Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India)

Why in news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation of six Light House Projects, as part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India) initiative, in Indore, Rajkot, Chennai, Ranchi, Agartala and Lucknow via videoconference.

About GHTC:

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has conceptualized a Global Housing Technology Challenge - India (GHTC- India).
• It aims to identify and mainstream a basket of innovative technologies from across the globe that are sustainable and disaster resilient.
• Such technologies would be cost effective, speedier and ensure a higher quality of construction of houses, meeting diverse geo-climatic conditions and desired functional needs.
• The GHTC-India platform aspires to provide an eco-system for the adoption of innovative technologies in the housing construction sector in a holistic manner.
• GHTC-India will encourage participation from across the affordable urban housing and construction sectors, such as technology providers, researchers, start-ups, developers, academia, public sector agencies, and civil society organizations.

Light house Projects

• Pilot projects called Lighthouse projects are envisaged under the program
• These projects will be built using these innovative technologies and further support will be provided to upcoming domestic technologies to foster an environment of research and development.
• About 1,000 houses at each location (given earlier) are to be constructed in a year, using six distinct technologies from a basket of 54 such technologies shortlisted under the GHTC-India, 2019.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Global Housing Technology Challenge - India (GHTC- India):
1.It is conceptualised by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2.It aims to identify and mainstream innovative housing technologies from across the globe.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question