Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for affordable urban housing, which Union Minister approved the construction of around 20 lakh houses for the urban poor under the scheme?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on a major decision linked to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for urban housing. Competitive exams often ask which minister headed or approved a large housing or infrastructure initiative. Connecting ministers to flagship schemes helps you follow policy developments and governance related current affairs.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The scheme mentioned is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, specifically the urban component for the urban poor.
- The decision relates to the approval of about 20 lakh new houses.
- The options list well known central leaders holding different portfolios during the period when PMAY decisions were in news.
- We assume the question refers to the minister in charge of urban development and housing when this specific approval took place.

Concept / Approach:
PMAY Urban falls under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (earlier Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation). During the early years of PMAY, M Venkaiah Naidu served as the Union Minister responsible for this portfolio. Large approvals for lakhs of houses were announced by him in official press releases and press conferences. Therefore identifying which option matches that minister gives the answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that PMAY has two broad components, rural and urban, handled by different ministries. Step 2: Link the urban component to the ministry that was headed by M Venkaiah Naidu at the time. Step 3: Remember that news reports highlighted that Venkaiah Naidu approved construction of about 20 lakh houses for urban poor under PMAY Urban. Step 4: Check the options and locate his name, which appears as Shri Venkaiah Naidu. Step 5: Conclude that option d is correct.

Verification / Alternative Check:
A second way to confirm is through elimination. Smriti Irani handled portfolios such as Human Resource Development, Textiles, and later Women and Child Development. Arun Jaitley was the Finance Minister. Sushma Swaraj was Minister of External Affairs. None of them were in charge of PMAY Urban. The housing and urban development portfolio, and therefore the authority to approve such a large number of houses, rested with Shri Venkaiah Naidu at that time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Smriti Irani dealt with education, textiles, and later women and child development, not primary responsibility for urban housing approvals.
Arun Jaitley focused on finance and related economic policy, not specific sanction of housing units under PMAY Urban.
Sushma Swaraj looked after external affairs and foreign policy, which is unrelated to sanctioning domestic housing projects.
Nitin Gadkari mainly handled road transport, highways, and related infrastructure, not PMAY Urban housing approvals.

Common Pitfalls:
One frequent mistake is to pick a very prominent minister based only on familiarity instead of matching the portfolio. Another error is to mix PMAY Rural, implemented by a different ministry, with PMAY Urban. To avoid confusion, always link schemes to their nodal ministries and then remember which leader held that ministry when key announcements were made.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Shri Venkaiah Naidu, who as the minister in charge of urban development and housing approved about 20 lakh houses for the urban poor under PMAY Urban.