Master of Arts in Urban Studies

MAUS

Assignments
(July - 2023 & January - 2024 Sessions)

School of Extension and Development Studies

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110068
 Dear Learner,

You will have to do one assignment for each course. Each assignment carries 100 marks. Irrespective of
the year of registration you need to submit the latest assignments uploaded on the website.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read the detailed instructions about assignments given in the Programme Guide.

2. The top of the first page of your response sheet should look like this:
Enrolment No……………………. Name & Address ……………………………..
E-mail ……………………. Mobile Number …………………….
Course Code ……………………… Regional Centre (code) …………………….
Course Title ……………………… Study Centre (code) …………………….

3. Use A-4 size paper for your responses. Write the question number with each answer. Write on
both sides with margin and tie all the pages carefully, course wise.

4. You should write in your own handwriting. Each question to be answered in around 600 words.

5. Last date for submitting the assignments for July 2023 Session is 31st March 2024 and for January
2024 Session is 30th September 2024. However, you are advised to submit as soon as possible.
6. Submit the assignment responses to the Coordinator of the Study Centre and get acknowledgement.

GUIDELINES

1. Planning: Read the assignments carefully. Go through the self learning material on which they
are based. Make some points regarding each question and then rearrange them in a logical order.

2. Organization: Be a little more selective and analytical. Give attention to your introduction and
conclusion. The introduction must offer your brief interpretation of the question and how you
propose to develop it. The conclusion must summarize your response to the question

3. Make sure that your answer:

a) is logical and coherent;
b) has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs;
c) is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and presentation.

4. Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answers, you can write down the final version
for submission. Write each answer neatly and underline the points you wish to emphasize.

Please contact the programme coordinators for any academic help / clarification

Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, e-mail: [email protected]

Prof. B.K. Pattanaik, e-mail: [email protected]
Dr. P.V.K. Sasidhar, e-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Grace Don Nemching, e-mail: [email protected]
 ASSIGNMENT – 1
Introduction to Urban Development

Course Code: MEDS-41

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.
1. Discuss the features of urbanization in the post-colonial era. Discuss how globalization has
affected cities.
2. Explain the urban planning theories.
3. Discuss various principles of land use planning.
4. Why e-governance is needed for urban governance? Discuss a few urban e-governance
practices in India.
5. What are various types of municipal assets? Describe various strategies of municipal asset
management.

ASSIGNMENT – 2
Issues and Challenges in Urban Planning and Development

Course Code: MEDS-42

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. What is Urban Transport System Management? Discuss different categories of Transport

System Management in urban areas.
2. What are various features of urban health challenges? Explain problems associated with
urban health challenges?
3. Define Poverty. Discuss the causes and consequences of urban poverty.
4. Explain why water bodies are important to urban areas. What are the factors responsible for
the degradation of water bodies in urban areas?
5. Classify urban housing. Describe the process of housing development in urban areas.

ASSIGNMENT – 3
Dynamics of Urban Planning and Development

Course Code: MEDS-43

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. Briefly describe key features of various phases of urban policies in India.

2. Explain key functions of Environmental Management System. Describe basic elements of
Environmental Management System and ISO 14001.
3. What is decentralized planning? Discuss goals and principles of decentralized planning.
4. Explain various dimensions fiscal decentralization. Discuss key sources of municipal finance.
5. What is Community Based Disaster management? Briefly explain principles, strategies and
challenges of Community Based Disaster Management.
 ASSIGNMENT – 4
Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects and Programmes

Course Code: MEDS-44

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. What are basic elements of project management? Explain various technique of project
management.
2. Explain meaning and features of evaluation. Describe two important approaches to
evaluation.
3. Distinguish between monitoring and evaluation. Explain various tools and techniques of
monitoring.
4. Define sampling? Discuss two methods of probability sampling with suitable examples.
5. What are various types of data? Explain process of tabulation and interpretation of data.

ASSIGNMENT – 5
Development: Issues and Perspectives

Course Code: MEDSE-46

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. Define paradigms of development. Explain four different paradigms of development.

