India Hosts First National Conference of Urban Local Body Chairpersons in Gurugram.
Summit Conference
On July 3–4, 2025, India hosted its inaugural National Conference of Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) at Manesar, Gurugram, bringing together over 500 delegates to bolster municipal governance under the theme of constitutional democracy and nation-building.
- The two-day conference, held at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (i-CAT), Manesar, was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alongside Union Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, and Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, emphasising the importance of grassroots democracy.
- Over 500 ULB chairpersons from all states and Union Territories participated, sharing best practices on topics like General Council conduct, fiscal management, women’s leadership, and preparing ULBs to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged ULBs to institutionalise structured sessions, question and zero hours, and embrace civic consultation and accountability—mirroring improved parliamentary processes—to enhance local governance efficiency and citizen trust.
Main Point :- (i) Union Minister Manohar Lal highlighted ULB capacity-building through digital platforms and sustainability, announcing ₹1 lakh crore in funding via the Urban Challenge Fund. He also noted India’s MoU with Spain for global urban model exchanges.
(ii) A cultural evening celebrated India’s diverse heritage, featuring Gandharva-style instrumental music by Pandit Chetan Joshi, energetic Haryanvi folk dances by Monty Sharma’s troupe, and performances by Sanjay Sharma’s ensemble—underscoring cultural unity.
(iii) Municipal Corporations from Indore, Pune, Lucknow, and Surat presented innovative city-level governance models—ranging from GPS-enabled waste management to biogas power generation—earning national recognition among top-performing ULBs.
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