Demographic Advantage

Puducherry has a population of about 1.2 Mn, with 68% of the total population of the UT being urbanised and a literacy rate as high as 85.8% against the national average of 72.99%. Puducherry also has the 2nd highest male-female ratio in the country, with 1037 females per thousand males. According to the PLFS 2022–23, for Puducherry, the worker-population ratio for 15–59 years is 54.7%, and the labour force participation rate has been recorded at 58.2%. 
 

Healthcare Facilities

The remarkable reduction in infant mortality rate and death rate, which stands at 9 per 1000 live births and 6.8 per 1000 population, highlights Puducherry's efforts in providing accessible and free medical care within an average distance of 1.18 km to its population through 82 sub-centres, 39 PHCs, 4 CHCs, and 9 hospitals.

Furthermore, anti-larval activities and surveillance activities are carried out for all citizens in the UT of Puducherry to control the incidence of filarial and malarial diseases. The hospitals are equipped with the latest medical equipment, like CT scans, MRI scans, and cardiac monitors, and a separate geriatric ward for senior citizens is available in addition. 

Educational Facilities

Puducherry, with the country's third-highest literacy rate, offers a variety of courses in various institutions, attracting a large influx of students from across the country. With 741 schools that impart education to nearly 1.2 lakh students, the Government of Puducherry has also underlined the importance of the role of education in their Vision 2047 for the UT with an aim to build a quality workforce through skill building and imparting technical know-how.

The Education Department of Puducherry plans to implement a pilot programme using virtual teacher chatbots and humanoid robots to teach standardised curricula, foreign languages, and introduce courses related to cyber security, IPR, and circular economy. The UT has 24 AICTE-approved institutions, including Pondicherry Central University, which offers Engineering, Architecture, Pharmacy, and other degrees. It also has nine medical colleges, including the globally recognized JIPMER.

Technology & Advancement

With a vision to transform Puducherry through smart civic infrastructure and smart service delivery, the Puducherry Government and Agence Française de Développement are developing sustainable urban development through the Smart City Project.

The environmental regulations in line with technological innovations are highlighted through the project that deploys a mobile emission monitoring van equipped with advanced sensors and monitoring equipment to analyse vehicle emissions on the road, and data enhances the policy formulation process for better air quality management and transportation planning. 

Infrastructure

Puducherry is connected to Chennai and other major cities via National Highway NH-45A. It is located 170 km south of Chennai on East Coast Road. The UT has a road length of 2531 km, with access to all-weather metalled roads.

The UT has railheads in all four of its regions, as well as a minor port on the East Coast of India between the two major ports of Chennai and Tuticorin. The domestic airport in Puducherry connects it to major cities of importance for trade and industry, such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and so on.

Sustainability Initiatives

Puducherry, as a pioneer among the UTs in policy innovation in green budgeting, has been making strides for the region's sustainable and greener growth. The sustainable development initiative for eco-friendly beaches in Puducherry aims to promote responsible tourism practices while catering to environmental sustainability and eco-friendly habitats.

Furthermore, the Energy Education Park encourages the application and knowledge of geothermal, solar, and wind energy as an alternative source of energy consumption. Currently, the installed capacity of renewable energy in the UT is 51.42 MW, which presents a chance to tap into untapped resources.