ABSTRACT
In this chapter we ask the questions that form the bedrock of this volume and are explored in subsequently drawing from empirical evidence- on going smart city projects and case studies. This chapter traces the trajectory of urban development processes in India to post her independence in 1947 followed by an overview of urbanization in India that helps situate urban missions like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Reforms Mission (JNNURM) in 2005 and trace it to the current Smart Cities paradigm launched in 2015. It also discusses the significance of the study and presents an overview of chapters in this volume.
