Government of India
1985-1988

In 1986 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi appointed Correa as Chairman of the first-ever National Commission on Urbanization. Their mandate: to take a holistic overview of the urban situation across the country, so the Government could develop new policies on issues crucial to India’s future. Over a period of two years, the Commission visited all the States and Union Territories of India, meeting with the key leaders of the State Governments and concerned citizens and NGOs. The Commission submitted its Interim Report in 1987, and a year later in 1988, presented to the Government of India its Final Report of 14 volumes, covering a wide range of issues – from identifying new growth centers to squatter housing, to the provision of public transport. Major thrust of the report was the issue of Urban Poverty to Urban Form, to the Governance of our cities.