India’s urban growth is stifled by a systemic fiscal paradox: while cities drive the economy, municipal finances have stagnated at 1% of GDP for decades. This financial condition is doubled by a lack of agency within Urban Local Bodies, which remain tethered to state and central capitals, stripped of the power to tap into productive revenue streams like GST. Reclaiming our cities requires moving beyond passive governance toward active citizen participation in financial planni

India’s smaller cities are witnessing a rapid transition in both physical and  social infrastructure. While government agencies try to catch up with this transition, there is a growing power of citizens in the smaller cities that is helping balance this transition. Citizens, neighbourhood groups, and local organisations are constantly engaging with the city to redefine the way governance is practised. We saw this in action during Nāgrika’s “Power of Small Cities 2025” roundta

भारत के छोटे शहर इन दिनों तेज़ी से बदल रहे हैं, चाहे बात सड़कों और इमारतों की हो या फिर सामाजिक सुविधाओं की। सरकारें इस बदलाव के साथ तालमेल बिठाने की कोशिश कर रही हैं, उसी के साथ लोगों की इन बदलावों में भागीदारी इस पूरे बदलाव को संतुलित कर रही है। मोहल्लों के ग्रुप, स्थानीय संगठन और खुद नागरिक अपने शहर के काम-काज में ज़्यादा जुड़ रहे हैं और यह तय करने में मदद कर रहे हैं कि शहर चलना कैसे चाहिए।

The Nāgrika Fellowship is an invitation to see your city with fresh eyes, to connect local knowledge with national conversations as well as conversations in your own city, and to shape more inclusive narratives of India’s urban future. After the success of our first cohort, we are excited to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of the Nāgrika Fellowship!