Section Article

Smart Cities Mission and Urban Social Transformation
Author(s): Mr. Abhijeet sharma

Abstract
This paper examines the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) of India and its role in driving urban social transformation up to 2025. Launched in 2015 the Smart Cities Mission aimed to modernize urban infrastructure improve governance and enhance quality of life through the integration of technology sustainability and citizen participation. Beyond the physical restructuring of cities the mission has initiated significant social transformations reshaping patterns of mobility housing public service delivery and civic engagement. This study analyzes how the mission has influenced urban governance digital inclusion social equity and environmental sustainability. Drawing upon government reports case studies from Indian cities and scholarly literature the paper argues that while the mission has generated progress in urban modernization and citizen services it also reveals challenges of inclusivity uneven development and social displacement. The findings suggest that the Smart Cities Mission represents both an opportunity and a challenge for India’s urban future requiring policies that combine technological innovation with social justice.