The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) celebrated World Habitat Day 2026 under the theme ‘Adequate Housing for All’, emphasising the need to strengthen India’s urban housing ecosystem through policy reforms, technological innovation, sustainable financing and inclusive development. The event highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve access to safe, affordable, resilient and dignified housing across the country.
Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, attended the celebration as the guest of honour. Senior officials, including Shri Satendra Singh, Secretary, Department of Urban Development, MoHUA, and Smt. D. Thara, Secretary, Department of Capital Development, MoHUA, participated alongside representatives of UN-Habitat, state and Union Territory administrations, housing institutions and other stakeholders.
PMAY-U Awards 2026 Recognise States and Housing Stakeholders
A key highlight of the celebration was the presentation of the PMAY-U Awards 2026, recognising the performance of States, Union Territories, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and partner agencies under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-U 2.0. The awards acknowledged achievements in housing completion, project implementation, rental housing and institutional reforms.
At the state level, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh were recognised for the highest completion of houses under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) vertical of PMAY-U. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu received recognition for the highest completion of houses under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical.
Under PMAY-U 2.0, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were recognised for the highest number of housing project groundings against total sanctions. Gujarat received recognition for its town planning scheme procedures and for achieving the highest number of reforms under PMAY-U 2.0. Tamil Nadu was recognised for its shelter fund practices and for the highest number of completed and operational beds under Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) through SIPCOT, with 18,720 beds. SPR India Pvt. Ltd. received recognition in the private agency category, with 11,154 beds completed and operational under ARHCs.
Other recognitions covered affordable housing finance, land reservation for economically weaker sections and low-income groups, and the implementation of rental housing projects. The awards are being institutionalised as an annual initiative to encourage healthy competition, share effective practices and strengthen housing delivery across states and cities.
Digital Initiatives to Improve Access to Housing Services
The celebration also witnessed the launch of a mobile application and revamped websites for PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0. These digital initiatives aim to improve access to scheme-related information and enhance the beneficiary experience by making housing services and information more accessible.
Publications from organisations associated with MoHUA, including HUDCO, the National Cooperative Housing Federation (NCHF), the National Housing Bank (NHB), the Central Government Employees Welfare Housing Organisation (CGEWHO) and the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), were also released. The programme included awards for schoolchildren, including specially abled children, who participated in painting competitions organised by NHB, HUDCO and BMTPC.
Technical Sessions Address Key Urban Housing Challenges
Three technical sessions brought together policymakers, experts, financial institutions, industry representatives and other stakeholders to examine the structural challenges affecting affordable housing and identify possible solutions.
The first session, on structural challenges and enabling measures for unlocking the potential of rental housing, examined regulatory frameworks, land and infrastructure availability, investment mechanisms, property management and greater participation by public and private sector stakeholders. Discussions highlighted the importance of rental housing as a viable housing option for urban migrants, workers, students, working women and other mobile and vulnerable groups.
The second session focused on regulatory measures to bridge the demand–supply gap in housing. Discussions covered streamlined approvals, efficient land-use planning, enabling development regulations and improved coordination among stakeholders to facilitate faster delivery of affordable homes.
The third session examined low-cost indigenous construction technologies and financing instruments for scaling resilient and affordable housing. Participants discussed how technological innovation and appropriate financing solutions could support the delivery of safe, climate-resilient, resource-efficient and affordable homes.
Strengthening the Vision of Housing for All
The World Habitat Day 2026 celebration reinforced the need for coordinated action among the Union Government, States and Union Territories, Urban Local Bodies, financial institutions, private developers, technology providers and academic institutions. The deliberations emphasised that addressing India’s evolving urban housing needs requires not only increasing housing supply but also improving affordability, regulatory efficiency, construction quality and access to appropriate financing.
Through PMAY-U, PMAY-U 2.0 and continued stakeholder engagement, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to adequate housing and supporting the broader vision of an inclusive and Viksit Bharat.
Also Read: PMAY-U 2.0 Approves 18.77 Lakh Houses as Centre Intensifies ‘Housing for All’ Push
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