Overview The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) conducted the first regional meeting of Urban Development Ministers of Southern States and Union Territories on October 30, 2025 , in Bengaluru . Chaired by Shri Manohar Lal , Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, this meeting builds upon the national-level consultation held on July 17, 2025 , in New Delhi, aiming to foster collaboration and address regional urban development issues. Key Developments Regional Meeting Details Host: The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka. Participants: Urban Development Ministers from southern States and Union Territories attended, along with senior officers from respective governments. Key Attendees: Shri D.K. Shivakumar: Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Bengaluru City Development, Karnataka Shri Suresha B.S.: Hon’ble Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning Shri Rahim Khan: Hon’ble Minister of Municipal Administration Shri M.B. Rajesh: Hon’ble Minister for Local Self Governments, Excise & Parliamentary Affairs, Kerala Shri P.R.N. Thirumurugan: Hon’ble Minister of Housing, Puducherry Deliberations and Reviews Focus Areas: The meeting addressed Bengaluru’s urban priorities and reviewed the progress of central schemes and interventions across participating States and Union Territories. Scheme Reviews: The Hon’ble Union Minister reviewed the progress of key schemes including: Swachh Bharat Mission: Focused on improving cleanliness and sanitation. AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure. PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana): Focused on providing affordable housing. Metro Projects: Reviewed progress on urban metro rail networks. PM-eBus Sewa Scheme: Focused on promoting electric mobility in urban areas. Actionable Measures: Implementation challenges were discussed, and actionable measures were proposed to improve on-ground outcomes. Future Initiatives Regular Regional Meetings: MoHUA plans to conduct regional meetings regularly across other regions to identify shared priorities and reform pathways. National Urban Conclave: All participating States were invited to the upcoming National Urban Conclave, scheduled on November 8–9, 2025 , at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi . Viksit Bharat @2047: The Conclave will outline a collective roadmap for urban transformation under Viksit Bharat @2047, emphasizing inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive cities. UPSC Relevance This event is relevant to the UPSC syllabus as it covers aspects of urban development, government policies, and regional cooperation. It directly relates to: GS2: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors. GS3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc. GS3: Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it. Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants Understanding the objectives and progress of key urban development schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, and PMAY. Analyzing the role of regional meetings in addressing specific urban challenges and fostering collaboration between states and the central government. Evaluating the significance of the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision in shaping the future of Indian cities.