Q. With reference to 'Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD)', consider the following statements:
- The first APMCHUD was held in India in 2006 on the theme 'Emerging Urban Forms - Policy Responses and Governance Structure'.
- India hosts all the Annual Ministerial Conferences in partnership with ADB, APEC and ASEAN.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2017)
Answer:
Neither 1 nor 2
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] Neither 1 nor 2. The Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) is an intergovernmental mechanism for collaboration on urban challenges.
- First APMCHUD Theme (Statement 1 – Incorrect): While the first APMCHUD was indeed held in New Delhi, India, in 2006, the theme was "A Vision for Sustainable Urbanization in the Asia-Pacific by 2020". The theme mentioned in the statement ("Emerging Urban Forms...") was actually the theme for the sixth conference held in New Delhi in 2016.
- Hosting and Frequency (Statement 2 – Incorrect): India does not host all the conferences. The hosting rotates among member countries in the Asia-Pacific region. For example, the second was in Iran (2008), the third in Indonesia (2010), the fourth in Jordan (2012), and the fifth in South Korea (2014). Furthermore, these conferences are generally held biennially (every two years), not annually.
- Partnerships: APMCHUD is supported by UN-Habitat and is not primarily a partnership with ADB, APEC, or ASEAN, although these organizations may participate as observers or stakeholders.
Key Facts about APMCHUD:- Establishment: It was established in 2006 at the first conference in New Delhi.
- Objective: To promote sustainable housing and urban development in the Asia-Pacific region, which faces the highest rate of urbanization globally.
- Structure: It has five working groups focusing on areas like urban planning, slum upgrading, and disaster management.
- Significance: It serves as a regional platform to implement the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 11).