CENTRE FOR URBAN STUDIES

CENTRE FOR URBAN STUDIES

The Centre was created as India’s first urban sector think tank by Govt. of India at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in 1966.


Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) initially created as Centre for Training and Research in Municipal Administration (CTRMA), later renamed as CUS in 1974-75, was established in IIPA in 1966 with the support from Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Planning the then nodal ministry on urban local bodies/governments) as a result of recommendations from Nuruddin Committee Report (1963). It was duly endorsed by RURC (Rural Urban Relationship Committee) in 1966.


Initially Centre was guided by a senior level advisory committee having the then minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shri I.K. Gujral and Mr. Nuruddin Ahmad (the than Mayor of Delhi) as members and representatives from Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Petroleum, Planning Commission etc. Subsequently, the advisory committee was replaced by a Steering Committee having representation from Ministry of Works & Housing/Urban Development and now Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, regional urban centres and select state governments. As a part of IIPA CUS since beginning has access to its national and inter country outreach and coverage of stakeholders. Director IIPA is director CUSand chairperson of steering committee and Coordinator CUS is the member secretary of Steering committee..


Our Partner: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India

Objectives

The Centre was created with specific objectives to operate as an apex institution at national level which are still equally relevant. These included:

  • To organize suitable training course for municipal and state officials concerned with Municipal Administration in order to improve the technical and professional character of municipal services.
  • To hold seminars for the elected leaders of urban local authorities for the purpose of facilitating awareness of problems facing the local bodies and encouraging communication between the technical experts and the popular leaders.
  • To arrange special conferences and study groups on contemporary problems of municipal administration.
  • To help other States and regional training and research centres on municipal administration that might be established.
  • To promote research on various governmental problems of urban and metropolitan growth in India.
  • To develop an efficient and up-to-date information centres and documentation services in municipal administration in India and abroad.
  • To provide suitable consultancy service to the various public bodies on municipal administration and to represent India in international conferences.

Major Activities

During last 50+ years CUS of IIPA has operated as a knowledge centre and think tank in the sector at apex level to serve the urban agenda of government of India and carried out research, training and advisory services. Historically the activities have evolved as follow:

Initial Activities:

  • The centre organized one of the initial training modules for municipal sector functionaries in 1967 for municipal officers and elected leaders from major cities in India. Further the participants also covered functionaries from global south namely Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Ceylon, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya & Ghana.
  • Subsequently, the centre carried out research and training on Govt. of India’s policies and programmes initiated during successive five plans. These included IUDP (Integrated Urban Development Programme), Urban Basic Service for Poor (UBSP), Integrated Development of Small & Medium Town (IDSMT), Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), Swarna Jayanti ShahariRozgar Yojana (SJSRY) and the like.
  • The research, training and advisory services of the centre have covered urban laws, Regulations, Financial Management, Public relations, Citizens Centricity, Planning and Environment, Delivery of Basic Services, Town Planning, Urban Housing and Slums related issues. CUS also brings out a quarterly journal of high repute namely NAGARLOK.
  • CUS is also involved in the capacity building of urban sector functionaries under the pioneering urban missions initiated by the present Government namely SBM (Swacch Bharat Mission), SCM (Smart Cities Mission), AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and DAY-NULM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission).
  • CUS is also involved in the capacity building of urban sector functionaries under the pioneering urban missions initiated by the present Government namely SBM (Swacch Bharat Mission), SCM (Smart Cities Mission), AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and DAY-NULM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission).

Recent Activities:

  • In line with its national level mandate CUS/IIPA has closely interacted with Govt. of India’s urban sector outfits namely CPWD (Central Public Works Department), HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation), NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation), DDA (Delhi Development Authority) etc. CUS organizes specific programmes for these agencies covering.
    • Induction courses for newly appointed senior functionaries
    • Career Enhancement Course,
    • Mid-career Skill Enhancement Course and
    • National and International Workshop/Seminars
  • CUS/IIPA has also organized theme base workshops tailor made courses and seminars on contemporary urban issues for state government functionaries, municipal elected and unelected functionaries and officers from parastatal and para-municipal organisations.
  • CUS also extends exposure on urban agenda of government of India to a cross-section of government functionaries from All India Services, Central Services and Defence Services under various programmes ranging from 3 day to one year. These include IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, ITS, IAAS, and state services from various states.
  • Recent and on-going studies of CUS include
    • Making a Millennium City,
    • Governance for Sustainable Cities,
    • Energy Efficiency in Eco-cities,
    • Training Module for Urban Governance,
    • Local Councils – Forth Tier of Governance,
    • Third Party Assessment of Municipal Reforms in Maharashtra and Rajasthan,
    • Manpower for Good Governance of Smart Cities, and
    • Social Impact Assessment of Land Acquisition for Urban Development and
    • Third Party Audit of Eight of Hospitals of GNCTD as per instruction of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

Contact

Prof. K. K. Pandey

Faculty Coordinator

Coordinator , Centre for Urban Studies

Indian Institute of Public Administration , IIPA

Phone: 011-23468335

Email: kkpandey9236@gmail.com;