Original

Abstract

The quality of life is more important than life itself," poignantly emphasizes that mere exist-ence is not the ultimate goal; instead, the paramount aim is to attain a life characterized byhealth, happiness, and a high standard of living. Nevertheless, it is a stark reality that a substan-tial portion of the global population does not have the privilege of experiencing such a qualityof life. In pursuit of better opportunities and improved living conditions, people are drawn tourban centers, envisioning them as hubs of promise and growth. However, the rapid urbanizationresulting from this migration often leads to haphazard settlement patterns, unchecked popula-tion growth, and the inadvertent exacerbation of human-induced environmental issues. Theseurbanization-related challenges cast a shadow on various facets of urban living, including infra-structure, healthcare accessibility, energy consumption, waste management, and the resilienceof cities. Addressing these multifaceted challenges is pivotal in the quest to bridge the gapbetween mere existence and a life characterized by quality and well-being. The paper intends tocomprehend how the notion of livability has evolved since its inception. It also addresses thecomplex interplay between the quality of life, urbanization, sustainability, and smart city con-cepts. It seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of these issues and offer insights intohow to measure livability effectively in the context of Indian cities, given their unique chal-lenges and opportunities.