India’s smaller cities face a growing urban flooding crisis driven by outdated drainage systems, unmanaged solid waste, and blocked natural waterways. Frequent waterlogging occurs due to clogged open drains, unchecked waste management, and inadequate pre-monsoon desilting. Some of our smaller cities regularly experience flooding even during moderate rains. Judicial interventions and local innovations, such as trash barriers and river clean-ups, show promise. However, sustaine

In March 2025, Nāgrika organised the Power of  Nāgrika Conclave and created an intimate space where everyday struggles, local solutions, and the spirit of small-city citizens took centre stage. The Conclave brought together changemakers from across India’s smaller cities for two days of reflection, dialogue, and inspiration. 

Cities are both culprits and casualties in the climate crisis. But what about the ones we rarely hear about? In Nāgrika’s Climate Change Series, Part 1 zooms in on India’s small and midsized cities, revealing overlooked risks, urgent gaps in data, and why ignoring them could mean missing the bigger climate picture entirely.

As smaller Indian cities grapple with record-breaking heat, rising temperatures in scorching summers pose severe risks. In Nāgrika’s Climate Change Series, Part 2 tracks how these cities are heating up, often unnoticed, while exposing cracks in policy, data, and infrastructure that leave millions vulnerable to a warming world that’s no longer just a future threat.

Urban wetlands in India are often overlooked – from their ecological importance and rapid decline to the challenges and innovative efforts in their conservation. Through case studies from both major metros and smaller cities, Nāgrika sheds light on how these watery ecosystems sustain our cities and why protecting them matters more than ever in this report.

Alarms have gone off in cities like Shimla, Visakhapatnam, and Shillong, exposing how underprepared many urban centers are to incidences of fire. While a few have stepped up safety efforts, others struggle with outdated laws, missing fire tenders, and risky buildings. As urban sprawl tightens its grip, can smaller cities ignite a culture of preparedness before the next spark turns into a blaze?

शिमला, विशाखापत्तनम और शिलांग जैसे शहरों में आग लगने की घटनाओं ने ये दिखाया है कि कई शहरी केंद्र आग जैसी आपदाओं के लिए कितने असमर्थ हैं। कुछ शहरों ने सुरक्षा उपायों को सशक्त किया है, लेकिन कई जगहें पुराने कानूनों, अग्निशमन गाड़ियों की कमी और जोखिम भरे भवनों की समस्या से जूझ रही हैं। जैसे-जैसे शहर फैलते जा रहे हैं, क्या छोटे शहर अगली बार आग लगने से पहले तैयारियों की संस्कृति को मजबूत कर पाएंगे?

Vadodara’s longest flyover promises smoother commutes, but is building flyovers the answer to urban traffic woes? While the city joins others in embracing elevated roads, critics argue that flyovers merely shift congestion rather than solve it. Some cities around the world are reimagining mobility by prioritising pedestrian-friendly and green public spaces instead. Is it time for a rethink on how cities tackle traffic management?

As a war-torn nation struggles, a city entrusts its future to ambitious youth elected as administrators for six months. From ending homelessness to nuturing safety and green spaces, their idealism sparks real change. But amid progress and innovation, exhaustion and imbalance threaten their vision. Their story reveals what it truly takes to build a better city, and the cost of chasing growth without pause.

Mumbai’s draft city plan just took a historic turn with a chapter on gender and social equity, thanks to years of advocacy. But women still face barriers in urban governance, especially in smaller cities. While Coimbatore and Tumakuru have made strides, many others lag behind. Can inclusive leadership truly transform India’s urban landscape, or is there more to the story of gender parity in city planning, especially in the smaller ones?

Cooperative banks in India, initially formed to cater to underserved communities, are now facing pressures to commercialise and compete with larger, profit-driven banks. While their growth reflects trust and success, the shift towards commercial models threatens the social welfare principles that founded them. The question remains: Should cooperatives evolve into commercial entities, or should they stay rooted in community service, preserving their founding ideals? The future