The Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) at the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) is a leading hub for research, policy analysis, and capacity building on urban development and governance in India. It builds upon ISS’s rich legacy in urban studies and urban field programmes, which began in the late 1990s and early 2000s under the guidance of K. C. Shivaramakrishnan, IAS (retd), Senior Fellow at ISS and former Secretary to the Government of India.
The Centre was formally established by Prof. O.P. Mathur, a distinguished urban economist, who joined ISS as Senior Fellow and served as the founding Chairperson of the Centre for many years. Though retired, Prof. Mathur continues to mentor the Centre and guide its ongoing research and outreach efforts.
Research Focus and Contributions
The Centre engages in interdisciplinary research on India’s urban transition, exploring the dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of rapid urbanization. It collaborates with national and international institutions, government agencies, and development organizations to study and influence urban policies and practices.
Major Studies and Projects
Some of the Centre’s key contributions include:
- State of the Cities India Report (2021) under the HUDCO Chair in Urban Economics
- Childcare Institutions and Aftercare Interventions in Madhya Pradesh (2020–21) with the Atal Bihari Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis
- Strategies for Developing Small Towns in Madhya Pradesh (2019–20)
- Mapping India’s Urban Missions vis-à -vis SDGs (2020–21) and Cities and SDG 11 (2019), both supported by GIZ
- Reforming Vertical Programmes in India for the World Bank (2018)
- Cities and the New Economic Vibrancy in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, supported by DFID UK (2016)
- Bihar Urbanization Report 2031 (2015), commissioned by the Government of Bihar
- Support in preparation of the Kolkata Development Report and District Development Plans across several states
Policy Engagement and National Influence
The faculty of the Centre have played key roles in shaping national urban policy, serving on:
- Prime Minister’s National Review Committee on JNNURM
- High-Powered Expert Group on Urban Infrastructure Investment Requirements
- Steering Committee for the 12th Five-Year Plan
- Advisory Board of the City Development Initiative for Asia (ADB & GIZ)
- McKinsey Global Institute’s Advisory Panel on India’s Urbanization
Notably, under Prof. Mathur’s leadership, the Centre contributed to the Government of India’s India Habitat III National Urban Report, presented at the UN-Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016.
Legacy and Impact
With its grounded research, strategic policy inputs, and close partnerships with government bodies and international agencies, the Centre for Urban Studies continues to be a vital contributor to India’s urban discourse, striving for inclusive, sustainable, and well-governed cities.
