Urban Housing ShortageIn the Context of the strategy of inclusive development in the twelfth five year plan, addressing the problem of mismatch between suppliers of housing and those needing them and bringing down the housing shortage, if not completely eliminate it, would be the mjor challange. In order to design appropriate strategies to address these and monitor progress at different levels, it would be extremely important to determine the quantum of housing shortage. It is also when the nature and magnitude of the shortage are known in various income and rental categories and across states that an attempt can be made to create the right policy environment and direct agencies linked to housing sector to prepare the roadmaps for their action plan.