2. What is unemployment? Explain various causes and dimensions of unemployment.
3. What is social development? Discuss social process and social dynamics of development.
4. Explain role and importance of agriculture in development? Discuss sustainable agriculture
and its measures.
5. Discuss gender empowerment? Explain meaning and calculation of Gender Development
Index. Describe a few gender adversaries.
 Master of Arts in Urban Studies
2nd Year Questions

July 2023 and January 2024

Sessions

School of Extension and Development Studies

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110068
 ASSIGNMENT – 1
Ecology, Environment and Urban Development

Course Code: MEDS-47

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.
1. What do you mean by Natural Resource Management (NRM)? Discuss the role of formal
institutions in the management of NRM.
2. What are the different challenges of urban ecology?
3. Explain how biodiversity is affected by human activities?
4. What do you mean by sustainable industrialization? Describe the steps required to
promote sustainable industrialization.
5. Explain some of the measures suggested in Swatch Bharat Abhiyan in India for the
improvement of sanitation.

ASSIGNMENT – 2
Sustainable Development and Smart Cities

Course Code: MEDS-48

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. What is sustainable urbanization? What are essential features of sustainable urbanization?

Suggests measures for sustainable urbanization in India.
2. Discuss various challenges faced by the energy sector. Explain the role of energy in
sustainable development.
3. Why there is need for Civil Society Organizations? Describe role of Civil Society
Organizations in sustainable development.
4. What is smart technology? Discuss various issues and challenges of smart technology and
e-Governance.
5. Discuss three related programmes of smart city development in India.

ASSIGNMENT – 3
Dynamics of Development in Urban Construct

Course Code: MEDS-49

Maximum Marks: 100
Answer all the questions. All questions carry 20 marks each.

1. What is Development Economics? Explain the alternative approaches to development?

2. Who is a change agent? What are the barriers to change?
3. What is the Modernization process? Explain the phenomena of Modernity?
4. What is violence? Explain the causes of violence and how it can be treated and prevented?
5. What is ICT? Explain the role of ICT in service economy and employment?
 Assignment – 5
Decentralization and Local Governance
Course Code: MPA-016
Maximum Marks: 100

This Assignment consists of Section- I and Section- II. There are five questions in each Section.
You have to answer a total of five questions in about 500 words each. It is necessary to attempt at
least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks.

SECTION-I

1) Discuss the constitutional dimensions of decentralisation in India. 20

2) “Empowerment is a major component of democratic decentralisation in India.” Comment. 20

3) Explain the factors that influence people‟s preferences for distribution in the
context of society wide distribution of resources. 20

4) Describe the impact of decentralised development . 20

5) Examine the weaknesses of new Panchayati Raj system. 20

SECTION-II

6) Explain the major features of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. 20

7) Discuss the intra-tier responsibilities in the context of the Eleventh Schedule. 20
8) What are the major requirements in development planning? 20
9) Highlight the issues in micro level planning. 20

10) Write a note on resources of the local bodies. 20

 Assignment – 6
Urbanisation in India
Course Code: MHI-10
Maximum Marks: 100

Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections 'A' and 'B'. You
have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each. All
questions carry equal marks.

SECTION-A

1. How are the spatial aspects of urbanism reflected in the archaeological record?
Comment taking the case of the Harappan civilisation. 20

2. Critically examine chief characteristics of early historic urban centres. 20

3. Discuss the notions of space after the emergence of urban centres in the sixth century
BCE. 20

4. ‘Early medieval centres unlike the early historic centres were primarily nodal points in
local exchange’ Comment 20

5. Write short notes on any two of the following. Answer in about 250 words each.
10+10
i. Lefebvre’s notion of space
ii. Portuguese Cities a Polisgarch
iii. Burial Practices of the Harappans
iv. Bhir Mound

SECTION-B

6. Discuss the process of urbanization under the Delhi Sultans. 20

7. ‘Tanjavur emerged as the chief ‘ceremonial’ centre by the political will of the Cholas’.
Comment 20

8. Analyse sacred zones and khandas of Banaras. How did it influence the cityscape? 20

9. Describe the emergence of canal colonies. What was its impact? How did it alter the urban spaces?
20

10. Write short notes on any two of the following. Answer in about 250 words each.
10+10
i) Capital cities of Mandu
ii) Masulipatnam
iii) Cities in the Kutchh-Gujarat Region
iv) Improvement Trusts
 Cover Page for Assignment
SCHOOL OF EXTENSION AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
MAIDAN GARHI, NEW DELHI-110068

Name of learner :
Enrolment No. :
Name of the Programme :
Programme Code :
Regional Centre and Code :
Course Title :
Course Code :
Email :
Mobile no./Phone no. :
Course Coordinator :
Date of Submission :
Address of Student :

Signature of Student :