The “Smart Cities Mission” was launched to promote the development of

The “Smart Cities Mission” was launched to promote the development of 100 smart cities with

Advanced healthcare facilities
Sustainable and citizen-friendly infrastructure
World-class educational institutions
State-of-the-art transportation systems
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2021-22
The “Smart Cities Mission” was launched to promote the development of smart cities with sustainable and citizen-friendly infrastructure.
The mission aims to improve the quality of life in urban areas by enabling local area development and harnessing technology. It focuses on developing ‘core infrastructure’ services such as adequate water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation, including solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable housing, safety and security, green initiatives, and applying ‘Smart Solutions’ to make these services and infrastructure more sustainable and citizen-friendly.
The concept of a ‘smart city’ goes beyond just advanced healthcare, educational institutions, or transportation systems in isolation. It envisages comprehensive development that combines physical infrastructure with IT and communication technology to improve efficiency, sustainability, and the quality of life for residents. Option B best encapsulates this multi-faceted goal.