A ‘Committee on Slum Statistics/Census’6 (2010) set up by the Government of India to look into the methodology for slum estimation recommended that ‘compact settlements of at least 20‐25 households with a collection of poorly built tenements, mostly of temporary nature, crowded together usually with inadequate sanitary and drinking water facilities in unhygienic conditions’ be enumerated as slums. This definition was considered broad enough to encompass all other existing definitions as the condition for a number of households was brought down from 60‐70 to 20‐25. However, this recommendation was not adopted by the Office of the Registrar General of India while conducting the 2011 Census and it continued to adopt the same definition as in 2017.

The UN‐Habitat defines slums as “contiguous settlements where the inhabitants are characterized as having inadequate housing and basic services. A slum is often not recognized and addressed by the public authorities as an integral or equal part of the city.” Under the federal structure of the Constitution of India, matters pertaining to housing and urban development have been assigned to State Governments. The 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India’s Act has further delegated many of these functions to urban local bodies.

Housing schemes by the Central Government are implemented by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA).  The policies of urban development and housing in India have come a long way since the 1950s.  In the First Five Year Plan (1951‐56), emphasis was given on institution building and on the construction of houses for Government employees and weaker sections. Subsequent plans focused on the provision of services along with shelter and mobilizing private sector efforts for low‐cost housing. The National Housing and Habitat Policy unveiled in 1988 aimed at ensuring “shelter for all” and better quality of life to all citizens by using the unused potential in public, private, and household sectors.