The Impressive TimesNew Delhi: The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), a premier think tank under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, celebrated its Golden Jubilee at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, marking 50 years of contribution to India’s urban development journey. The event highlighted the institute’s role in advancing integrated, sustainable and resilient urban growth across the country.
Organised under the theme “Resilient Urban India @2047,” the celebrations brought together more than 1,000 participants, both in person and online. The gathering included national and international delegates, policymakers, senior government officials, urban planners, researchers, development partners and representatives from institutions engaged in shaping India’s urban future.
Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, attended the event as the Chief Guest and congratulated NIUA on completing five decades of service to the urban sector. Emphasising the growing impact of climate change on cities, he stressed the need for proactive urban planning, nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and sustainable systems to ensure long-term urban resilience.
Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, highlighted NIUA’s significant contributions over the past 50 years and said that India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047 requires cities to be designed not only for economic growth but also for resilience, sustainability and adaptability.
Satinder Pal Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Vice President of NIUA, observed that the urban challenges of the coming decades will be far more complex and will require stronger institutions, deeper knowledge and greater capacity to adapt to changing circumstances.
Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director of NIUA, noted that the institute has consistently acted as a bridge between research, policy and implementation while aligning national priorities with local urban realities.
The celebrations began with a special exhibition showcasing NIUA’s five-decade journey. The exhibition highlighted major milestones, policy interventions, research studies, capacity-building initiatives, partnerships and knowledge products that have influenced urban governance and planning in India since the institute’s establishment in 1976.
A key feature of the event was the launch of several publications and initiatives aimed at strengthening urban resilience and evidence-based policymaking. Among them was “Vision for a Resilient Urban India: Building Sustainable and Future-Ready Cities,” a publication outlining strategies for resilient urban development in areas such as housing, mobility, water management, urban planning and construction.
Another important release, “Understanding the New Geography of India’s Urbanisation: A Geospatial Approach,” introduced a modified DEGURBA framework designed to improve settlement classification and support more effective urban governance.
The institute also released a commemorative publication titled “50 Years of Shaping India’s Urban Transformation,” documenting NIUA’s contributions to urban research, innovation, policy support and institutional capacity building over the last five decades.
The event witnessed the launch of the National Urban Learning Platform, developed as the urban component of the Government of India’s iGOT-Mission Karmayogi initiative. The platform aims to strengthen technical capacity building in urban governance through an integrated hybrid learning system and newly introduced technical courses.
The celebrations also featured the convocation ceremony of the Urban Renaissance Tech Programme, where 127 students were recognised for successfully completing the programme focused on technology-driven urban governance and innovation.
Nine technical sessions were organised during the event, covering critical issues related to urban resilience and sustainable development. Discussions focused on strengthening urban governance, enhancing institutional mechanisms, promoting climate-responsive planning, improving water and heat management, advancing regional planning and encouraging innovative construction technologies.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations underscored NIUA’s enduring contribution to India’s urban transformation and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities as the nation moves towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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