Urbanization has been a historical process linked to the level of economic development and social transformation. Demographically, it is measured as a proportion of the population living in urban centres that evolved overtime in varying sizes. Large urban centers are recognized as engines of economic growth since economic activities, communication services, educational and health services, scientific and technological innovations are concentrated in them. Urban centers also provide vital links to the rural areas and are instrumental in rural development. On the other hand, sustainable urbanization and equity in the distribution of social and economic resources remain a great challenge globally, and more so for those countries which have been urbanizing faster. India could be categorized as a country with a low level of urbanization as officially 31 per cent of the population lived in urban areas as per 2011 Census. The estimated level of urbanization for the year 2014 was 32 per cent of the population compared to 54 per cent at the global level. The rate of India's urbanization, that is the annual per cent change in the proportion of the urban population, is higher (1.1%) than the global average (0.9%) (UN DESA, 2014). This shows that India has been urbanizing faster, like most countries in Asia and Africa, and its urban population is likely to grow from 410 million in 2014 to 814 million in 2050 with 50 per cent living in urban areas . However, paradoxically, India will also be a country with the largest rural population of about 805 million by 2050 (ibid.). So, while urbanization will be faster, the rural segment will continue to be substantial for many more decades beyond the middle of the twenty first century when India is likely to achieve population stabilization.