Context:
- On October 8, 2025, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) observed World Habitat Day in New Delhi with the theme ‘Urban Solutions to Crisis’.
- An editorial highlighted the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Indian cities and argued for integrating heart health into urban planning.
- Urban India faces a disproportionate surge in heart-related ailments, demanding a shift towards health-centric, equitable urban governance.
Key Highlights:
Urban Health Crisis & Trends
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in urban India, with prevalence nearly double that of rural areas.
- A worrying trend is the increasing incidence among individuals below 50 years.
- Asia may witness a 91% rise in cardiovascular mortality by 2050 if preventive interventions are not adopted.
Urban Planning & Lifestyle Linkages
- Long commutes, air pollution, noise, congestion, and shrinking green spaces have made daily urban life unhealthy.
- Fragmented urban planning promotes sedentary lifestyles, automobile dependence, and environmental stress.
- Unequal access to healthcare, safe housing, and open spaces worsens health inequities.
Heart-Resilient Urban Planning Components
- Walkable and cyclable streets to promote active living.
- Compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods reducing travel time and stress.
- Robust public transport systems to lower pollution and inactivity.
- Green infrastructure such as parks, urban forests, and blue spaces.
- Healthy food ecosystems, including access to fresh and affordable nutrition.
Institutional & Global Best Practices
- The WHO Healthy Cities Network shows that embedding health into urban governance reduces chronic disease risks.
- Use of AI-enabled tools, health impact assessments, and data-driven planning can strengthen outcomes in India.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Rising cardiovascular diseases in urban India due to unhealthy urban design.
- Causes: Air pollution, sedentary lifestyles, poor walkability, urban sprawl, stress, inequitable access to services.
- Government Initiatives:
- World Habitat Day (MoHUA) focus on sustainable and inclusive urban solutions.
- Alignment with National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) and Smart Cities Mission (potential).
- Benefits of Heart-Resilient Cities:
- Reduced disease burden, improved productivity, lower healthcare costs.
- Better quality of life and environmental sustainability.
- Challenges:
- Fragmented governance, siloed departments, funding constraints, weak health-urban convergence.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Key Concepts:
- Urban Planning, Integrated Planning, Cardiovascular Health, Health-in-All-Policies approach.
- Stakeholders:
- MoHUA, health ministries, urban local bodies, academia, civil society, communities.
- Social Justice Angle:
- Vulnerable communities face higher exposure to pollution and poor infrastructure.
- Need for equity audits, participatory planning, and community engagement.
- Way Forward:
- Institutionalize health impact assessments in urban projects.
- Strengthen inter-ministerial coordination between urban development, health, transport, and environment.
- Invest in public transport, green spaces, and active mobility.
- Leverage technology and data for evidence-based urban health planning.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Governance, Social Justice, Urban Governance, Public Health
- GS 3: Environment & Ecology, Science & Technology, Sustainable Development