Urban Studies and Research Centre

About Centre

Urban Studies and Research Centre was inaugurated on 29th February 2024, by the Union Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)) Shri Hardeep Sigh Puri ji within the premises of Miranda House. The goal of this centre is to address one of the biggest challenges faced by humankind - creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements.

To achieve this goal, the centre aims to bring a transdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach that draws on the expertise of various fields such as geography and urban planning, administration and governance, culture and society, design creative and holistic thinking, health, and environmental science holistically. The focus will be on interrelated research and innovation programs that aim to deliver impactful outcomes in collaboration with government, industry, academicians and community partners. The centre recognizes that creating inclusive and accessible urban settlements will require behavioural changes, capacity building, investments in accessible infrastructure, and inclusive and accessible innovations. To this end, the centre will serve as a dynamic hub for research, collaboration, capacity development, and innovation, fostering sustainable urban development.

Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims to make "cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable” by addressing the challenges cities face as they grow in size and population. While SDG 11 largely focuses on government action, community buy-in is essential for the success of the initiatives, from individual citizens to community leaders. The establishment of this centre is one step forward in the same direction.

Vision and Mission

The centre aims to comprehend the complexities of city life, drive positive change, and shape resilient cities for future generations. Our goal is to empower young talent in the urban sector, creating future leaders to drive sustainable urban development. We engage with students from a young age and prepare them to become change-makers in the urban sector. Through rigorous inquiry and evidence-based practices, we tackle pressing urban challenges such as inequality, climate change, rapid urbanization, and social fragmentation.

To address skill gaps, the centre provides hands-on training, toolkits, knowledge exchange, mentorship, and guidance. The students receive training on research methodologies, and we encourage research proposals from them. Shortlisted proposals receive support and guidance from experts and faculty in the identified areas. Our vision is to eliminate poverty and sustain the natural environment for all people. We foster strategic alliances and partnerships to create sustainable solutions. By cultivating a diverse community, we strive to create a fertile ground for knowledge exchange and co-creation of solutions.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The Urban Studies and Research Centre is seeking partnerships and collaborations with public and private organizations involved in research and policy-making. The Centre's goal is to work with local and global partners to exchange ideas and knowledge, amplify the urban dialogue, connect solutions to needs, and spur innovation. Additionally, the Centre aims to make collaborative sharing more meaningful, and facilitate horizontal and vertical convergence and exchange of ideas. Currently, the Centre is fortunate to collaborate with renowned organizations.

• National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) -
• National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
• UN Women India
• World Resource Institute India (WRI)
• Smart Cities Mission (SCM) MoHUA
• SAFETIPIN
• CEQUIN
• Sparsh Securitech CCTV

Activities: Current and Forthcoming

• Connecting The Dots Bootcamp on 'Disaster Risk & Resilience in a Changing Climate' for the students of Miranda House College on 28 February 2024 conducted by “The DOERS”.

• A national seminar was held on the topic of Public Space and Gender on February 29, 2024, with invited lectures by eminent scholars and practitioners.

• Capacity workshop with WRI - Gender perspectives into urban mobility systems and fostering inclusive environments within our cities.

• Training of Trainers workshop with NIDM - Training programme titled "Enabling cities for disaster resilience to achieve sustainable development," in collaboration with University of Delhi (Miranda House) and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

• Smart Cities Mission SAMEEKSHA research project-“Has smart cities championed the cause of inclusiveness- through smart parks having services for vulnerable like differently-abled, senior citizens, women and children?”

• Miranda House R&D Cell - Urban Heat Islands mitigation and its linkages to spatial patterns of vegetation cover: a case study of Delhi

Local Field visits in and around Delhi focussed on Urban issues

Founding Members

Gallery of Pictures