Baku, May 19: The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF 13) was inaugurated in Baku, Azerbaijan, featuring the India Pavilion, which highlights the evolving urban landscape of India. The pavilion was opened by Stephen Priessner, the UN Resident Coordinator in India, and Abhay Kumar, the Indian Ambassador.
The India Pavilion, developed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is themed “Urban Transformation in India: A Home for a Billion Dreams.” It showcases the journey of urban development and transformation in the country, aiming to present the arrangements being made for sustainable and inclusive cities.
Ambassador Abhay Kumar emphasized that the pavilion’s purpose is to demonstrate India’s journey of urban transformation and its efforts towards inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. He noted how national and city-level initiatives are turning the aspirations of the common people into reality through innovative policies, public participation, and partnerships. “I encourage everyone to spend time here to see and understand,” he added.
The organizers believe that the India Pavilion will serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and exchange of ideas among global partners and various stakeholders.
The World Urban Forum is a major global conference established by the United Nations to discuss sustainable urbanization and challenges related to cities. Launched in 2001, it is held every two years. The 13th World Urban Forum is taking place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, with the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” focusing on creating cities with robust security and ensuring that all communities benefit from basic amenities.
According to the official site of PMAY (Urban), the primary objective of urban transformation in India is to fulfill a billion dreams by providing affordable, inclusive, and sustainable housing. Through major schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-Urban) and PMAY-U 2.0, the government is providing central assistance for housing construction, purchase, and rental support to millions of urban poor and middle-class families.
By 2036, it is projected that approximately 600 million people will reside in Indian cities. Under the guidelines issued by the government, financial assistance and subsidies are being provided to over 10 million urban poor and middle-class individuals for building or purchasing homes at affordable rates.