Human Settlements in India

Rural Settlements

Settlements heavily dependent on primary activities like agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishing, closely tied to the surrounding environment.

Urban Settlements

Dense settlements where the majority of the population is engaged in secondary and tertiary economic activities like manufacturing, trade, and services.

Clustered Settlements

A compact or nucleated type of rural settlement where houses are built very close to each other, often found in fertile alluvial plains.

Dispersed Settlements

Settlements where houses are isolated or widely spaced, commonly found in remote hilly tracts, deserts, or areas with extreme climates.

Functional Classification of Towns

Categorizing urban centers based on their dominant economic activities, such as administrative towns, industrial towns, transport hubs, and religious centers.