Urban Life

India's cities need bureaucrat-CEOs who do more than maintain order

In tandem, the Union Budget allocated ₹1 trillion to the Urban Challenge Fund, aimed at catalysing fund flows to urban local bodies (ULBs) over the next five years

Cities need new model to become resource-efficient, inclusive, and liveable

As cities grow, the most important component of planning, its "spine", should be transportation, to connect the periphery and enable movement within the city

Kerala 1st state to frame urban policy, expects 80% urbanisation by 2050

Kerala on Friday became the first state in the country to frame a comprehensive Urban Policy, laying out a long-term development roadmap as it moves rapidly towards an urban future. The policy envisions Kerala in 2050 as "a continuous network of climate-smart cities and towns, ensuring scientific planning and good governance." The state cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, approved the draft Urban Policy prepared by the Local Self Government Department, marking the culmination of nearly two years of sustained work, a CMO release said here. The initiative was first announced in the 202324 state budget. In December 2023, the government constituted the Kerala Urban Policy Commission, bringing together national and international experts. The commission submitted the Nava Kerala Urban Policy report to the Chief Minister in March 2025. To hold wider discussions on the report, the government organised a global conference in Kochi in September. Ministers, mayors,

India's top metros double urban footprint in 30 yrs; Pune, Bengaluru lead

A new report shows India's biggest cities have grown fast in 30 years, with Pune and Bengaluru leading the way as they add new homes, offices, roads and become key growth centres

Househelp in 10 minutes? Q-com model to the rescue for domestic chores

The instant househelp service offers a way to formalisation in the sector, the second highest employer after agriculture, by providing skills, insurance, and guaranteed pay

Urban jobless rate reaches four quarter high in Q4FY24: PLFS data

Previously, the jobless rate in urban areas has been steadily declining since the high of 12.6 per cent reported during the April-June quarter of FY22 during the peak of the pandemic

Urban Company launches policy to support service partners facing abuse

The company said it would also release a series of videos to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse, and how its service professionals can report it

Weak rural demand drags down FMCG sales in September, shows data

Bizom pointed out that rural sales were impacted in September due to excessive rainfall in some areas and weak rainfall in some other regions, thereby affecting agri yields and household incomes

What makes an area urban?

The variations in determining what can be classified as cities are as dynamic as cities themselves

Making urban MNREGA workable: A question of getting the structure right

The urban population is more educated and generally has a different set of job preferences than the rural

Joblessness a bigger worry of urban Indians than Covid-19: Survey

Despite unemployment being their biggest worry, 68 per cent urban Indians are optimistic that the country is moving in the right direction

How a 20-yr-old in Bhopal is bringing nature closer to urban living spaces

Paradise Gardens has completed 100 such projects so far in the past one year

These designers and citizens offer solutions to your urban living problems

A group of designers and active citizens in Goa attempts to work out solutions to problems of urban living

The urban-rural culture clash

Urban lives are the opposite of rural ones, especially when it comes to evenings out

Contemporary urban life: Let cities speak

Noise is everywhere. We live with it, inside and outside our homes