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18 Jan 2026·Source: The Hindu
3 min
Social IssuesPolity & GovernanceNEWS

Rahul Gandhi Criticizes BJP's Smart City Model Amid Indore Water Crisis

Rahul Gandhi slams BJP government over diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, criticizes smart city model.

Rahul Gandhi Criticizes BJP's Smart City Model Amid Indore Water Crisis

Photo by Jeff Ackley

Rahul Gandhi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, which has claimed several lives. Visiting Indore’s Bhagirathpura area on 18 January 2026, the epicenter of the outbreak, he criticized the Centre’s smart city model, citing the lack of clean drinking water. He stated that people were being intimidated and families fell ill after drinking the water, indicating that clean water is not available in Indore. While the official death toll remains at six, an internal panel of doctors has submitted that a total of 23 people died in Bhagirathpura since December 2025.

Key Facts

1.

Rahul Gandhi: Criticized BJP over Indore water crisis

2.

Outbreak: Diarrhoea in Indore

3.

Deaths: 23 in Bhagirathpura since December 2025

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

2.

GS Paper III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

3.

Potential question types: Evaluating the effectiveness of Smart Cities Mission, analyzing the challenges in urban water management, assessing the role of technology in improving urban governance.

Visual Insights

Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak: Affected Area

Map highlighting Bhagirathpura in Indore, the epicenter of the recent diarrhoea outbreak, and its location within Madhya Pradesh. Shows the geographical context of the water crisis.

Loading interactive map...

📍Indore
More Information

Background

The concept of 'Smart Cities' gained prominence globally in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, driven by rapid urbanization and technological advancements. The term itself is multifaceted, lacking a universally accepted definition. Early iterations focused on leveraging technology to improve urban infrastructure and services.

The Indian government's Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, built upon these global trends, aiming to transform selected cities through sustainable and inclusive development. Prior to this mission, urban development schemes like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), launched in 2005, laid the groundwork by focusing on infrastructure development and urban governance reforms. The evolution from JNNURM to the Smart Cities Mission reflects a shift towards more integrated and technology-driven urban solutions.

Latest Developments

In recent years, the focus of urban development has shifted towards resilience and sustainability, driven by climate change concerns and the need for equitable access to resources. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, launched in 2021, emphasizes water security, sanitation, and urban green spaces. Simultaneously, there's growing emphasis on data-driven governance and citizen participation in urban planning.

Future trends include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to optimize urban services, as well as a greater focus on affordable housing and social inclusion. The success of smart city initiatives increasingly depends on addressing issues of inequality and ensuring that technological advancements benefit all residents, not just a select few. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of resilient urban infrastructure and public health systems.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Smart Cities Mission in India: 1. The mission focuses solely on Tier-1 cities with a population of over 1 million. 2. A key objective is to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development through technology. 3. The mission is entirely funded by the central government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 only
  • B.2 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.2 and 3 only
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect as the mission includes cities of varying sizes. Statement 3 is incorrect as the mission involves a mix of central, state, and private funding.

2. Which of the following initiatives is NOT directly associated with improving urban water management in India?

  • A.Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
  • B.Swachh Bharat Mission
  • C.National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
  • D.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Show Answer

Answer: D

While PMAY addresses housing needs, it is not directly focused on urban water management. AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission, and NGRBA have direct components related to water management.

3. Assertion (A): Outbreaks of waterborne diseases in urban areas often highlight failures in urban planning and infrastructure. Reason (R): Rapid urbanization without adequate investment in water supply and sanitation systems can lead to contamination and health crises. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

  • A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • B.Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • C.A is true, but R is false.
  • D.A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer

Answer: A

Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why waterborne disease outbreaks occur due to inadequate urban planning and infrastructure.

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