Rajiv Gauba
Member, NITI Aayog
Keynote Address
Today, over 500 million Indians live in urban areas — and by 2047, that number is expected to reach 800 million. India’s cities cover less than 10% of the country’s land and yet generate nearly 60% of its GDP. In many ways, the story of India’s future will be written in its cities and towns. How they grow, how they function, and how they serve their residents will shape not only the country’s economy, but the everyday lives of millions.
While cities continue to drive economic expansion, the people who live there experience mounting pressures, and most urban areas are grappling with interrelated challenges, like:
These pressures are not simply sector-specific concerns. They reflect structural gaps in how city-systems are organised, financed, and held accountable.
The Urban Conclave 2026, is bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, business leaders, and civil society to dive into a foundational question:
What institutional and governance reforms will be necessary if
India is to build strong, liveable cities?
Foster dialogue across political, administrative, academic, and civic perspectives.
Share an evidence-based understanding of the current state of India’s cities.
Identify practical and collaborative pathways to strengthen city-systems over the long term
Member, NITI Aayog
Keynote Address
Member, Sixteenth Finance Commission of India and former Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Vice Chairman, TeamLease Services, and Advisory Board Member, CAG of India, and Former Director, Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India.
Former Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala and Former Secretary of Rural Development, Government of India.
Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation
Former Mayor, Jaipur Municipal Corporation
Former Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Government of India and Senior Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress
Former Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India
Advisor, Malinyamuktam Nava Keralam, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala
Janaagraha is a not-for-profit institution working to transform quality of life in India’s cities and towns through large-scale systems change. It defines quality of life as comprising quality of infrastructure and services, and quality of citizenship. To achieve its mission, Janaagraha works with councillors and citizens to catalyse active citizenship in city neighbourhoods, and with governments to institute reforms to city-systems.
Over the last twenty five years, Janaagraha has contributed to major national urban reforms, including:
The Urban Conclave builds on this deep institutional experience and is part of our sustained effort to advance city-systems reform in India.
The Urban Conclave is organized by Janaagraha in collaboration with the Jana Urban Space Foundation. The event is designed as a focused, closed-door dialogue to enable candid exchange across sectors.
For queries, please contact:
urbanconclave@janaagraha.org
50+ national and global leaders have shaped this conversation over the years. Previous editions of the Urban Conclave have featured distinguished leaders including:
Former Vice President of India
Former Member of Parliament and Former MoS – Finance, Government of India
Member of Parliament
G20 Sherpa of India and Former CEO, NITI Aayog
Former Deputy Chairman, erstwhile Planning Commission of India
Former Lieutenant Governor, Delhi
Former Deputy Chief Minister, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
Founder, Infosys
Chairperson, Godrej Group
Founder and CEO, The Convergence Foundation
Former CEO and Chief Planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
