The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India’s leading national think tank on urban planning and development. As a hub for generation and dissemination of cutting-edge research in the urban sector, NIUA seeks to provide innovative solutions to address the challenges of a fast urbanising India, and pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable cities of the future.
Since the 1970s, Indian cities have undergone a transformative journey. Following rapid industrialisation post-Independence, increase in population has taken place alongside large- scale rural to urban migration. With urban hubs swelling in size and density, exciting opportunities for growth have come into view whilst being accompanied by new risks and challenges. As cruxes of economic and political power, the question of how cities are planned, governed, and indeed, for who, becomes all the more crucial.
It is against this backdrop, NIUA was established as an autonomous body in 1976 under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Then the institute was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Since then, it has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, alongside other government and civil sectors, to identify key areas of research, and address the lacunae in urban policy and planning. With a team spanning planners, engineers, researchers, architects and analysts, the Institute provides cross disciplinary expertise and technical assistance for city and state-level projects, as well as developing toolkits and customised training programmes to strengthen the capacity of local and regional, and governing agencies. In its aims of enriching and expanding urban knowledge bases within the country, its work today addresses 6 major thematic concerns:
- Urbanization & Economic Growth
- Urban Governance (Digital) & Municipal Finance
- Urban Infrastructure & Built Environment
- Environment, Climate Change & Resilience
- Social Development (Inclusive and sustainable cities)
The skills, resources and deep-rooted knowledge NIUA has accumulated over the years in the urban sector also make it the first port of call for international donors and funding institutions seeking to develop meaningful partnerships in the country. Whilst helping bolster India’s urban narrative at the global level, NIUA is also committed to aligning its efforts in accord with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that global targets are achieved through locally adapted and integrated urban frameworks.
NIUA takes pride in researching, creating knowledge and building a strong voice on growing subjects of concern in the urban sector. The institution plays a crucial role as a strong associate of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and works closely with the state governments and city administration. Our mission is to understand urban issues holistically and take into account the cross-cutting impact that our work as well as other interventions can have. NIUA is recognised as a premier institute for research, capacity building and dissemination of knowledge for the urban sector in India. With a clear understanding that governance, management and development of urban environments play a critical role in ensuring good quality of life to all people, NIUA has been committed towards aligning its efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, under all its initiatives and programmes.
Dr. Debolina Kundu
Director (Additional Charge), NIUA
Charting a New Course for the Future
Dr. Debolina Kundu
Director (Additional Charge), NIUA
Charting a New Course for the Future
Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director (Additional Charge) NIUA has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of development studies. She has worked as consultant with the ADB,LSE, IIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCAP, KfW, GIZ, Urban Institute, Washington and East-West Centre Honolulu on issues of urbanization, migration, urban development policies, municipal finance, social protection, governance and exclusion.
At NIUA, she is the Country Investigator - India for the GCRF Centre for Sustainable Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods supported by UK Research and Innovation and leading several projects supported by World Bank and KfW. She is a member of various committees formed by central and state governments, including the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission. She has several articles published in books and journals. She recently edited a book on National Urban Policies (Springer) and is currently working on a ‘Handbook on Urbanisation in the Global South’ and books on urban policies and inequality. She is the chief editor of journals - Environment and Urbanisation, Asia (SAGE) and Urban India (NIUA). She was a Co-Chair of the Task Force on LiFE, Resilience, and Values for Wellbeing under G20 Think Tank initiative.