Most analyses of Indian housing policy focus on central-level programs in urban areas. I broaden this scope to examine both central and state-level policies in rural and urban areas over time. This approach reveals that, alongside policies accommodating informality, governments have consistently pursued initiatives to subsidize the construction and sale of formal-sector housing. I then explore why governments might pursue formal-sector housing. One explanation is its alignment with broader planning and development agendas. Another is that it is electorally strategic to create and allocate housing. A third explanation that is relevant considering the focus on ownership in Indian housing policy suggests that some leaders may have an ideological commitment to homeownership. After establishing the broader context of Indian housing policy, I detail the three policies examined in this book. Two policies are based in urban Mumbai, while the third is a national rural policy. Finally, I assess how these policies improve basic housing quality. I find that each policy achieves its immediate goal, with Chapters 3, 4, and 5 exploring the broader economic, social, and political impacts.