Policy and Institutional Imperatives for India’s Urban Renaissance

India is undergoing a significant urban transformation, with over half its population projected to reside in urban areas by 2047. This demographic shift presents both vast opportunities and critical challenges for sustainable and inclusive growth. Policy and Institutional Imperatives for India’s Urban Renaissance, published by the Observer Research Foundation, is a curated anthology that explores strategic reforms needed in governance, policy frameworks, and institutional mechanisms to guide India's cities through this transformation.

The volume is divided into two key sections: Policy Frameworks and Institutional Reforms, and Coordinated Governance for Planned Urban Development. Contributors examine a wide range of urban issues including transport planning, affordable housing, gender-based violence, social protection, and the empowerment of local bodies. Through comparative global case studies and contextual policy analysis, the book advocates for adaptive governance, fiscal decentralisation, participatory urban planning, and data-driven decision-making. It emphasizes the role of the central government in empowering urban local bodies while enabling intergovernmental collaboration and citizen engagement.

As India aspires to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, this compendium offers actionable insights for policymakers, urban practitioners, and researchers seeking to enable a resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart urban renaissance.