Hi, kids, we are going to do chapter number 19, India: Cities and Development. Here we go.

What is a city? A city is a large and densely populated urban area. Let us learn about the factors which lead to the transformation of settlements into cities. Man began to settle in places where conditions for living were favourable. What do you mean by favourable? Favourable is convenient. Along with the development in the agriculture small settlements grew into large ones. So, you see here a small settlement which have today grown into large cities.

So, let us find out exactly what happens in the cities? Industries based on supporting agriculture started to develop here. For example, the sugar industry which is based on sugarcane. People from the nearby areas or what we call as, neighbouring areas started migrating to these places. Now, what is migrating? Migrating is moving from one place to another. So, people from the neighbouring areas started migrating to these places. Let us find out why, on account of the agricultural, and second, on account of the industrial development. The population of the original settlement grows. Oh my god, you can see so many number of people there. Along with this other services also developed like roads, hospitals, transports, communications, administrative offices, shops, hotels, banks, markets and so many more.

All the settlements do not necessarily develop into big cities. The functions which gives rise to a city does not remain the same till the end. It changes with the passing of time.

A city is formed for different reasons such as religious, historical, commercial, commercial means business purpose, trade purpose, educational etc.

Let us learn some of the cities in India according to their distinguishing features.