Slums are a characteristic feature of rapid urbanization in developing countries, emerging from the interaction of poverty, migration, inadequate housing, and weak urban planning. In urban sociology, slums are viewed not merely as physical settlements but as socio-economic spaces shaped by inequality, exclusion, and the informal economy. Managing and improving slums requires approaches that balance physical infrastructure development with social justice, economic inclusion, and community participation. India has experimented with multiple strategies, each producing varied outcomes. The earliest approach was slum clearance and eviction, which regarded slums as illegal encroachments and obstacles to urban modernization. Governments demolished slums and relocated residents to peripheral areas. While this improved city aesthetics and released valuable urban land, it often displaced vulnerable populations from workplaces, schools, and social networks. Resettlement colonies frequently lacked adequate services and employment opportunities, leading many families to return to informal settlements. From a sociological perspective, this approach ignored the structural causes of urban poverty and therefore proved largely ineffective. The slum improvement or in-situ upgrading approach gained prominence from the 1970s onward. Instead of demolishing settlements, governments sought to improve access to drinking water, sanitation, drainage, roads, electricity, and waste management while allowing residents to remain in their existing locations. Programmes such as the Environmental Improvement of Urban Slums (EIUS) and Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) reflected this strategy. In-situ upgrading preserved social networks, minimized displacement, and improved public health. However, implementation was uneven due to inadequate funding, bureaucratic delays, and unclear land ownership. A related strategy is the provision of