The Provisional Population Totals of the 1931 Census reveal a marked acceleration in the pace of urbanisation in India during the decade 197181. This paper seeks to place this development in its pro* per perspective, both in relation to past trends in India as well as in relation to the urbanisation experience of other developing countries. Further understanding of the emerging pattern of urbanisation is sought by the disaggregation of trends upto the state and sub-regional level.