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Rural areas are located outside towns and cities, whereas urban areas are home to towns, cities, and districts. Rural areas have low population densities, while urban areas have high viscosity. Urban areas have more educational and employment opportunities than rural areas, and they are developing their infrastructure faster. According to the survey published in 2012, rural areas are made up of open land and settlements with less than 2,500 individuals. Larger places and the densely populated areas around them make up urban areas.
The difference between rural and urban areas UPSC is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Indian Society subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-1 syllabus and General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.
In this article on the difference between rural and urban areas, we shall discuss what is the difference between rural and urban areas as required for the UPSC exam.
Read the article on hierarchy of urban settlements!
Check out the table below to understand the difference between rural and urban life:
Difference Between Rural and Urban Areas |
||
Basis for Comparison |
Urban Areas |
Rural Areas |
Meaning |
Urban areas are those areas where the population is very high and has the features of a built environment. |
Rural areas are those areas which are located on the outskirts. |
What does it include? |
It includes areas like cities and towns. |
It includes areas like Villages and hamlets. |
Life |
Life in such an area is fast and complicated |
Life in such an area is simple and relaxed. |
Environment |
Such areas have greater isolation from nature. |
Such areas have direct contact with nature. |
Population size |
Such areas are highly populated. |
Such areas are lightly populated. |
Associated area |
Areas which are associated with such areas are non-agricultural work, i.e. trade, commerce or provision of services. |
Areas which are associated with such areas are agriculture and livestock. |
Social mobility |
They are highly intensive. |
They are less intensive. |
Scarcity of land |
Scarcity of land is there. |
The scarcity of land is not there. |
Employment rate |
The employment rate is very high in such areas. |
The employment rate is very low in such areas. |
Population range |
An area having a population above 150000 comes under urban areas. |
Areas having a population of less than 150,000 come under rural areas. |
Division of labour |
Division of labour is always present at the time of job allotment. |
There is no such division of labour in rural areas. |
Read the article on Integrated Rural Development Programme IRDP!
Rural regions contrast sharply with urban areas, often covering vast, underdeveloped lands with sparse populations. As defined by the RBI, rural territories include populations below 49,000, spanning tier-3 to tier-6 cities. Around 70% of India's population lives in rural areas, playing a crucial role in the economy through agriculture, self-employment, services, and construction. The global trend has seen a significant shift from rural to urban locations due to technological advancements reducing the demand for agricultural labor, favoring urban economic growth. Nevertheless, most of the world's population still resides in rural environments.
Read the article on Rural Marketing!
Urban areas are marked by high populations, density, and developed infrastructure stemming from urbanization. Such regions encompass suburbs, cities, and towns, with cities and their surroundings as key components. Metropolitan regions, like Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, consist of multiple urban areas. The area encircling a city is its urban zone. Most urban dwellers are involved in non-agricultural jobs. Urban landscapes feature extensive human-built structures – homes, businesses, roads, bridges, and railways. A megalopolis forms when metropolitan areas merge, typically referring to nearby cities. These can hold a total population of around ten million. In India, megalopolises include Kolkata, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad.
Read the article on Urban sprawl!
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