The most common idea of the slum is  a area that characterize  as overcrowded, unplanned, squalid and dilapidated. The areas are considered crime prone or even crime infested, and the people here are generally considered to be living in extreme, if not relative, poverty. Most official Indian definitions, such as from the census, and state level laws and regulations, rest largely on the physical characteristics of areas, such as state of repair and stability of structures, light and ventilation conditions, the availability of basic services, etc. (Census, 2011; Government of Karnataka, 1973; Government of Maharashtra, 2013).

The United Nations notes five basic characteristics that define a slum area lack of access to water and sanitation, poor quality housing, overcrowding, and an insecure residential status (UN-HABITAT, n.d.). The last defining characteristic of the UN definition insecure residential status is an important addition over popular.  The certain approaches and tenets of urban development and housing provision in a limited resource environment. The two key arguments made here are for an enabling environment for increasing security of residence, and for improving existing housing through upgrading and redevelopment in India.