Territories
• Cities/towns classified by the MoHUA as Heritage Cities under the HRIDAY Scheme
• 13 cities and towns having a population of 75,000-1,00,000, situated on the banks of the main rivers are also covered under Amrut Scheme.
• 10 cities, a maximum of one from each state, hill states, islands, and tourist destinations.

Progress Accomplished by the AMRUT Scheme

The AMRUT Scheme has made tremendous strides in ensuring that poor households can access basic amenities like water and sewerage connections. As of 2021, the progress of the AMRUT Mission is as follows –

Smart Water Projects Completed	101
Households with water tap connections	105 Lakh
Households with sewer connections	78 Lakh
Smart Solar Projects Completed	57
Reduction of Carbon Footprint	84.6 Lakh Tons
Smart Roads Projects Completed	310
Streetlights replaced with LED Lights	88 Lakh
Vibrant Public Places Developed	72

• In an attempt to improve the quality of life, the Amrut Scheme has sought to reduce the carbon footprint, promote the reuse and recycling of water, and adoption of energy-efficient measures.
• The Amrut Scheme has helped the poor and disadvantaged obtain housing and attain a decent standard of life.

Amrut Scheme UPSC

Amrut Scheme comes under the Government Policies & Intervention, which are covered under GS Paper-2. Candidates preparing for UPSC Exam must go through this Amrut Scheme UPSC notes to understand its objectives, the Cities covered, and other important information related to it. It would help them to tackle the questions asked from this section in both UPSC Prelims and Mains.

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