Category Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies

IFSCA and GIFT City: Shaping India’s Place in Global Finance

This vision materialized through the creation of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and the establishment of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). Together, they represent India's commitment to offering a financial hub that is competitive, forward-looking, and aligned with global standards. But beyond competition, there is a deeper ambition: to redefine what a financial centre can be—rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and excellence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words capture this intent clearly when he described GIFT City as a zone designed to serve not just India, but the world.

History of Rural Electrification: Challenges, Policies, and the Shift Toward Decentralized Solutions

Gowtham As the global energy transition gains momentum, nations across the world are grapplingwith the twin challenge of ensuring energy security while adopting clean energy solutionsthat minimize environmental harm. For developing countries like India, the transition iseven more complex. Beyond…

Reimagining Conservation: Can Regulated Hunting Support India’s Wildlife Future?

Kedar Bhasme Abstract This article explores whether carefully regulated hunting could complement wildlife conservation in India. It draws on international examples—Namibia’s communityconservancies, South Africa’s private reserves, and the U.S. Pittman–Robertson fundingmodel—to show how limited, science-based hunts can raise conservation funds…

Mission Antyodaya (2017): A Data-Driven Blueprint for Rural Transformation in India

Mission Antyodaya is a government initiative started in the 2017-18 budget. Its mission is to transform rural India through an accountability and convergence framework. It aims to improve how money and resources from 26 government departments are used to help develop villages. The idea is to get better results by working together and ensuring efforts are well-managed.

SWAMIH Fund II (2019): Reviving Stalled Housing Projects in India

The SWAMIH (Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing) Investment Fund was initiated by the Government of India in November 2019 to resolve the problem of stalled housing projects that were financially viable but were starved of last-mile funding. The fund is supervised by SBICAP Ventures Ltd, the subsidiary of the State Bank of India, and supported by the Ministry of Finance.

Conservation of Water Bodies: Wetlands

Wetlands are a unique and productive ecosystem where terrestrial and aquatic habitats meet. They are described as the transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

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