Question

The oldest Town Planning Act in India is -

• A. The Calcutta Improvement Act
• B. The Uttar Pradesh Town Improvement Act
• C. The Madras Town Planning Act
• D. The Bombay Town Planning Act

Hint:

The Calcutta Improvement Act laid the foundation for future urban planning laws in India and focused on controlling urban growth and improving infrastructure.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the question.
The oldest Town Planning Act in India was the Calcutta Improvement Act, passed in 1911. It was introduced to manage the urban growth of Calcutta (now Kolkata), addressing the city's infrastructure issues.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) The Calcutta Improvement Act: Correct — This Act, passed in 1911, is considered the first legislation for urban planning in India.
(B) The Uttar Pradesh Town Improvement Act: This is a later development in urban planning in Uttar Pradesh and not the oldest Act.
(C) The Madras Town Planning Act: While significant, this Act was enacted after the Calcutta Improvement Act.
(D) The Bombay Town Planning Act: This was introduced later than the Calcutta Act and is not the oldest.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A) The Calcutta Improvement Act, which was the first town planning legislation in India.

Answer 2

Town planning legislation in India developed gradually across different provinces, so the question is about which piece of legislation came first. Let's check each act:

1. The Calcutta Improvement Act: Enacted in 1911 to address the growth and infrastructure needs of Calcutta, the earliest of these town planning acts.
2. The Uttar Pradesh Town Improvement Act: Came into being later, addressing urban improvement specifically for towns within Uttar Pradesh, after the Calcutta legislation.
3. The Madras Town Planning Act: Enacted afterward for the Madras Presidency, following the precedent set by the earlier legislation.
4. The Bombay Town Planning Act: Also enacted afterward for the Bombay Presidency, again following the earlier precedent.

Each of the other three acts followed the Calcutta legislation chronologically, leaving it as the earliest of the four.

Therefore, the correct answer is The Calcutta Improvement Act.