The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised a National Conference on Affordable Housing Reforms, titled “Reimagining Affordable Housing: From Scheme to Sustainable Ecosystem,” at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on August 11, 2026. The conference brought together senior policymakers, experts, representatives of States and Union Territories, and financial institutions to discuss policy reforms and innovative approaches for strengthening India’s affordable housing ecosystem.
The conference was attended by Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog, as Chief Guest, and Satendra Singh, Secretary, Department of Urban Development, MoHUA, as Guest of Honour. The proceedings began with a briefing on housing reforms by Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary and Mission Director, Housing for All (HFA), MoHUA, who highlighted the importance of exchanging state-level experiences, best practices and reform initiatives to develop practical approaches suited to different urban contexts.
Land and Planning Reforms at the Centre of Affordable Housing Agenda
Addressing the conference, Rajiv Gauba emphasised that land availability and urban planning reforms are critical to expanding affordable housing at scale. He described land as the “most binding constraint” in the housing sector and called for it to be placed at the centre of the reform agenda.
Among the measures suggested were consideration of waiving land-use change fees for land dedicated to affordable housing and exempting affordable housing units from stamp duty to improve project viability and affordability. Gauba also called for greater participation from the financial sector, including financial innovation and increased private capital in affordable housing.
The conference also discussed recommendations from the NITI Aayog and MoHUA report, “A Comprehensive Framework to Promote Affordable Housing.” The proposed measures include expanding planned urban areas, reserving at least 10 per cent of residential land as affordable housing zones in master plans, and increasing permissible Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to 5 or 6 for such projects.
Other recommendations include promoting transit-oriented development, land pooling and transferable development rights (TDRs), easing parking and density norms, and establishing land banks. Implementation of several of these reforms would rest with State governments and municipal authorities, requiring a whole-of-government approach to housing.
Shift from Housing Schemes to a Sustainable Ecosystem
Anna Roy, Programme Director, Managing Urbanisation, NITI Aayog, highlighted the need to move beyond a scheme-centric approach towards a comprehensive housing ecosystem. She noted that affordable housing depends on the coordinated functioning of land, planning regulations, financing mechanisms, rental markets and institutional arrangements.
The conference emphasised that the policy focus should progressively shift from delivering individual housing projects to creating conditions that enable the continuous supply of affordable, accessible and sustainable housing. The approach also reflects the principle of cooperative federalism, with cities recognised as important engines of economic growth and urban development.
Rental Housing and Vacancy Unlocking Gain Focus
Rental housing emerged as another major area of discussion. Gauba stressed the need to expand rental housing opportunities for migrant workers, young professionals, students and industrial workers, alongside reforms in the tenancy framework.
A dedicated technical session examined rental housing regulatory reforms, the proposed rental housing exchange and approaches to unlocking existing vacant housing stock. States including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Telangana and Assam shared experiences and interventions in this area.
PMAY-U Experience to Inform Future Reforms
Satendra Singh noted that affordable housing is not only a social necessity but also an important driver of economic growth, employment generation and sustainable urban development. He highlighted the transformation of the urban housing landscape over the past decade through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U).
According to the conference proceedings, PMAY-U has supported housing delivery for eligible urban families since its launch in 2015, while promoting women’s ownership, convergence with basic civic amenities and greater participation of States and Urban Local Bodies.
Building on these experiences, PMAY-U 2.0 seeks to support one crore additional eligible urban families through a demand-driven approach, with emphasis on diverse housing solutions, technology-enabled implementation, access to finance and stronger institutional partnerships.
Three Technical Sessions Examine Key Reform Areas
The one-day conference featured three technical sessions covering major dimensions of affordable housing reform:
- Land and Urban Planning Reforms: Discussions covered State-level town planning models, Affordable Housing Zones, affordable housing and cluster development policies, and the Delhi Transit-Oriented Development Policy 2026, with presentations from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
- Rental Housing and Vacancy Unlock Strategies: The session examined rental housing regulations, rental housing exchanges and measures to expand affordable rental housing and unlock existing housing stock.
- Access to Capital – Demand and Supply Side: The session focused on improving access to finance for housing projects and homebuyers. The National Housing Bank (NHB) and HUDCO presented initiatives related to project finance and home loans. The Department of Financial Services and Indian Banks’ Association discussed home-loan products for people working in the informal sector, while the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company shared insights on the Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Roadmap for Housing Sector Reforms
The conference also provided States with an opportunity to showcase reform initiatives, share implementation experiences and identify approaches that could be adapted and scaled across different urban contexts.
The deliberations are expected to contribute to a roadmap for housing sector reforms, including sustained engagement, monitoring of reform measures and continued exchange of experiences among States. The conference reaffirmed the need for coordinated action among the Centre, States and UTs, financial institutions and other stakeholders to create a more accessible, inclusive, financially viable and sustainable affordable housing ecosystem.
Also Read: From Shahjahanabad to the Master Plan: A.K. Jain Reflects on the Evolution of Delhi’s Urban Planning
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