PMAY-U: India's Urban Housing Mission Explained

Launched: June 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Objective: Achieve "Housing for All" in urban areas by providing all-weather pucca houses with basic civic amenities to eligible households.
Target Beneficiaries: Slum dwellers, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG) and Middle-Income Groups (MIG).
Implementation: Central assistance to States/UTs for construction and delivery of affordable housing.
Mission Period: Originally up to March 2022; extended till 30th September 2026 for completion of sanctioned projects.

Beneficiary Family: Husband, wife and unmarried sons/daughters; must not own a pucca house anywhere in India. An adult earning member (irrespective of marital status) can be a separate household if without a pucca house.
Benefit Conditions: A married couple can avail only a single house; a beneficiary can receive assistance under only one of the four verticals.
House Upgradation: Pucca houses below 21 sq. m. may be expanded up to 30 sq. m.

Targets 1 crore additional urban poor and middle-class families during 2024–2029.
Financial assistance up to ₹2.50 lakh per unit; promotes affordable rental housing.
Income limits: EWS – up to ₹3 lakh; LIG – ₹3–6 lakh; MIG – ₹6–9 lakh (annual household income).

1.25 crore houses sanctioned (as of 9 August 2026); over 1 crore completed — compared to only ~8 lakh houses under earlier schemes (2005–2014).
Women-Centric: Around 1 crore houses allotted to women (sole or joint ownership).
Inclusive: Priority to SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and transgender persons.

Unified Web Portal (PMAY-U 2.0): Single platform for applications, tracking, geo-tagging and fund disbursement.
Geo-tagging: Five monitoring stages — grounding, foundation, superstructure, finishing/external development, completion.
Technology Sub-Mission (TSM): Promotes green, disaster-resilient technologies; under GHTC-India, 54 technologies shortlisted and six Light House Projects (LHPs) built.
Technology and Innovation Sub-Mission (TISM): Promotes innovative designs, green building standards, climate-responsive housing.
Technology Innovation Grant (TIG): Supports AHP projects using innovative construction technologies.

Shifts housing from mere shelter to a foundation of dignity, inclusion and empowerment.
Advances inclusive urban development, women's empowerment and sustainable construction practices.

Prelims 2020: Non-financial debt includes housing loans owed by households, credit card dues and treasury bills (Ans: all three).
Mains 2013: Social problems arising from speedy urbanisation in India.