Trends and patterns of urbanization in India: A comparative study between pre and post liberalization period

The present research work is concerned with the analysis of the trends and patterns of urbanization in India, using the data from 1971 to 2011. Urban disparity has widened up following economic liberalization in India. These reforms supported the market-based economy, which ultimately led to the regional imbalances. The paper has identified the increasing spatial inequalities in India's urbanization and underlines a sharp departure from the past pattern following the emerging trends in the post liberalization period. In view of increasing role of liberal economic policies, it becomes inevitable to examine the impacts of economic liberalization on the trends and pattern of urbanization and their implications. Unbalanced pattern of urbanization has always been a matter of great concern. This study could be helpful in understanding the urban diversities across states and for formulating suitable measures for a balanced urban development in the country.