Cities are central to India’s future. They will determine the success of the country’s ambitions for a Viksit Bharat, shape its ability to meet climate change commitments, and provide the jobs necessary for its youthful population. Yet, the way India currently plans and manages its cities is still rooted in colonial-era practices. These outdated approaches are ill-equipped to handle the scale and complexity of today’s urban challenges. What is urgently required is fresh thinking, contextual solutions, and innovative approaches to urban governance.
The ISPP Centre for Urban Transitions (ICUT) is positioned to address this need. It undertakes cutting-edge research to generate new approaches for city planning and management, bridging the gap between outdated frameworks and India’s contemporary urban realities. Beyond research, ICUT also develops uniquely designed capacity-building programs aimed at professionals and institutions across both government agencies and the private sector. These programs focus not just on episodic planning, but on equipping leaders with the daily management capabilities required to keep cities dynamic, resilient, and inclusive.
This work builds on a critical context: India’s ambition to grow into a $30 trillion economy rests on how effectively its cities and surrounding regions can accommodate and drive this growth. Historically, India has leaned on planning systems borrowed from high-income countries, which are increasingly misaligned with its realities. Current training programs too have remained narrow, focusing largely on planning cycles conducted once in decades, while neglecting the continuous demands of managing cities. ICUT seeks to correct this imbalance—strengthening the everyday capabilities of urban local bodies while positioning India’s cities as engines of growth, innovation, and sustainable development.