Consider the following statements:
1. ‘Right to the city’ is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
2. ‘Right to the city’ gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
3. ‘Right to the city’ means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Right to the City is a collective framework emphasizing inclusive urban spaces, equitable governance, and social justice:
– Statement 1 is correct: The Right to the City is recognized within the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III (2016), with UN-Habitat actively monitoring state commitments and progress under SDG 11.
– Statement 2 is correct: It affirms the right of all urban inhabitants to democratically participate in urban design, use collective urban assets, and reclaim accessible public spaces.
– Statement 3 is correct: Under this rights-based paradigm, fundamental public amenities and civic infrastructure (drinking water, sanitation, electricity, primary healthcare) must be ensured to all residents regardless of property legality or informal settlement status, prohibiting discriminatory denial of core municipal services to unauthorized settlements.
According to the official UPSC answer key, all three statements are correct — Option D.