National Institute of Urban Affairs marks 50 years

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), a premier think tank under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, marked 50 years of its work in supporting integrated and sustainable urban development at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, today.

The golden jubilee celebrations were organised under the theme ‘Resilient Urban India @2047’ and brought together over 1,000 participants, both online and offline. The event was attended by national and international delegates, senior officials of the Government of India and state governments, policymakers, urban practitioners, researchers, development partners and representatives from institutions working on India’s urban transformation.

Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, attended the event as Chief Guest and commended NIUA on completing 50 years of service to India’s urban sector. He said, “As cities face growing climate-related stresses, future urban development must focus on proactive planning, nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and sustainable systems.”

Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, noting NIUA’s contributions to the urban sector over the past half-century, said, “India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047 requires cities to be planned not only for growth, but also for resilience, sustainability and long-term adaptability.”

Satinder Pal Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Vice President, NIUA, said, “The urban challenges of the next 50 years will be different in kind and scale, and will require stronger institutions, sharper knowledge and the capacity to adapt.”

Dr Debolina Kundu, Director, NIUA, said, “For the past 50 years, NIUA has served as a bridge between research, policy and practice, and between national priorities and local realities.” (UPDATED ON 13TH JUNE 2026)