NITI Aayog Report on Effective City Governance Released by Manohar Lal Khattar

Current Context: On April 25, 2026, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar released NITI Aayog’s report “Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million‑Plus Cities” at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

• The report admits India’s current urban governance is fragmented and ineffective.
• It provides a roadmap to transform million‑plus cities into autonomous, efficient economic hubs.
• Key recommendations include directly elected Mayors with real executive power, a Mayor‑in‑Council system, and integration of services like water, sanitation, and transport under one city authority.
• It stresses financial autonomy through stronger property tax collection, predictable state transfers, and municipal bonds.
• Finally, it calls for institutional restructuring, bringing parastatal agencies under city government oversight for accountable local development.

Question:

Q.1 The report “Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million-Plus Cities” has been prepared by which organization?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) NITI Aayog
c) RBI
d) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Answer: b) The report is authored by NITI Aayog, though it was released by the Urban Affairs Minister—important distinction.