Economy
Urban Conference Puts City Finance, Planning And Services At Center
India’s National Urban Conference 2026 concluded with recommendations to strengthen city governance, planning, infrastructure and service delivery.
What happened
The two-day conference in Bhubaneswar focused on turning urban policy into implementable reforms. Recommendations included giving urban local bodies more powers and financial autonomy, improving coordination, linking funding to reforms, and prioritising affordable, transit-linked housing. The government also said more than half of the country’s legacy waste has been processed and launched platforms for treated-water markets and municipal finance data.
Why it matters
The proposals point toward stronger municipal finances, more accountable service delivery and better coordination across agencies, but they are recommendations rather than confirmed policy changes.
Source: Press Information Bureau (India)